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Even Super Heros Need Insurance

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

When the Avengers team up to save the world, they don’t exactly tread lightly. Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the rest of the S.H.I.E.L.D. super-team are constantly facing the threat of global annihilation, all while risking life and limb. But when the bone-crunching fights are over, and the dust settles, who pays for all the damage? Certainly not the bad guys!

There’s no doubt the Avengers would need a superhero-sized bundle of insurance policies to cover the financial consequences brought on by their brawls. But what, exactly, would these policies look like? There are different types of insurance policies we all may need at one time or another, especially super heros and they are provided by example below. 

How Much Coverage Would the Avengers Need?
The Hollywood Reporter sought out some hard numbers in 2012, when they asked the disaster experts at Kinetic Analysis Corp. (KAC) to calculate the economic toll the events from The Avengers would have taken on Manhattan. They estimated that the damage unleashed by Loki, his flying Chitauri minions, and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s nuclear missile would have cost New York at least $160 billion. That figure includes up to $70 billion in property damage and $90 billion in cleanup and recovery costs.

What Coverages Would the Avengers Need? While $160 billion dwarfs the $220 million budget of the film itself, it’s only a fraction of the expenses the Avengers would incur over the course of many battles. Before the next epic face-off begins, the super-team would be wise to invest in several types of insurance coverage.

Some of the Avengers have their own solo movies, but all of them would need their own insurance policies. See how one would insure the following Avengers to accommodate their unique risks.

Insuring Black Widow (AKA Natasha Romanoff)
From the moment it dropped out of the sky in the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, Black Widow’s Harley Davidson was a scene-stealer. Natasha is a martial arts expert who knows how to handle a bike, but even she would need motorcycle insurance for her magnificent ride.

Insuring Captain America (AKA Steve Rogers)Insuring Hawkeye (AKA Clint Barton)
When he’s not taking down aliens with his archery skills, Hawkeye lives a modest life on a farm with his small family. Mr. Barton would need a homeowners policy to protect this hideaway, but we also hope he has a safe room inside to keep his loved ones secure.

Military tests turned scrawny Steve Rogers into a super-soldier, and it was Iron Man’s dad, Howard Stark, who built Captain America’s vibranium shield. Cap should definitely invest in a personal property policy for his life-saving shield, and he would also need renters insurance for his apartment.

Insuring Iron Man (AKA Tony Stark)
Cap’s frenemy and fellow Avenger requires the most comprehensive coverage of all. As a billionaire businessman, the owner of an artificial heart, and the target of angry gods, aliens, mutants, and artificial life forms, Tony Stark would need some serious insurance coverage.

Business Owners PolicyBOP insurance would give Iron Man the basic coverage he needs to protect Stark Industries from property damage and basic liability claims. It’s basically mandatory for the owner of a big corporation, and it would cover the building in New York and other properties with Stark’s name on it. Here are the policy options he would need to consider:

General Liability Coverage: Stark owns the patent to Iron Man, and Stark Industries manufactured the suit and heart. The company’s general liability coverage would cover them if Iron Man got sued for claims of negligence, property damage, injuries, and more.

Product Liability Coverage: Even after Stark’s change of heart in the desert, his company’s weapons continue to cause collateral damage, and product liability coverage protects these goods.

Even Superheroes Need Insurance
Every time the Avengers team up to save the world from a supervillain, damage follows. It may be a small price to pay for mankind to survive another day, but we don’t live in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We can only imagine how much havoc Captain America and Iron Man will wreak in their civil war, but if they choose the right coverages, at least they won’t owe millions (or billions!) of dollars in liability costs.  Something we should all consider from time to time when we review our policies for Home, auto and maybe a blanket policy for the gaps.  We recommend you compare pricing with three different companies and you will generally save money when you bundle coverage for two or more products (like home and auto) which is less costly than separate policies and companies.  

 

Tom Stachler, real, estate, one, ann arbor, saline, michigan, broker, sales, agent, houses for sale, home pricing and inventory list.. Properties for sale in Saline Michigan

Gettingh a Healthy Breakfast in Bed

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Carrots are Healthy Right?  

What every Home needs, the good life hey?  

Cute little guy taking it easy....

 

Why You Should Own a Home in an A+ School District

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Whether you have children or not, it pays to buy in an area with great schools. Realtor.com® recently released a new study that identifies the price premium to buy a home in a strong public school district, as well as the top 10 districts garnering the highest home prices and demand from buyers.

School districts rising to the top are: Beverly Hills Unified in Los Angeles; Highland Park Independent School District in Dallas; Kenilworth School District No. 38 in Kenilworth, Ill.; Rocky River City School District in Cuyahoga, Ohio; Clear Creek Independent School District in Harris, Texas; and School Town Of Munster School District in Lake, Ind.

Realtor.com® compared homes located in school districts rated 9 or 10 on the GreatSchools.org 10 point scale to homes situated in districts rated six or less. The analysis shows homes within the boundaries of the higher rated public school districts are, one average, 49 percent more expensive – at $400,000 – than the national median of $269,000 and 77 percent more expensive than schools located within the boundaries of the lower ranked districts with a median of $225,000.

Houses located in these areas, on average, also move eight days faster than homes in below average school districts and sell four days faster – at 58 days – than the national average of 62 days. Additionally, properties within the boundaries of higher-rated school districts are viewed 26 percent more, on average, than the average home on realtor.com® (an indicator of buyer demand) and 42 percent more than homes in areas with below average schools. “It’s common knowledge that buyers are often willing to pay a premium for a home in a strong school district,” says Javier Vivas, research analyst for realtor.com®. “Our analysis quantifies just how good it is to be a seller in these areas. On average, homes in top-rated districts attract a price premium of almost 50 percent and sell more than a week faster than those located in neighboring lower ranked school districts.”

A look at the top school districts

The district with the second highest Home Price premium is Highland Park Independent School District in Dallas where homes are 632 percent more expensive at $1.8 million than the median home in Dallas County at $277,000. Homes in Highland Park are 3.7 times and 4.4 times more expensive, respectively, than neighboring districts of Coppell Independent School District in Coppell, Texas – rated 9 – with a median of $470,000 and Dallas Independent School District in Dallas – rated  5 – with a median of $400,000, respectively.Highest Price Premiums

In top-ranked Beverly Hills Unified School District, homes sell for 689 percent more, at $3.8 million, than other homes in Los Angeles County, at $550,000. That’s 1.6 times the premium of homes located in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District – rated 9 – that covers Santa Monica, Calif. and Malibu, Calif. and has a median list price of $2.5 million. Beverly Hills’s price premium is 3.9 times more than Culver City Unified School District in Culver City, Calif. that has a rating of 8 and a median list price of $975,000.

Kenilworth School District No. 38 in Kenilworth, Ill., where homes carry a median sales price of $1.6 million, ranked third in the nation with its home price premium of 606 percent compared to Cook County. That’s 2.1 times more than the neighboring district of Wilmette Public Schools District 39 in Wilmette, Ill., rated 10 by GreatSchools, with a median list price of $780,000, and 1.2 times more than Winnetka School District 36  in Winnetka, Ill., rated 10, with a median list price of $1.4 million. Winnetka School District 36 is also ranked fifth in the nation for its home price premium.

Highest Demand from Home BuyersRounding out the Top 10 school districts with the highest price premiums are: Indian Hill Exempted Village School District – Hamilton, Ohio; Winnetka School District 36 – Winnetka, Ill.; Manhattan Beach Unified School District – Los Angeles; Scarsdale Union Free School District – Westchester, N.Y.; Saddle River School District – Bergen, N.J.; San Marino Unified School District – Los Angeles; and Mariemont City School District – Hamilton, Ohio. See chart below for additional detail.

The district with the highest home buyer demand – as measured by realtor.com® listing views compared to the surrounding county – is Rocky River City School District in Cuyahoga, Ohio, rated 10, where listings within district boundaries receive 2.8 times more views than other areas in Cuyahoga County. Homes in the Rocky River District also receive 1.7 and 1.5 times more listing views, respectively, than Westlake City School District in Westlake, Ohio ranked 9 by GreatSchools and Lakewood City School District in Lakewood, Ohio with a GreatSchools rating of 6.

Vivas adds, “While highly ranked school districts in these markets have pushed home prices higher than their surrounding areas, the majority of these high demand markets are relatively affordable when compared to the national median, which is a big factor contributing to their popularity.”

The second most popular school district in the nation for home buyers is Clear Creek Independent School District in Harris, Texas. It garners 2.2 times the listing views of Harris County and 1.2 and 1.0 times as many views, respectively, as nearby districts of Pasadena in Pasadena, Texas (rated 5) and La Porte Independent School District in La Porte, Texas.

Coming in as the third most viewed school district for home buyers,  School Town of Munster School District in Lake, Ind., has a GreatSchools rating of 9 and receives nearly 2.2 more listings views than other homes in the county. That’s 1.36 more views than neighboring district of School Town Of Highland Independent School District, rated 6, in Highland, Ind.

Completing the Top 10 list are Orange School District – New Haven, Conn.; Etiwanda Elementary School District – San Bernardino, Calif.; Longmeadow School District – Hampden, Mass.; Strongsville City School District – Cuyahoga, Ohio; Plymouth-Canton Community School – District Wayne, Mich.; and Regional School District 05 School – District New Haven, Conn.

For more School information and District Maps, please click here and look at the bottom of the realty resources page you will be directed to.  Its important to keep in mind that the most popular districts may not always be the state's top rated scholastically due to inventory supply and demand, but its generally safe to assume a "popular district" will be one providing superior results or resident satisfaction. 

 

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Drinking Wine is Key to Happy Marriage and Life

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

The researchers focused on heterosexual couples in the US and measured responses by 2,767 married couples as part of a long-term health survey. Marriages had already lasted for 33 years on average, with approximately two-thirds in their first marriage, Decanter.com reported.

“We’re not sure why this is happening,” said practitioners, who studies relationships across adulthood. Drinking may not be the only reason they’re getting along, she said.“We’re not suggesting that people should drink more or change the way they drink,” study author Dr. Kira practitioners, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, told Reuters Health.

This isn’t the first time research has found wine to have beneficial properties. Food and Wine took a look at a number of studies that suggest wine’s key ingredient, resveratrol, is beneficial. Those studies indicated resveratrol promotes longevity, reduces risks of heart attacks, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.

Good news for those that don’t want to imbibe but still want the health benefits: Resveratrol may soon be available in pill form.There was one study that, sadly, didn’t pan out according to Snopes.com: Drinking wine before bed will not make you skinny.

What do you think?  Do we Have any practitioners out there?  

Check Out and Ogle the Priciest Homes in the Country

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Do you ever dream of living in a mega mansion with a swimming pool-sized bathtub and a guest house that can fit a football team? Of course you do. Whether you want to walk the halls where celebs once clicked their heels, or prep a meal in a gourmet kitchen ripe for a Cooking Channel reality show, we've all day dreamed about what we would do with an epic living situation.

Unfortunately, most of us won't ever have a few mill to drop on housing.  But for the sake of playing pretend, we've got a list of the top 10 most expensive homes on the market in the U.S., courtesy of Point2Homes.

2000 S Ocean Boulevard, Manalapan, Fla., $195,000,000

SOceanBlvd

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get your hands on one of the greatest estates in the world. It covers a total of 15.65 acres on the exclusive Barrier Island just south of Palm Beach and it shares a 1,200-foot border with the Atlantic Ocean. It has a staggering 33 bedrooms and 47 bathrooms – more than enough for you to host legendary parties! The setting is a breathtaking botanical oasis which opens out onto a wide sandy beach. And if that doesn’t provide enough recreational opportunities, there’s always the tennis court, the swimming pool and the PGA-standard golf practice area!

301 N Carolwood Dr., Los Angeles, Calif., $150,000,000

N_Carolwood_Dr

This Holmby Hills estate is in an area known as the "Platinum Triangle" which has been Home to Hollywood royalty for decades, and the Carolwood Dr. address is particularly prestigious – it was home to Barbra Streisand once upon a time. The estate truly is an immense – and immensely stylish – development, with buildings covering 38,000 sq ft. It has 10 beds and 20 baths, a lounge, a wine room and a theater complex, so luxury is never in question. There is also a spa which boasts an indoor waterfall and a lap pool along with steam and massage rooms.

Palazzo di Amore Lania Lane, Beverly Hills, Calif., $149,000,000

palazzo

As you might expect from the name and the address of this estate, it is a fusion of Beverley Hills good living and Mediterranean beauty. For example, there is not only a state-of-the-art theater and a discotheque, but also a formal garden and a wine producing vineyard. As you would expect, a pool, a spa and sports facilities are available to residents. The architecture encourages both a feeling of opulence and a family vibe which ensures that everybody feels at home. Literally thousands of guests can be accommodated and they will certainly be made to feel very special!

90 Briar Patch Road, East Hampton, New York, $140,000,000

Briar

This superb 11-acre estate with its quarter-of-a-mile waterfront is without a doubt one of the most beautiful properties in the Hamptons. It sits on a knoll looking out over Georgica Pond – the coastal lagoon where Bill Clinton had his Summer White House for two years – and there are splendid views of the Atlantic Ocean. The grounds contain century-old trees, a pond and elevated lawns, and they even provide a sanctuary for some rare bird species. There are 2 residences, both designed by renowned architect Peter Marino, and having a total of 10 bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms.

1187 North Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, Calif., $135,000,000

North Hillcrest

Back in Beverly Hills we have this exquisite estate beautifully located on a 2.5 acre promontory. The buildings cover 18,000 sq ft and feature opulent dining and living rooms, 7 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, all built with the finest materials and capped off with designer touches such as gold leaf crown moldings and hand woven carpets. The grounds hold a swimming pool and pavilions that are ideal for entertaining and relaxing, and as you would expect from such a location, the views are superlative.

2500 E Valley Rd, Santa Barbara, Calif., $125,000,000

east valley

This magnificent property, known as the Rancho San Carlos, covers no fewer than 237 acres and lies near the town of Montecito. The large manor house was designed by renowned architect Reginald Davis Johnson utilizing two natural terraces and locating the living spaces around a gracious central courtyard. Construction has been achieved with brick and pale stones. Needless to say, most of the rooms are palatial and the kitchens are large and well equipped. The grounds include productive orchards and extensive equestrian facilities, and if this wasn’t enough, there are also 10 residential cottages here.

834 5th Ave # 78A, New York, N.Y., $120,000,000

NYC

This is the largest original apartment on New York‘s Fifth Avenue and the listing represents a rare opportunity. It is a front corner duplex which is situated on the 7th and 8th floors – which are linked by a grand staircase – and comprises no fewer than 20 rooms that have hardwood flooring, 12.5 ft. ceilings, and original moldings. One thing that shouldn’t be forgotten is the superb view over Central Park. The apartment is considered to be one of the finest works of renowned Manhattan architect Rosario Candela and is part of a cooperative which offers residents a high level of service.

5225 Figueroa Mountain Rd., Los Olivos, Calif., $100,000,000

Figueroa

This estate near the town of Los Olivos is now called the Sycamore Valley Ranch, but it used to be known as "Neverland" when it was the residence of singer Michael Jackson. Built in 1982 in a French Normandy style, meticulous attention to detail is in evidence throughout. The gardens have been extensively landscaped and include a large lake with a waterfall, a swimming pool with an adjacent pool house, and a large covered barbecue area for entertaining. The grounds also contain other buildings including three separate guest homes, a large movie theater, barns, corrals and animal shelter facilities.

26 Pond Road, Great Neck, N.Y., $100,000,000

26_Pond_Road

Imagine eight acres of stunningly landscaped grounds which include fountains, elegantly tiled pathways and a private yacht pier. Imagine living somewhere where you have views of both the New York skyline and the Long Island Sound. And we haven’t yet mentioned the interiors of the three palatial residences at this Great Neck estate, interiors which feature Smart Home global technology and which are replete with top quality natural materials and exquisite finishes. There are also outdoor and indoor pools, health complexes, games rooms, a bowling alley and even a casino.

10 Cannon Point, Key Largo, Monroe County, Fla., $95,000,000

key largo

This listing is special – it’s an entire island! Situated in Card Bay Sound in the Florida Keys, Pumpkin Key covers an area of 26 acres and certainly offers privacy, but with Miami’s South Beach a 10-minute helicopter ride and Ocean Reef a 10-minute boat journey away, you won’t feel isolated. There is one main home with three bedrooms, two caretaker’s cottages and a dock master’s apartment. For sailors there is a 20-slip marina that’s big enough for a mega-yacht, and offshore, there is North America’s only living coral barrier reef and some quite phenomenal fishing opportunities.

10250 West Sunset Blvd, Holmby Hills, Calif., $88,000,000

SunsetBlvd

Back in California’s Holmby Hills we have this magnificent 3-acre estate, claimed to be the "crown jewel" of LA’s "Platinum Triangle." It was designed in the 1930s by renowned local architect Paul Williams and luxury is always at the forefront. There are 22 bathrooms to complement the 17 bedrooms, plus a sophisticated bath house and a large movie theater. No fewer than five beautiful gardens surround the residence, and each room gives exquisite views of these. But perhaps best of all, the residence manages to combine two important functions, being both a great place for entertaining guests and a retreat for enjoying family life.

Saline Summerfest 2016

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

GREAT FUN FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

On a fine summer weekend, along the streets of Downtown Saline, a wonderful assortment of activities, attractions, and amusements will bring together people of all ages and interests. It’s a super hometown celebration – Saline’s Summerfest 2016!

​Click here for more information. 

Prevent Attic Ventilation Problems, mold and mildew in your home

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team
 
Many homes have ventilation fans in bathrooms and other locations. It's not uncommon for a Home inspector to discover exhaust fan ducts and dryer vents not terminating where they should be. Many times the issue is not obvious to homeowners without some investigation.

This week's tip will help you to determine if your home's laundry and bathroom ventilation fans and ducts are properly installed.
What is the problem?
The purpose of bathroom vent fans are to move humid air out of the bathroom to assist drying the room after baths or showers and to prevent mold and mildew from accumulating. 
 
Sometimes fans and ducts terminate in attic or crawl spaces. This is a problem because these areas should stay dry to prevent mold and other moisture issues. 
Similarly, gas dryer vents should never terminate indoors as they are also venting gas combustion by-products, such as carbon monoxide.
 
Lint build-up can be a fire hazard and is a significant cause of home fires. The photo to the left was a gas dryer in a 2nd floor laundry room venting to the attic. The proper vent was never installed through the roof.
 
Electric dryers can be vented indoors, but will add additional heat and humidity to your home (which may be desirable in the winter). Be sure to cover the end of the exhaust duct with something (like a knee-high stocking) to collect the lint and clean it periodically to prevent it from clogging if you are venting an electric dryer indoors. There are also ventless dryer models available if venting from your laundry location is problematic.
What can you do?
The best way to ensure your bathroom vent fan or dryer exhaust vent is terminating properly is to follow the entire vent.
 
You may need to access your attic or crawl space for this. 
 
The photo to the left is a bathroom fan with no venting duct installed. Bathroom fan vents should always terminate outside of the home. Vent ducts should be as short as possible with as few bends as possible to work as intended.
 
See our prior tip on Dryer Venting for more information on best practices for dryer duct routing.
We hope these tips have been helpful. Feel free to share it with anyone you think may benefit from it. If you need help finding property or other realty related matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.  View property by clicking on the All MLS Listings link above or get your Home Price at www.MyPrice.guru
 
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The Coming Solar Panel Revolution in Ann Arbor Homes

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

THINKING OF INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS ON YOUR PROPERTY ?

Man installing solar panels © Getty Images
Solar energy installations have increased six fold since 2010.

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words.

So today I’m going to show you three charts that prove the solar energy revolution is coming.  Remember, the key to so many emerging technologies is the fact that they’re getting smaller, faster and cheaper. Those are the results of exponential growth. They’re the driving forces behind everything from quantum computing to the next iPhone.  The same forces are driving the solar industry. Solar energy is getting cheaper. It is becoming more efficient. These trends are accelerating. And that’s leading to rapidly growing numbers of new installations.
:

The price of solar energy

Source: Bloomberg

The price of solar energy has collapsed. That’s led to an explosion of new solar installations.

The reason those trends appear so dramatic is because the numbers go back 40 years. But narrow your focus to the last few years and the trend is the same. Look:

price per watt of electricity generated by solar

The price per watt of electricity generated by solar has more than halved in the last decade. Installations have increased six fold since 2010.

The chart tells the story. Falling prices allow increasing numbers of people to use solar energy as a viable energy source.

And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing:

of new energy installations by sector

These figures are from 2014 (the latest data set available through the Solar Energy Industry Association). What the above chart shows is the percentage of new energy installations coming on stream broken down by sector. Solar energy outstripped every other new supply.

All three charts tell the same story. The trends at work in the solar industry right now are driving it towards a moment of critical mass. In fact, some would say we’ve already hit that point. Consider:

  • Since 2010, Italy has increased its solar capacity by over 410%.
  • In 2014, Germany acquired 6.9% of its entire energy needs from solar.
  • But that’s nothing compared to the USA. Between 2004 and 2014, American capacity increased 40 times over as the chart below proves:

Amont of US energy generate by solar

Source: US Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Energy Review table 7.2a.

And the trend is accelerating. By the end of this year, US capacity is expected to double again.

That’s an increase of 7,900% in just 12 years.

We’re at a critical point. Rapidly improving technology and funding from governments and tech firms worldwide are combining to create the kind of opportunity you have to consider.

How best to take it?

That’s the question that was put to Eoin Treacy, investment director for Exponential Investor (and all our tech related products), earlier in the year.

And he didn’t disappoint. He came up with a series of high potential ways to profit from this story. You’ll find everything you need in this new presentation – just click here to take a look.

It’s well worth your time.  

 

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Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team

Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

This page provides important information on how to protect yourself and your family if you suspect that you might have vermiculite insulation from Libby, Montana.

What is Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a naturally-occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes, resembling mica. When heated to a high temperature, flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8-30 times their original size. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, and odorless material and has been used in numerous products, including insulation for attics and walls. Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large (coarse) pieces nearly an inch long.

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Concerns about Asbestos-contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

A mine near Libby, Montana, was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine, so the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos. Vermiculite from Libby was used in the majority of vermiculite insulation in the United States and was often sold under the brand name Zonolite. If you have vermiculite insulation in your Home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos.

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Identifying Insulation That is Made From Vermiculite

Look at the photos on this website and then look at the insulation without disturbing it. Vermiculite insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually gray-brown or silver-gold in color.

The following photographs show typical vermiculite insulation.

You should assume that vermiculite insulation is from Libby and treat the material as if it contained asbestos by not disturbing it or by using a trained professional if it needs to be removed. Since the Libby mine was estimated to be the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990 and vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos, further testing is not necessary to take the appropriate precautions. While you can hire a trained professional to test your attic for asbestos, this may be expensive and, depending on the methods used, might give you erroneous results. We do not recommend that you open your walls to check for vermiculite.

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Risk of Exposure to Asbestos If You Have Vermiculite Insulation

Asbestos causes cancer and other diseases. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers must be airborne to cause a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is not to disturb the material, which would release more fibers into the air. If you remove or disturb the insulation, it is probable that you may inhale some asbestos fibers - the degree of health risk depends on how much and how often this occurred. If you do not go into your attic, handle, or disturb the insulation, it is likely that you will not be exposed to asbestos fibers from vermiculite insulation.

Also, you need to consider if any disturbance of the insulation - possibly by a contractor doing work in you attic - may result in the fibers being deposited into other areas of your house where an exposure might be possible.

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Concerns About Exposure If Your Family Removed or Handled Insulation That Contained Asbestos

It is not possible to say whether your exposure may result in disease. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, and disease may not occur until decades after exposure. The risk of disease increases as the level, duration, and frequency of exposure increases. That risk is made worse by smoking.

If you are concerned about possible exposure, talk to your doctor and consider consulting a physician who specializes in lung diseases, also known as a pulmonologist. For more information on asbestos-related diseases see the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry Web site.

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If You Have Vermiculite Insulation

YOU SHOULD ASSUME THE VERMICULITE CONTAINS ASBESTOS AND DO NOT DISTURB IT! Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air. If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation, you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your potential exposure.

We recommend that you:

  • Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in your attic or in your walls.
  • Do not store boxes or other items in your attic if it contains vermiculite insulation.
  • Do not allow children to play in an attic with vermiculite insulation.
  • Do not attempt to remove the insulation yourself.
  • Hire a professional asbestos contractor if you plan to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb the vermiculite in your attic or walls to make sure the material is safely handled and/or removed.

Tom can help you find a home free of environmental and other issues using his 25 years of experience as a realty broker and retired builder.  Contact us today or look at the All MLS properties listed above.  

 

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Vogels Locksmith Ann Arbor Scam

by Tom Stachler,ABR,CDPE - Group One Realty Team
Scam Alert - Locksmith Scam
If you use Vogel's Lock and Safe for locksmith work, please be aware that their Google Links have been compromised. People reached through a Google search are posing as Vogel's representatives. Their goal is to gain entry into properties to burglarize the property.  
 
Please call Vogel's directly for service at 734-668-6863 (same number for 100 years). Their service vans will say Vogel's on the side, their employees will be wearing blue, yellow and white shirts with Vogel's on the front. They do not have an after-hours answering service, and do not demand cash or follow customers to the ATM for payment.  
 
Vogel's is a local, family owned Ann Arbor company which provides quality service. They are courteous and make appointments in advance. Be sure to call them directly to arrange for service. 

 

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