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Obviously, the process of buying and selling a home or other property is an involved and complex process. It is important therefore to ensure that there are no lingering issues that may slow or prevent the transaction from being completed. Among the more common issues homeowners deal with during a sale of real estate is asbestos. While asbestos use was strictly regulated in the late 1970s, many asbestos containing materials still exist in homes built prior to 1980. It is important then, to obtain a proper home inspection or asbestos consultation to ensure that these materials are not hazardous to anyone's health.

Asbestos was used extensively up until approximately 1980 for insulation purposes. It could be used in nearly any compound because it was durable and had small fibers, which lent themselves well to a myriad of different products. Some of the more common asbestos products include wall/attic insulation ("pink," spray or "popcorn" insulation all contained asbestos at one time), pipe coverings, and HVAC ductwork. If a product required insulation or resistance to heat and was manufactured before 1980, it likely contained asbestos in at least some capacity. What is important however is learning the difference between hazardous asbestos material and products which are not immediately hazardous.

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