Asbestos

We made it through feasibility. The septic study was done and we were approved for a 4 bedroom system. The water quality was fine. The County gave us conditional approval for a building permit. In that conditional approval was the requirement to remove the small 440 square foot cabin that sat on the edge of the bluff. The view was spectacular from those dirty old windows. The cabin didn't have a septic system, just an outhouse. There was no plumbing, but somehow they rigged an outdoor shower head with a pipe ran from the well. No insulation existed in the walls. This quaint cabin which was built 1939 had to be torn down. This was our intent all along, but the fact that it had to happen before we could apply for a permit, that threw a monkey wrench in our way.

Thurston County is known to take their sweet time to process and approve permits. Thankfully I think they had pity on me packing all 5 kids into their office and waiting patiently for my turn to submit documents or ask a question. They had a little kids section with toys in the office and one day when I came in they said, "we added some more kids chairs to our kids area!" Haha! Onto more important topics. In order to get a demo permit, you must first submit an ORCAA demo permit. In order to get the ORCAA demo permit, you must first get the Asbestos Survey done. Once the Asbestos survey is done, you must hire a certified asbestos removal company OR do it yourself as the owner prior to being issued a demo permit!

We submitted our contract early April. By early June we were confident that we could accomplish what we wanted, we were confident we would be buying this piece of property and building and by this time it was just a matter of closing on the sale. So in early June, we began applying for said demo permits. But what about that asbestos issue? The only place that they found asbestos was in the putty of the windows. We contacted the owners and asked if they would allow us to remove the windows (in June!) We expressed our sincerity in this endeavor and explained how it was in their favor as this had to be done regardless of who bought the property. They agreed. We weren't technically the owners yet, but we proceeded as such and removed the asbestos ourselves, or should I say Stephen, (my husband,) did.

Once asbestos is removed, before ORCAA will clear out the permit and let you move on, you must provide proof of proper disposal. This posed another issue. We were contacted with interest in buying the windows. But how would we prove proper disposal? We requested permission from ORCAA to provide proof of removal via photos and then provide a bill of sale showing that we sold them properly and voila! Done.

Asbestos issue, check. Demo permit, check.