Extra expenses for pre-'78 homes? XRF Testing?

[Lynn McGeein]

We have an offer accepted on 1974 home, but have avoided anything 78 & back until now as they are already requiring abatement in public housing, so assume it's going to get even harder for the lead-safe EPA rules for owners of private rentals as well.

We have scheduled an XRF test to try to get the lead-free certificate that Maryland allows, but if it doesn't pass, how much more expensive is it to have work done using lead-safe contractors and/or maintaining/using your own certification? I know the class is like $300, but I'm looking at more of cost to comply with rules vs newer homes that don't require the special contractors or lead-safe rules. Do painters, plumbers, electricians, etc., charge a lot more to work on pre-78 homes now that they must be certified?

I'd just pass on the home, but having trouble finding newer homes in the areas I want -- seems like if you can get it at a good price around here, it's either old or soggy -- like they built on all the dry land pre-1978, so just trying to see if repairs, turnovers are going to be much more expensive, as we've decided we'd rather have old than soggy.