Asbestos in The Home

Asbestos was used throughout the 20^th century in construction applications because of its resistance to heat, fire and other deteriorating conditions.  There are many things to consider in the real estate industry, especially when homes built before 1980 maintain a strong chance of containing asbestos.

It should be known that not all asbestos is considered harmful.  It is suggested for home owners that suspect asbestos, to leave it un-disturbed. Sometimes, the best action is to just leave it alone.

Resident of New Hampshire should be aware that frequent or long term exposure to inhalable asbestos fibers may cause health concerns such as asbestosis or mesothelioma, a rare form of asbestos lung cancer.  The great majority of asbestos health hazards come over a long time of being exposed to large amounts or to frequent exposure over many years.  Most times evidence of some health concerns may appear 20 to 50 years later.

The amount of asbestos-related incidents in the country over the last century has resulted in mesothelioma attorney firms advocating and protecting victim’s individual rights.  Asbestos industries have been heavily scrutinized for concealing information and not informing the public on the dangers associated with asbestos.  Asbestos exposure does not always lead to a related illness, but this cover-up lead to hundreds of thousands of people being wrongfully exposed.

Removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.  The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services installed a program aimed at the prevention and proper disposal of asbestos.  They provide an immense library of information that all involved in real estate should consider.

Once the removal is complete, healthy alternatives should be considered as replacement to asbestos. These options include cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Due to these recycled materials, waste is decreasing in crowded landfills. Proper insulation will save you on annual energy bills up to 25 percent. As education and technology of green sustainable practices increase, the numbers will continue to rise. These asbestos alternatives allow for a clean, healthy home, free of health damaging materials.

– This  article was submitted by Allan Marrero of the Mesothelioma Cancer Center in an effort to make people more aware of asbestos. For additional information, please be sure to click on the links provided.

As a professional New Hampshire
Maine REALTOR, I frequently get asked questions about remodelling
homes.  Some potential home sellers go back and forth between
wanting to sell homes or making some home improvements and
staying put in their home.

I’ve recently read several articles that talked about the top
home improvement trends for this year, and most of them
mentioned pretty much the same items. 

There are a number of websites that have some great home resource and project
planning information for all areas of your home – HGTV, Lowe’s, Service Magic, etc.

The top 3 home improvement areas that all the
articles talked about were:  

1) Super cutting-edge kitchen
appliances – these aren’t necessarily stainless steel appliances,
but rather appliances that you see on TV or would imagine James Bond or the
Jetsons having.  Computerized refrigerators that have a screen to allow you to
access the internet and retrieve recipes for whatever foods are inside the
refrigerator – they think for you.  Ovens that lift up so you don’t have to do
heavy lifting of dishes, etc.  We already have the venting fans that rise up at
the push of a button, so why not ovens as well?  Ovens that use steam to heat
foods – keeps them juicier and better for us.           

2) Outdoor kitchens
- these seem to be all the rage in many places around the country.  It’s one
more way of bringing our living spaces outdoors and making them more functional
at the same time.  Entertaining outdoors is quite nice when everything you need
is right there in your outdoor kitchen – grill, outdoor refrigerator, sink,
etc.  I’ve seen everything from souped-up designer outdoor kitchens to the bare
basics, and everything in between.  It’s all about having living space outdoors
that’s functional and everyone ejoys using.

3) ‘Green’
everything – we all want to live in a better, safer, cleaner
environment, and many have been doing their part to help achieve that for
several years.  Some ways we can all live with a little more green are by going
for Energy Star appliances when replacing current appliances, going for higher
efficiency windows when it’s time to replace your windows at home, recycling
more and more, etc.  There are inumerable ways to be more
environmentally-friendly and to use less energy, from collecting rainwater for
watering lawns and plants, to using canvas bags at the grocery stores, buying
organic and whole foods, using solar heat and windmills for harnassing power,
etc.

If
you’re thinking about making any changes in or to your home, these are great
areas to concentrate on.  Home buyers in the Portsmouth homes and condos real estate market look
for a lot of these kinds of improvements and upgrades in the homes they look
for, and you’ll have a home that really shows some nice improvements for your
own lifestyle. 

Are you looking to buy or sell a home or condo in
the Portsmouth New Hampshire or Southern Maine
area? 
If so, send me an
email or give me a call - I’d love to help you achieve your real estate
goals!

                                  
 
Ann Cummings, Maine and New Hampshire REALTOR
  RE/MAX Coast
to Coast
  Portsmouth NH
  ann@anncummings.com
  888-349-5678 x
3839
  Servicing the
Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine                    

Every once in awhile, I look around my home and think about
making a few changes here and there. Change a little color here, rearrange some
space there, etc. If you’re thinking about how you can add a little spice to
your Portsmouth home, here are some interesting home trends
this year that might give you some inspiration:

• Go Green – there
  are a huge variety of ways to implement eco-friendly living into our homes and
  condos. Flooring is a great example – look into bamboo flooring. It looks
  great, wears beautifully and is very easy to take care of. If you need new
  appliances, look for the “Energy Star” appliances.
  You can also get “Energy Star” windows and lighting products. Just as an aside,
  did you know that if you buy “Energy Star” products you may be eligible for tax
  credits?

• Room Design – if you watch
  the magazines and have opportunities to go through newer homes, you’ll find that
  many now have home-offices set up in them. Mud-rooms have become popular again
  as well. Take a hard look at the space in your home – would these work for you?

• Color Splashes -
  today’s popular colors in homes and condos are more earth-tones. Those colors
  cause one to feel calmer and more restful. When I’ve been showing a lot of
  homes and condos lately, those that seem to elicit the most positive responses
  from buyers are those colors that are more natural and soothing.

• “Smart” Homes -
  technology today makes all of our lives more productive, and that would also
  hold true in our homes as well. There are systems now that allow us to remotely
  operate lighting systems, alarm systems, monitor heating systems, and more. I
  have a lighting system in my own home that allows me to turn on certain lights
  when I pull into the driveway, turn them off, or set them to different types of
  settings in groups for entertaining, etc.

  

  These are just a few of the trends that we’re
  seeing this year and going into next year. For more ideas, check out the “Hot Trends for 2008 and Beyond” tips from Lowes. Some great
  ideas can be found in their trends information.

If you’re looking to make some improvements around your home – inside and/or
outside, here are some additional articles with ideas that might help you:

• 8 Tips for Great Curb Appeal on a Budget
• 8 Tips
  for Remodeling Homes
• 10 Tips
  to Help Get Your Home Ready to Sell

Thinking about selling your Portsmouth New Hampshire home or
condo? Call me today at 603-431-1111 x 3839, or send me an email at ann@anncummings.com, and let’s talk real
estate!

Ann Cummings, Maine and New Hampshire REALTOR
RE/MAX Coast
to Coast
Portsmouth NH
ann@anncummings.com
888-349-5678 x
3839
Servicing the
Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine

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1)  Plan your remodeling job in advance – plan right down to the last
detail ahead of time and you’ll avoid last minute glitches and you’ll also avoid
unplanned-for overages, too.

2)  Find the right contractor for you and your job – get referrals for
contractors and never be afraid to ask for references.  And make sure to check
those references, too.  Make sure they’re licensed, if they need to be for your
state and locality, make sure they carry insurance, and make sure they pull the
necessary permits to the remodeling job you’re hiring them for.

3)  Don’t go overboard on improvements – the last thing you want to do
is over-improve your home for your neighborhood.  Kitchens and bathrooms will
bring you back the most money, but plenty of other improvements won’t.

4)  Plan the time and timing of your remodeling – be realistic in
regards to how much time your improvements will realistically take to complete,
and if you can schedule your job during the off-season for your contractor, you
may well be able to save some money as well.            

Do you love Homes Shows, and Home
and Garden Shows? 

If so, you’ll want to mark these dates down on your calendar for New
Hampshire and Maine Homes Shows!

 
~~ March 28-30 – Seacoast Home, Garden, and Flower Show -
Durham NH
          This show will be held at the Whittemore Center at
University of NH – check the link for a coupon!