Asbestos issue in my newly purchased house

[Account Closed]

Folks,

I've discovered asbestos in ceiling and joint compound of wall in a house I was planning to flip. Long story short I've contacted an attorney and she claims that we have solid case. Let me explain as I believe it is not as solid as I would hope:

- the contract is "as is" condition

- the disclosure says that the seller has no knowledge of asbestos

- the seller did unpermitted work. Replacing 6 patio doors he disturbed and released asbestos to the air

- he also did repairs to the ceiling which contains asbestos in the popcorn

- the air test (as well as samples of the drywall and the ceiling) have been made and it is positive, all of them contain asbestos

Basically this will increase the cost of renovation quite a bit. I would love to have your opinion on all this matter.

Let me go ahead and predict some of the responses to encapsulate the asbestos under a new layer of drywall.

It's a good plan. However, how on earth can renovate baths without taking down the drywall? I was planing to take down couple walls as well, replace windows. But it will no longer be an option since asbestos is contained in the mud. I will not consider hiring contractor and not disclosing him the asbestos issue.

All in all I will probably look at additional 40k because of this new issue. The numbers still make sense but 40k is 40k.

[Wayne Brooks]

“.......if he would have gotten permits and licensed contractors he would have discovered the asbestos....”.....this means Nothing as he can rightly say he did;’t know there was asbestos mixed in the mud and the popcorn.  This does nothing to invalidate his disclosure.  This is one of those cases where it sounds like an attorney is willing to take your money on an hourly basis for a case that has minimal change of success.