Can I sell a house with asbestos in Wisconsin?
Yes, it is completely legal for selling a house with asbestos Wisconsin. However, under Wisconsin asbestos disclosure requirements, sellers must accurately disclose the known presence of asbestos on the Real Estate Condition Report. Because traditional retail buyers often demand expensive professional abatement before closing, the fastest and safest route is selling a house as is with asbestos to a professional cash investor like Cream City Homebuyers. This
I was down in the basement of a house in the southern end of Milwaukee about a few weeks ago. The homeowner was hoping to sell his home and move closer to his family in Michigan. But the plans had been delayed a little longer after what seemed like a promising buyer backed out. As it turned out, there was an inspection report that stated there was asbestos in the house.
There were nine-inch floor tiles, old pipe wrap, and a small popcorn ceiling upstairs. Sure enough, that’s a sign that the home was constructed and asbestos was present. The client told me that he was looking at possibly spending $15,000 for professional abatement services before he could ever sell the house. “I’m not made of money,” he said. “I just want to sell this house already and not sink more money into it.” I assured him that he didn’t have to do that when my team and I at Cream City Homebuyers can buy it.
I don’t know if he believed me at first. But I told him that he can sell the house as-is. We’d be more than happy to take care of hiring the professional abatement services. I don’t think it took him long after that to get the cash offer in Milwaukee that was reasonable for him. It can be the same for you if you plan on selling a house but need a fast and clean exit without having to spend a lot of money on removing the asbestos.
Identifying Asbestos in Your House: Where Is It Hiding?
Do you know if your home has asbestos? Chances are if your home was built before 1980, the answer would be a likely yes. I see such houses on a regular basis in Milwaukee and the nearby communities. I think I could give you a good idea on what the common culprits are. Here’s what they are:
- Asbestos siding is extremely common in older Milwaukee homes including bungalows. I should say that the siding itself isn’t dangerous if it’s intact. However, buyers can walk out the door if they see a future liability.
- Yes, you can sell the house if it has 9×9 tiles. Those often contain asbestos. Those who are stable, perception can still kill the deal.
- Insulation & celings may contain asbestos. This includes pipe wrap in basements, furnace insulation, and popcorn ceilings.
When an inspector flags these, traditional buyers can hit the brakes quickly. They’ll either demand a lower price point or walk away from the deal altogether. I can’t remember how many times I hear stories of dead deals because of what they see on inspection reports. Cream City Home Buyers doesn’t care if the house has some red flags on the inspection report. Before we buy houses in Brookfield, we take a look at the property ourselves before deciding on a cash offer.
Yes, you can sell your house without an inspection to us. From there, we’ll just do the heavy lifting and more.
The Financial Reality: Cost of Asbestos Removal Milwaukee
I want to give you a word of advice here about asbestos when selling house, do not rip it out yourself and throw it away. Not only is it the wrong way to remove it, but it’s also a dangerous thing to do. Wisconsin law requires certified professionals to remove it safely. Now, I get it when you say that the process is too expensive. And that’s true. For a realistic breakdown of what the removal process can cost, here’s what to know:
- Asbestos inspection/testing: $400 – $1000
- Containment setup (negative air systems): $2,000 – $5,000
- Popcorn ceiling removal: $15-$25 per square foot
- Pipe insulation removal: $1,500 – $5,000
- Floor tile abatement: $5,000 – $12,000
- Disposal + air quality clearance testing: $2,000 – $4,000
That’s close to $10,000 to $30,000+ all of a sudden. And I cannot even believe that a lot of people are demanding inspection reports or even wanting the seller to spend that much money to remove asbestos in order to sell a house. You can sell to my team and I without even having to worry about spending that much to remove asbestos. Just sell your house in New Berlin as-is and we’ll handle the asbestos removal process by hiring the people we trust.
Wisconsin Asbestos Disclosure Requirements & Legal Liability
You cannot afford to get this wrong here. I highly advise you to be aware of the Wisconsin Asbestos Disclosure Requirements so you can be able to comply with them accordingly. I even suggest you comply if you plan to sell your house to us. Chapter 709 of Wisconsin Statutes state that you are required to disclose known defects on your Real Estate Condition Report. Meaning if you know there’s asbestos or if you suspect it, you need to say so. Failure to disclose can lead to serious consequences. If this were a traditional buyer you sold the house to, you’d be subject to the following:
- Lawsuits for damages
- Legal fees
- Forced reimbursement for abatement
- Claims of misrepresentation
I know of sellers losing a lot of money in court rather than selling the house as-is up front. But still, I suggest you to disclose asbestos when you sell. So when we buy the house so we can make a plan to get it removed as well as handle all the other repairs the house might need.
How to Sell a House with Asbestos by Owner (The FSBO Trap)
A lot of homeowners think that selling it via the FSBO route might be their best option. On paper, it might be a good idea to avoid the realtor commissions. Yet, they still have to incur the wrath of a buyer who can get quite skittish if something doesn’t seem right. Inspection reports can list asbestos and either the buyer lowballs on the offer or walk away completely. Lenders even begin to ask questions about whether or not it may be suitable for the buyer.
Even if the buyer wants the house, the bank can have the final say when it comes to the loan. The approval can get delayed until the asbestos is removed. Selling house in Milwaukee and the surrounding area and having to disclose asbestos in the process can be an easy thing to do, but it can make things difficult in the traditional sense when selling house in the market. So why go through all that trouble when the same pretty much applies with the FSBO route?
How to Fix Asbestos Damage in Your House vs Selling As-Is
The way I see it, there are two options to fix the asbestos damage in your house. First, there’s the remediation or encapsulation. That means you hire a licensed crew to remove the asbestos completely and seal it behind newer materials. This is the worst option and the cons far outweigh the pros.
On the other hand, you can sell the house as-is. If you want to know how our process works, my team and I at Cream City Home Buyers are here to help. We give you a cash offer on the house you’re selling. No repairs, no upfront costs, no delays, no worries. All you need to do is schedule a property discovery with us and we’ll check out the house. Remember to disclose possible asbestos if you suspect any. That way, we’ll be able to have it removed safely with the help of professionals that do it best.
The Easy Exit: How To Sell Your House with Asbestos to Cream City Homebuyers
Our team at Cream City Homebuyers offers a clean and quick exit if you plan to sell your house as-is. Even if it has asbestos, we’ll be able to handle the process. You don’t need to worry about inspections, testing to confirm the presence of asbestos, or anything else. If you suspect it, that’s enough to comply with the disclosure laws so you have to disclose asbestos when selling house in Milwaukee.
FAQ: Navigating an Asbestos Sale in WI
Can You Sell a House with Asbestos Damage?
Yes. Even if asbestos is damaged or “friable”, it is still possible to sell. Though traditional buyers won’t touch it, cash buyers can purchase it and handle remediation after closing.
Do I have to test for asbestos before selling my house?
No. Though Wisconsin law requires the disclosure of known defects, there are no requirements for mandatory testing. To avoid future disputes, sell as-is. But to be on the safe side, please let us know if you suspect asbestos in the house.
Conclusion: Don’t Let Asbestos Eat Your Equity
My team and I at Cream City Homebuyers are ready to assist you in selling your house. If it was built before 1980 and it might have asbestos, we’ll be happy to help. All you need to do is contact us to schedule a property discovery and we’ll go from there. After that, you get the cash offer you need and a closed deal fast. Don’t wait, contact us today for more information.
