The typical asbestos inspection costs between $250 and $800, with an average cost of about $500—though some inspections can cost as much as $2,000.
Homeownership comes with a nearly-endless list of maintenance and upkeep expenses—not the least of which is the cost of an asbestos inspection—which you should have done when buying or selling an older home. Asbestos is very dangerous, so it’s important to carry out an inspection before any work that might release asbestos particles into the air.
Fortunately, asbestos inspections don’t always have to be a huge expense. At any price, though, a proper asbestos inspection is always preferable to dealing with the potential health hazards of not doing one.
To help you estimate the cost of your asbestos inspection, Jerry
—the trusted insurance broker app
that saves users money on homeowners insurance
—has prepared this article. In it, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the cost of asbestos inspections. How much does an asbestos inspection cost?
The average price for an asbestos inspection is $500—but they can easily cost as much as $800 or as little as $250. It all depends on the size, location, and condition of your property.
Beyond the cost of the asbestos inspection, there are a few other tests that you’ll need to have done. Here are the common types of inspections that you might need:
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Type 3 asbestos inspection | |
A standard home inspection won’t include an asbestos inspection, not by default anyway—but you can usually add one on for an additional fee of $300-$400. Of course, that only covers the cost of a basic inspection, also called a “type 2 inspection”. This type of inspection is done to determine, for certain, if there is any asbestos present—which entails visually inspecting the property, taking samples from the walls, testing those samples in a lab, and then delivering the results.
You can also have a type 1 inspection done, but it won’t be enough to satisfy any applicable regulations since it doesn’t involve any laboratory tests, just visual examinations. And a type 3 inspection is only done if the type 2 inspection confirms the presence of asbestos.
MORE:How to make a counteroffer after a home inspection
Do I need an asbestos inspection?
If you have a home built before 1990, and you haven’t had it tested for asbestos, you should probably arrange for an inspection as soon as possible.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring adhesive that was commonly used in construction projects during the early part of the early 20th century, up until the late 80s. It was outlawed in 1989 because it was found to cause serious health issues. If it is present in your home, it’s a very real danger, and you should get it removed as soon as possible.
Because asbestos is such a dangerous substance, you should always have a professional asbestos test done whenever you’re buying or selling a home that was built before 1990. If any is discovered—but it’s not deemed as dangerous—then you should have an additional test at least once a year (until you have the asbestos removed).
Asbestos has a crystalline structure, so it’s easily disturbed. If particles are agitated and sent into the air, they can be very deadly. That’s why you should also get an asbestos inspection before you do any demolition, remodeling, or restoration work.
Asbestos removal costs
Proper asbestos removal requires extensive demolition and remodeling work and costs between $1,200 and $1,500, on average. Of course, these numbers can vary quite a lot depending on the age, location, and size of your home.
If the area that requires demolition/remodeling is very large, it’s not uncommon for asbestos removal to cost $2,000-$5,000 or more.
The best companies for asbestos inspections
A lot of different companies can provide asbestos inspection services. There are companies that specialize specifically in asbestos testing/treatment and your local mold mitigator companies can also provide inspection services. Here are some of the best companies available for asbestos inspections:
Hygieneering Inc
. is a well-regarded asbestos and lead inspection company that operates in most mid-western states. GLE
is a great option for homeowners in most southern states. They offer top-notch asbestos inspections for affordable rates. Essel Environmental
is another great option for asbestos inspections—plus they provide a wide variety of other home-care services.
The three companies listed above can be counted on for quality asbestos testing services in a number of states. However, like many specialized inspection services, the best asbestos inspectors are usually local non-chain companies. Don’t forget to do a web search for the best local asbestos inspectors.
Just make sure you check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and online reviews for any company that you hire.
How to save on homeowners insurance
Asbestos inspections and removal services are just a few of the many expenses that go along with owning a home. That’s why it’s important to save money where and when you can. One easy way for homeowners to save money is by reducing the cost of their homeowners insurance
. Using Jerry
—the licensed insurance broker super app
—saves users an average of $800+ per year on their premiums! And it only takes a few minutes to set up! In just a few seconds, Jerry gathers and compares quotes from 55+ different providers in order to find you the very best deals! Plus, you can also use Jerry to save money on the cost of car insurance
! You can even count on Jerry to help you bundle your home and auto insurance together to save even more money! Download Jerry today and find out how much you could be saving!
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was wonderful! I used it for my auto and renters policies. I trusted it so much that I signed up my homeowners insurance under Jerry as well. All of the agents are amazingly nice and knowledgeable.” —Mary Y.
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