REAL VALUE » structural

Asbestos in the Home

Marcus Assalone — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:17:50 +0000

There are six different minerals classified as asbestos. Chrysotile shown here is the most commonly used in building construction. Photo courtesy of Ryan Somma.

Asbestos is a naturally found mineral that has been with civilization for thousands of years. In ancient times they would weave the material into clothing because of its heat resisting quality. Most famously, it was made into handkerchiefs that were cleaned by putting them on and open fire.

At the beginning of the industrial revolution its electrical and chemical resistance was discovered and it began to be used in a whole range of products, including some that were used in the home. Most notably home insulation but also vinyl floor tiles, drywall and compound, roofing tar and shingles, pipes, gaskets, fireproofing, acoustical ceiling tiles, heating duct connectors, and much much more.

Slowly, it became clear that asbestos was harming the health of those who had regular contact with the dust particles from the mineral. The minute dust particles would get lodged in the lungs and cause cancer, resulting in death.

In the European Union and Australia, all manufacturing, mining, and processing of asbestos is banned. Here in Canada, the government has said that while asbestos is a dangerous substance, it can be handled safely, and can even be used in products safely. The key is that the asbestos fibre cannot be permitted to escape into the atmosphere. We also export the substance to other countries.

If you are purchasing an older home, your home inspector will point out to you those items in the house that have a high probability of containing asbestos. You can then take a sample of the suspect item to a laboratory for testing. Once the results are known, you can make a decision if you wish to continue with the purchase or take advantage of your ‘conditional on inspection’ clause.

If you already own the home and have identified a source of asbestos, the best thing to do is just leave it alone. Seal the fibres in place, and make sure no one will be able to come in contact with them.

If you have decided to remove the asbestos from your home, you must hire a professional as once you start disturbing the asbestos, invisible fibres are easily released into the air, and that is when problems begin. It is not something you should do yourself.

Additional Source: Environmental Protection Agency

A Property Survey is Important

Marcus Assalone — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:12:38 +0000

A property survey is a map of the property showing the specific location of the property line and any structures, (houses, sheds,

Photo Courtesy of Steve F

detached garages, driveways, pools fences, etc.) and easements, which are certain rights others have to access that part of the property. (An easement may exist so that utility contractors can provide service to the surrounding areas.)

The first survey of your house was done when it was built, and as long as no new structures have been added to the property, it is still valid.

A property survey is important. Before you purchase your property you can inspect the survey to see if there are encroachments on your property, and ask the seller to correct any that exist. Your bank will often require seeing a valid survey as part of the conditions of their loan. You will need a valid survey if you are planning on an addition or any other major renovations to your property.

Title insurance does not replace a survey, as they often do not cover all the deficiencies a survey will reveal. If you are buying from a builder, the survey is the only method to ensure you are buying the actual house you wanted, and not the one next door.

A seller does not legally have to provide a survey to the buyer as long as they provide the legal description of the property, but it is still good to have the survey. If you buy your property with me, I will always make providing a valid survey part of the agreement.

THE RISE OF SPECIALIZED HOME INSPECTORS

Marcus Assalone — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:04:09 +0000

For most people, buying a home is the single largest investment they will ever make. As a homebuyer, you will want to ensure you get good value for your investment, and that is why professional home inspections are becoming an integral part of the buying process. In fact, the field is now becoming more specialized and some buyers are even using the services of more than one type of inspector to review a property before committing to the purchase.

A professional Home Inspector makes a comprehensive review of the operating systems and structural aspects of a home. Following this first-hand look beneath the surface, the inspector then prepares a detailed written report for the buyer, describing the condition the foundation, heating and cooling systems, electrical service, roof, insulation, and other critical structural factors. It gives you a far greater measure of security before finalizing your offer to purchase a property.

Specialized Inspectors study specific needs of certain markets or properties. For example, some offers to purchase may require the services of a swimming pool inspector, termite inspector, or where a well is present, a water quality inspection.

Inspection costs will vary by the service provider and sometimes even according to the special demands of a property. Still, you can expect to pay $300-$500 for a typical home inspection of a single family dwelling. In almost every case, it’s the buyer who pays the cost of the home inspection, since the service is provided almost entirely for their benefit. Most buyers agree that it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. A home inspection report can also give you additional negotiating power if it unearths some unforeseen problems that must be remedied.

I will advise you on how to incorporate a home inspection as a condition of buying a property. Your offer can be conditional upon a professional home inspection being conducted and a satisfactory report being received. If the conditional offer is accepted, you have the advantage of temporarily holding the property against most other offers, while you have a legal method of terminating the agreement if the report turns up some major surprises.

Should the inspection report indicate a large expense, or problem you do not want to deal with, your offer can either be terminated or possibly re-negotiated to accommodate the cost of any major remedies. Remember though, if you don’t proceed with the original offer, the seller is also free to renegotiate any aspect of the offer or accept an alternative offer from another buyer. In any case, I will be there to counsel you on the best approach for your individual situation.