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The most important thing to keep in mind when preparing your home for sale is buyers' interests — but that doesn't just mean making your house look good and talking up the benefits of the town. Too few home sellers remember that one of the key considerations for all buyers (especially families) is health and safety. That's why an asbestos inspection will be such a useful part of your selling toolkit, especially if you get it done well. Here are some of the hallmarks a comprehensive, high-quality inspection report should have to impress buyers.

1. Robust testing methodology

When dealing with a substance as dangerous as asbestos, testing has to be meticulous. Any mistakes in the readings could be hazardous to the new owners' health, so make sure you get a thorough asbestos test using concrete methods. Testing methodologies change and improve over time, but the best panels usually combine a range of tests. This could include everything from a visual inspection to lab-testing samples to using asbestos-detecting technology.

2. Multiple locations tested

Did you know that asbestos could be lurking in any room of your house? Since it was traditionally used for fireproofing and insulation, you may think you only need to have your roof and kitchens tested. Unfortunately, there are many more rooms where asbestos was commonly used in building, including bathrooms, boiler cupboards, and exterior structures. On top of that, asbestos could be in any part of these rooms; it may be found in cavity walls, door frames and windowsills, floor tiles, and even toilet cisterns. So, if you want to reassure buyers with your asbestos test, make sure your testing company samples as many places in your home as possible — leave no stone unturned.

3. Additional risk assessments

It's not enough to just tell buyers where the asbestos is in your home. They'll also want to know how risky it is. The risk ACMs (asbestos-containing materials) pose varies widely depending on a number of factors, such as:

• The material used
• How old it is
• The condition it's in
• Where it is in the home
• Whether it's ever been disturbed

So, make sure to ask your inspector to conduct a risk assessment as well as a presence test.

4. A reputable inspector

An asbestos inspection is only as credible as the company that conducted it, and buyers know this well. Telling buyers your report was undertaken by a highly credentialed, trained, and certified inspector will reassure them that they can trust the results.

Should you act on the results?

If an inspection does reveal asbestos in your home, you will likely wonder what to do next. Many sellers choose to leave the next steps up to the buyer, but that may not be the best choice for you. After all, the presence of asbestos can dissuade people from buying — or at least give them a bargaining chip to get you to lower the price.

When you work with a reputable company, asbestos removal is well worth the investment. You'll be able to raise the cost of the house and make it more attractive to aspiring owners, as well as give them confidence that they're dealing with a great. For more information on asbestos removal, contact a professional near you.