My husband and I are purchasing a home that was built in the 1960s. We have 2 small children, and we are concerned about lead-based paint. Home Depot sells a test kit for less than $10.00. How accurate is this test compared to hiring a certified contractor to perform the test which costs so much more?

While at home testing kits are the more affordable option, there is no guarantee that the homeowner will get accurate results. Often at-home kits are not useful due to false negatives (and sometimes false positives).  Inspectors can identify the sources of the lead, rather than just a positive or negative to lead (as in the at-home testing kits).   Additionally, a lead risk assessor can educate you on managing the lead or areas of concern that you may not have considered  (such as the backyard).