Welcome to my blog! My name is Doreen and I am here to provide all of the information you need to fully understand real estate. When I bought my first home about 7 years ago, I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I found the entire process very confusing. However, all of that changed when I decided to sell my house a few years later. I found a fantastic real estate agent who taught me everything I needed to know. Since that time, I have bought and sold several other properties. I hope you like this blog and that it helps you to secure the home of your dreams.
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The word 'asbestos' has become notorious enough that its mere mention can send a wave of fear through hom
The word 'asbestos' has become notorious enough that its mere mention can send a wave of fear through homeowners. Once widely used in building, it was eventually banned in Australia and many other parts of the world. However, the ban only covered manufacture and import, so there are still potentially plenty of homes around that contain the dangerous fibres in their construction.
If you're on the lookout for a new house, one of your priorities should be finding out whether the homes you're looking at contain asbestos. This is easier said than done, since you can't tell just by looking.
Avoiding houses that contain asbestos can save you and your family from danger, and also save you money and hassle in the event you need any alterations or repairs. Here are some of the ways you can find out the likelihood of asbestos being present.
Check the age of the building
A house's age is usually the most reliable indicator of how likely it is for asbestos to be present. Cement and other materials containing asbestos were widely used from the 1940s to the 1980s, so any homes built within this period are suspect.
If you're looking at older houses built before 1940, remember that it's highly likely renovations or additions were made later, so asbestos is still a strong possibility.
Check the age of appliances and fittings
In addition to the materials of houses themselves, asbestos was used in various appliances, plus as an insulation around pipes. If there are vintage appliances present, you might be best off getting them removed if you choose to buy the property. If you think there may be asbestos used on pipes, remember that their replacement is likely to be costly and time-consuming.
Talk to your real estate agent
The agent dealing with the property might have access to records relating to the property's building materials and any work carried out. They should also be able to find out whether asbestos has already been discovered and removed from the building. It's also worth asking if you could discuss the matter with the current owners.
If it's likely asbestos is present, the real estate company might be able to arrange professional testing and other asbestos services to be certain, so it's worth asking about it.
Talk to neighbours
If there are similar properties nearby dating from the same period, it's likely that some of the people living in them will have discovered asbestos if it was used. They may also have been in the neighbourhood long enough to know if it was removed from the property you're looking at.
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