Yes, if you have any question, test. Whether the police caught them cooking or not doesn't seem to matter. They could have cleared away the major evidence before the police arrived. An environmental testing firm should help. While you are at it, have them test for mold. If the house has been empty and ill-cared for, that's worth considering also.

Hey Kendra,
Great thinking to test for Meth. Besides checking police records, and doing a search of the prior resident.
The property will only be a Hazard if the police actually busted the occupant "cooking"meth in the residence.
i have never used these guys, however they seem fairly priced. I don`t think you will get the results back before the 7 or 10 days is up.
http://www.inspection-perfection.com/main/pages/order%20test.htm
Good luck
Keep me posted.

Call Dwight at mold medic. He has done several mold tests and is working on a meth lab bid for remediation right now. He is one of the best in the biz! (602) 369-5718

Have you contacted your insurance company to find out what the ramifications are "if prior ownere cooked meth?" -- will you be denied a policy? I have no experience in this, but I wonder if this is similar to having toxic mold -- then you see why I am suggest seeking out an answer in advance of inspection "data".
best of luck,
Mary

Have you seen that show on AMC "Breaking Bad"?
its funny, you should check it out.

anyways, doesn't sound like a great neighborhood.
no hurry to buy in Phoenix
many houses for sale (or foreclosed).
wait, be patient
get a better neighborhood.

anyways

good luck

Update - My offer was accepted. During the regular inspection, we found the furnace exhaust and chimney had been blocked (with fabric). I had a conversation with the police about this and the condition of the property in general and was told it was most likely a "drug house." To find out which drug, the police indicated I would need a haz-mat specialist (not an environmental specialist). In any event, I cancelled the contract; including the reason.

I wonder what the seller's responsibility is now that it is aware there is a strong likelihood of illegal drug use on the property.

This home is really NOT in a bad neighborhood. There are homes sold over $1M. Someone compared it to the show "Weeds."

Thanks for the update..and you are smart to walk away!
Mary

Unfortunately if no one has tested for a specific drug like Meth and there is no analysis to back it up then the seller has nothing to disclose. But, If you pulled out with the specific reason cited that it could have been a home where drugs were manufactured then the listing realtor does have a duty to report it to the seller and they should investigate. There are very specific signs if there was meth cooked, you can find it just by googling.

I am glad you decided against purchasing this property. I have not come across a property that was used as a Meth lab or was foreclosed on due to a raid. We have heard about these properties in our meetings. Now that I know Haz Mat needs to get involved, I will instruct my clients to do a thorough investigation into the neighborhood with the police and neighbors as well. Thanks for sharing your story. It benefits everyone who reads about it. Good Luck in your search.

Ask the local police to come through with the dogs..The Dogs need practice...

I would also be more concerned with who owns the property that may not be recorded necessarily. In many states, the police (the State) takes title automatically.

This is really a good question, and it may relate to a neighbor of mine who, quite suddenly, started to sell everything he owned - really nice furniture, etc. This house is new, 3 years old, but it struck me as odd that he would sell the "STOVE" - and the refrigerator; I kept wondering about that and today, I see this question. Over the three years he has lived there, on his own, no pets, his total appearance has changed - he looks like a man of 55, not 42. And over the weekend, he got a u-haul truck and moved out. Just like that, just left the house. (he was, or is, the homeowner) Thank you for this column!