Ottawa Real Estate Investors Organization

With larger residential commercial deals more and more of the banks are requesting Phase I studies to be performed. I have used Patterson Group in the past for these studies and have had no real issues. Gov't regulations now state that if a property is even "suspected" of having asbestos on the property then an Asbestos Management Study must be done. The reality is that most if not all pre 1970 buildings will have asbestos in the the building whether it be in the floor tiles, around furnaces and pipes or in the drywall.

In our case there is no obvious asbestos but the fact that it was constructed in 1967 means that it "may" have some level of asbestos in the drywall compound and it will cost us $4.000 +/- to find out.
We had to have an asbestos study done by a company in Belleville last year for a different property (larger) and the cost was under $1,000, something I can live with despite the fact I don't always agree with it.

Has anyone else had to have an asbestos study done recently and if so for how much? I see this as a potential money grab by the Engineering firms who are taking advantage of the fact we the vendors have no alternative. I am looking for honest, reasonably priced engineering firms and your input is greatly appreciated.

Ken Beaton
ken.beaton@sympatico.ca
www.acrarealestate.ca