If you are planning to sell your house, there is a checklist of inspection you have to go through. One of these is to check your house for Asbestos presence. This is because, in the USA before the 1980’s, Asbestos was a popular material used in house construction.
It was used around pipes, floor tiles, roofing shingles and more, for being an inexpensive insulant. Asbestos was an inexpensive construction material with properties like heat and sound insulation, on top a Flame retardant. Thus, immensely popular among constructors.
However, over the years a number of health hazards were reported by the construction workers, involved in dealing with asbestos. They developed lung cancer and reported other breathing disorders. Because asbestos is a fiber mineral that releases loose fiber in air. You can inhale those fibers unnoticeably, which are full of carcinogenic particles. Later, it was scientifically proved that asbestos causes cancer. Hence, its usage was banned in building construction in the late 1970’s, in the USA.
In the following blog, we’ve provided comprehensive guidance on selling a house with asbestos!
How many houses in the USA have asbestos?
One report says that there are approximately 30 million houses in the USA that contain asbestos. Those houses cannot simply go out of the real estate market. So what of the houses built before 1980? These houses can be sold just like other regular properties.
The buyers will not deny the purchase of the house just because it has asbestos. Because the mere presence of asbestos is not injurious; unless it is damaged to openly spread out its fibers.
But there are certain rules and regulations that the owner has to follow to sell the house with asbestos.
What is Asbestos, why is it dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber mineral that got huge popularity in the 1950’s for its insulation properties. It was used in buildings for insulation against fire, heat and corrosion. Its main resources were found in North America, Russia and China. Within a decade or so human labor who were directly involved in asbestos extraction and dealing reported cancers and serious lung disorders.
Thus, post 1980’s around 50 countries across the globe banned asbestos. However, in the USA certain legislations were introduced to ensure safe removal of asbestos in buildings. These regulations also allow certain asbestos-like-materials to be used in construction.
How to spot Asbestos in your house?
If your house was built before the 1980’s, then you can easily predict the presence of Asbestos. For example, if there are checkered tiles of the flooring, washroom or basement, it’s like there’s asbestos used. But it’s never recommended to do the repair or damage check yourself.
Because it’s not the presence of Asbestos that’s hazardous to human health, but the fibers released during damage and repair are injurious. The wear and tear of spaces containing asbestos release toxic dust.
Rules to fix or abate asbestos in your house
As a homeowner, you are obliged to follow your county’s or city’s regulations against self repair or removal of asbestos. Always call for professional consultation if you plan for repairs or abatement of asbestos in your house.
The potential inspection points may include but are not limited to: pipes and ducts, boilers, walls, floors and ceilings. The inspection team will let you know and decide if fixating is a better option or abating it.
Let the buyer know of asbestos presence
According to real estate laws in Virginia, it is illegal to sell a house without mentioning the physical defects. So your Seller’s Disclosure should mention the use of asbestos in the house. If the buyer comes to know that you have withheld potential defects from them, they have the legal right to sue you.
So letting the buyer know of the asbestos presence is not a deal killer, but hiding it can be. Sometimes the buyer demands a house inspection for guarantee against potential defects or asbestos presence.
There is no harm in agreeing to the request, however the buyer should hire professionals for house-inspection so the asbestos is not disturbed. Rest it is up to the buyers to discover potential defects in the house, and the seller is free from further disclosure obligation.
Steps to sell house with asbestos
Following steps can help you experience a safe sale for house with asbestos:
1. Go for selling “as is”
Many real estate agents advise owners to sell the house with asbestos “as is”. Which means that rather than going for a repair or asbestos abatement option, call around and get a quote.
Because the repair and fixation will cost a lot to begin with. Firstly, you cannot do self inspection, so hiring a professional inspection will inculcate cost. Then, while the contractors are at work, the residents cannot stay in the same premises, as asbestos fibers get released and can be inhaled.
So your hotel stay will add to the inspection cost. So going for the “as is” sale option is great. There are real estate agents and companies that will put your house on listing for “as is”.
2. Sale-for-cash option
Rather than going for a repair or abatement option, many homeowners prefer to sell houses on cash. Because this gives a net amount in cash, without repair or damage charges.
Plus you can avoid the long paperwork process, when banks and agents and real estate companies are involved. The buyers or companies that purchase houses on cash, are responsible for later inspections and repairs.
3. Inspect your house for asbestos
If you decide not to sell your house ‘as is’ or for an “on-cash” sale, you need to get your house inspected for asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The inspection team will not only check the house for asbestos presence, but they also make a comprehensive list of places and items where asbestos is used. They are trained to remove it safely as well as legally.
Next, they make and present a report on areas exposed with asbestos, including pipelines, floors, tiles, roofing and more. Upon task completion, they not only highlight the damaged spots but present the options to cover the repair area.
They also remove the toxic dust caused by ‘asbestos-containing-areas’ in the house. Now your house is safe for visitations, residents and on top you don’t have to hide any information from the buyers.
4. Rectify the damage caused by Asbestos
From decades of experience we know that buyers do not walk away from buying a house with asbestos. Especially, when we inform them that a house with asbestos in good condition lasts decades longer, than the one without it.
However, the decision that can affect the sale is, “if your house needs asbestos fixing or abatement”. If your house needs asbestos abatement, the inspection company will first ask the residents to vacate the house at least for 48 hours or more. They will fix the areas with asbestos and remove any hazardous fibers left post abatement.
The abatement companies close all possible let out of heat and ventilation units. The house is opened for visitors only once the abatement company approves the house as “safe from asbestos hazards”.
5. Sealing or covering the asbestos
To protect the residents from exposure to asbestos fibers the abatement companies also advise to seal or cover the asbestos. Sealing the areas with asbestos is called encapsulation. The inspection team covers the surfaces with asbestos using a coating that sticks the surfaces together.
Next, it does not allow the asbestos fibers to get released and spread out in the air. Once the encapsulation process is completed, the house is not only safe for residents but totally ready for sale. The inspection company will present the report that you can use as a testimony to show to the buyers.
Conclusion
Many homeowners fear that a house with asbestos is not a likable choice for buyers. But the real estate agents and house sale companies will tell you otherwise. You need to be aware of the asbestos presence in the house, and present honest information to the buyer.
Further, you can go for options that help you make your house a safe choice for buyers, without any potential hazards caused by the asbestos. Whether its house inspection, or getting a quote, HR Property Doctor has got it all for you. Fill out the information below for us to reach you for better guidance.