Can you Sell a House with Asbestos In California?

Before putting your property up for sale on the market, you have two options on how to make your property safer after confirming that asbestos is indeed present in your property: sealing or abating the asbestos.

As noted earlier, asbestos is usually safe if undisturbed. In some cases, it’s best to leave it alone, especially if it’s in good condition like siding or attic insulation. Simply covering it with a sealant can prevent it from releasing harmful fibers into the air, which can cause serious health issues if inhaled.

Sealing, or encapsulating, asbestos involves using a special resin that hardens, creating a barrier that keeps the asbestos contained and prevents it from spreading. Experts agree, as reported by the Washington Post, that encapsulated asbestos is not a danger to health.

By encapsulating asbestos instead of removing it, you save on the costs associated with setup and disposal. Plus, you avoid contaminating the air with dangerous substances.

For instance, if there’s a planned makeover in the property that may disturb asbestos, like replacing popcorn ceilings, then it’s best to opt for asbestos removal.

During asbestos removal, certified pros handle the removal of asbestos and related materials. It’s a risky process, needing careful planning and execution. Naturally, the cost of removal would likely exceed just sealing the asbestos.

You’ll need to evacuate the property with your family while the team, clad in hazmat gear, removes the asbestos. It’ll be some time before you can return safely.

There is another option instead of dealing with the asbestos problem yourself:

You can negotiate with the interested buyer that you’ll offer credit for abatement or remediation costs after you close on the deal.

The best time to perform abatement is before the owner moves in, so you should contact professional asbestos removal companies to obtain a quotation. You can then list your house at market value and offer to take the cost of asbestos removal off the top.

If the buyer is looking to get an FHA loan, there are asbestos requirements that could prevent approval. This strategy works best with a cash buyer.

You may be surprised to know that per Federal law, nondisclosure of the presence of asbestos in your property is not illegal. However, most states require the disclosure of asbestos, but they do not require the removal of asbestos in your home.

Even if a state does not require the disclosure of asbestos, it is better to be upfront about the state of your house. You don’t want to open yourself up to a potential lawsuit down the line.

You can guarantee there’s no asbestos left after removal by making sure your removal contractor uses HEPA filter vacuums and wet cleanup gear. It’s the contractor’s job to make sure no asbestos fibers are left on your property.

Once they’re done, they’ll provide a report outlining the work done, disposal details, inspection outcomes, and lab analysis. You need to keep these records to prove to potential buyers that the asbestos issue is fixed.

Costs of asbestos abatement range between $1,123 and $2,872. It can vary depending on the size of the contaminated area, the amount of asbestos that needs to be removed, and the disposal fees.