Here’s an alarming fact: one in three Australian homes contain asbestos. Unfortunately, this figure is even more likely if the home was built before 1990. Therefore, if you think you have found your renovator’s dream then you might – that being an antique facade that could be beautified inside – you might want to consider inspecting it for this hazardous mineral before purchase!
With so many renovations taking place across the country there is a growing concern that many new homeowners will succumb to a “third wave” of exposure, causing a new era of illness from this terrible mineral. We hate to be the ones to spoil the homebuying party, but it’s a simple fact that if you’re purchasing a home built before the 90s then it is highly likely this property contains asbestos.
Thankfully, there are many benefits to pre purchase asbestos air monitoring, ensuring you don’t get left with a property that will cost you thousands to deal with before you can actually start renovating:
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It can be beneficial to your health
Before we get into the financial matters, it’s important to remember one thing first and foremost: asbestos is highly carcinogenic. Unfortunately, this nasty mineral has already led to the deaths of thousands of Australians exposed to it in buildings constructed before the 90s, and there are growing fears this will happen again with new renovations occurring on older properties.
If you are to purchase a property that was built before the 90s, don’t even think about knocking down any walls until you have the property thoroughly inspected for this dangerous mineral. The health risks the mineral poses are not worth the risk of quickly breaking ground and your stunning renovation – have the property inspected first!
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It can help you negotiate a better deal
Given that having the mineral present in a property counts as a defect it is important to know that you don’t necessarily have to pay full price if it is found to be present within its walls. You should be able to negotiate a better deal with the homeowner as you might be the one who ends up paying to have it removed.
You – or anyone else for that matter – should not have to pay full price for a home containing this toxic mineral, and you should be aware of your rights containing its presence on a property.
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Or you can have them remove it before purchase
If you don’t end up negotiating a better purchase deal because of the mineral’s presence, you can also request for the vendor to have it removed before you move in or begin renovations. Obviously, this is the better option, as you don’t want the hassle of contacting removal specialists and having them come through the property when you just want to get started on renovating, so it’s never a bad idea to ask for the previous owner to have it removed if it is found to present in the property.
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Or you can back out altogether
If the presence of asbestos in the air coincides with other defects found in a routine building and pest inspection, you may actually be able to back out of the deal altogether. After all, if these defects weren’t originally disclosed to you and you find them to be a serious dealbreaker, you are within your rights to back out of what really is a dodgy deal!