Go Green and Keep New Mexico Free of Asbestos!

By: Joe Lederman
Mesothelioma Cancer Center
www.Asbestos.com (click on title go green for direct link to website)


If you are in the real-estate industry or are a potential homebuyer, you may be at risk for asbestos exposure. Homes or buildings built prior to 1980 have a strong chance of containing asbestos, a mineral used throughout the 20th century in many building applications. There are many natural asbestos deposits in New Mexico, as well as several oil refineries and two power plants. Asbestos exposure is possible or has been noted at all of those locations. Real Estates man and potential home buyers should be aware that asbestos exposure can cause many health concerns for you and your family.

Popular because of its durability and resistance too many weather deteriorating conditions, asbestos was used in the manufacturer of thousands of products. Asbestos exposure causes an extremely debilitating and fatal lung ailment known as mesothelioma. Asbestos-related disease typically has long latency periods, sometimes taking up to 50 years for symptoms to develop. This makes it difficult for physicians to diagnose and treat. Even if your home or jobsite has had asbestos removed, exposure may have occurred previously.

The New Mexico Environmental Department is an organization that oversees the removal of asbestos from workplaces, homes and buildings. It is especially important to determine if asbestos is in the water or steam pipes. It is best to coat them with modern protection such as plastic or sprays that will encapsulate its fibers. Removal of asbestos must be performed by licensed abatement contractors who are trained in handling the substance. Once the area is clean, green eco friendly options should be considered. These include: cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene, a water based spray polyurethane foam that features no toxic components.

Due to these recycled materials, waste is decreasing in crowded landfills. Currently, many cities in the U.S. have created lumberyards which re-store recycled building substances that are authentically strong and inexpensive. Many people do not give much thought into what is being consumed around them throughout their daily lives. Americans in the workplace don’t pay attention to the air they breathe while at work or leaking faucets in bathrooms.

Many cities are adapting to this new green paradigm. In New Mexico, construction practices are upgrading methods to suit better lighting, heating, cooling systems and environmentally habitable insulation. Studies show that cotton fiber insulation can save homeowners 25 to 35 percent of energy usage every year. The Green Building Resource Center indicates that in the U.S., buildings account for 36 % of energy use, 65% of electricity and 30 % of all greenhouse gas emissions.



Check out:
Mesothelioma Cancer Center
www.Asbestos.com

Was it the Night Before Xmas

Was it the Night Before Xmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mortgage lender.
The stocks and bonds were all burned in the chimney with care,
In hopes that the Fed, The I.R.S. or Bernard Madoff were not there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of bill collectors danced in our heads.
And mamma in her Nordstrom's and I in the GAP,
Had just settled our credit card bills hidden under a cap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The Realtor walking on the new fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to foreclosure sign below.
Then what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a sheriff, his deputies all drawing near.

With my golf clubs and driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment we had to get out quick.
More rapid than vultures the auctioner came,
and he whistled, and shouted, and called buyers by name!

Now 100! now, 200! now 250 no more!
On 255, On 260, 260 and more!
To the top of the porch to the top of the wall
Now get away, get Away, get away all!

So mama and I and the children did leave,
thanks to George Bush's economy and the pink slip in my sleeve.
The future is bright a bank bailout on the horizon,
I leave with my cell phone turned off by Verizon.©

Written by William Staab adapted from the poem Twas the night before Christmas by Clement Moore. No part of this article may be publish or reprinted without the sole consent of the author or this blog/website.

WIN Home Inspection in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho & Santa Fe

The best time to start a maintenance program for your home is now!

A well-maintained home is safer and more comfortable to live in and also improves its salability if you should put it on the market. An example of a maintenance issue that would make a home more comfortable is proper/effective sealing (weather stripping and caulking). Weather stripping the doors and windows, caulking around the door and window frames, and caulking around other penetrations, such as plumbing and electrical penetrations, not only keeps the items off the inspector’s list but may have the highest cost-to-payback ratio of any maintenance you can do. You would not want to leave a window open year round but that is what a poorly sealed home can be compared to with regard to your comfort and energy cost. While you have that caulk gun warmed up make sure that the caulk in wet areas, such as the tub/shower, is keeping moisture in its place.

Another example where maintenance adds to the comfort/ salability of the home is the heating system. Along side the water heater, heating systems are arguably the most taken for granted systems in today’s home. Heating systems should be inspected and adjusted annually by a qualified HVAC technician. Debris build-up in the burner chamber can alter the fuel-to-air mixture and reduce its efficiency. A failure in the furnace may cause high levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) in your home, so have it maintained regularly. Write the service date on a card by the system. If your heating system is over 10-15 years old, the payback to replace it with a more efficient model may be in the two- to three-year range.

Roofs are another overlooked area in many of the homes I visit as a home inspector. Just because the roof isn’t leaking doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need maintenance. If you have a fear of heights or even lack experience working at heights, this will be something you want to have performed by a professional. Leaking roofs can cause damage to the interior of the home which may cost more to repair than the roof repairs. Even worse, undetected or ignored roof leaks may contribute to bio-organic growth such as mold and mildew. Flat roofs need maintenance every two years or less and if your roof is pitched, sealing around the roof’s penetrations should be done every two years. The sun we so love here in the southwest sends UV rays that are as harmful to some roofing components as they are to our skin. Use sunscreen and maintain your roof.

Another energy-saving and safety-related issue is the dryer vent in your home. A clogged dryer vent can add substantially to the energy cost to operate your home. Some claims I have read indicate that it may cost an additional $15.00 a month to dry your clothing if the dryer vent is full of lint. More importantly, clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of home fires. After cleaning the vent, replacement of the plastic flexible vent extension that extends between the dryer and the wall vent is also recommended. The metal extensions have less resistance than plastic, and may help contain a fire if one should occur. The new expanding metal dryer-to-outside vent extensions also allow you to place the dryer closer to the wall without crushing the vent extension.

These are some great starts to a proper maintenance program for your home. Added comfort, reduced energy cost, increased salability of your home--three great reasons to start today. If you need some help learning how to do some of this maintenance, search the Internet to find some specific how-to sites. A great site for energy tips can be found at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/power-smarts/

Information provided by:

WIN Home Inspection Paul Norris
Certified Real Estate Inspector
P.O. Box 15758
Rio Rancho, NM 87174
(505) 892-5599 -Rio Rancho
(505) 466-7243 Santa Fe
www.wini.com

Contact Paul Norris for your next Home Inspection

ALBUQUERQUE HOME AUCTION! 12014 Sullivan 87114

Auction Date: 12/10/2008 at 10:00am
Starting Bid: $99,000

12014 Sullivan Albuquerque, New Mexico 87114 2019 squarefeet, 3 bedroom Pueblo Style home, built about 10 years ago we believe by Sivage Thomas. Property sold as is, on site. Property will be open for viewing 12/10/2008 at 8:00am if you have not gotten the opportunity to view during the open houses. Property has great views of Sandias from upstairs dayroom and balcony, enclosed front porch and 2 glass fireplaces that pass through mastersuite to masterbath and from living room to dining room. Kitchen has breakfast nook that has sliding glass doors to patio and coy pond. Mastersuite has seperate door to a back patio and is on the main floor. Large Celestory windows and high 18ft ceilings in living room.

You must:

Register online 48 hours prior to auction at http://ushomeauction.com
Bring a $5,000.00 cashiers check made out to yourself.
A personal check for any earnest money overages etc.
Close on the property within 30 days
Bring proof of funds or letter of prequalification from a/your mortgage lender or contact Ana Lisa Cordoba D.L.Cline Mortgage 379-8722 or Charel & Shawn Lock Legacy Mortgage 792-7648 (more information on http://www.buyahousenewmexico.com/custom/mortgages.htm
All Inspections must be completed on the property prior to auction there will be no access to property until after Title closing.