There are many things to consider when remodeling or purchasing an older home. Homes built before 1980 have the strong likelihood of containing asbestos. Due to a steady progression of technology and green sustainable methods, there are many ways to ensure your home or property is asbestos free. If you are interested in saving money, remodeling and improving your carbon footprint, here is some information to get you on the right track.

Used in millions of homes throughout the last quarter of the 20^th century, asbestos insulation can become a real dilemma for homeowners due to causing a variety of health problems, including Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Malignant Mesothelioma. These types of cancer take the lives of thousands each year. 

Non-regulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. Asbestos removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Once the removal is complete, green insulation options should be given serious consideration, such as: Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene.

The United States Green Building Council(USGBC), in a study conducted in 2003, estimated a savings of $50-$65 per square foot for well-constructed green buildings in the U.S.  during that year. The numbers continue to improve as more eco-friendly options become available, and those kinds of figures have finally begun to attract those who thought eco-friendly construction was just a bunch of hogwash.

Santa in Marlborough Mesa

The West Mesa community of Marlborough Mesa will be holding their Annual Toy Drive this Saturday, December 13th from 9-12am. Santa will be in attendance and breakfast will be provided. Please bring an unwrapped toy for the East Valley Child Crisis Center.

The event will be held in the Mesa Marlborough Park at the corner of Wycliff and Peralta.

Has blogging made me fat?

It’s that time of year, we pig out and put on the pounds over the next month only to make a promise to lose all the weight in early January. Well this year, at least for me things are worse than they have been for a while.

In high school and after I was always in great shape and never had any body fat, then something happened when I turned 30 and I started putting on the pounds. In November 2002 I woke up and realized I had ballooned up to 215 pounds. That was it, I made a decision right then to get things back on track. I went on an exercise and diet program and in about eight months I was back down to fighting weight of about 165 pounds and in really good shape. I stayed on a new eating program and kept the weight off until about two years ago. Then, going through some personal problems that lead me to start eating poorly again and not exercising, I started packing on the pounds again. I really didn’t realize how bad it was until about a week ago I stepped on the scale and that first number was a 2 again.

Fast forward about a week and while hanging out in Twitterville (did you say you are not on Twitter?  Oh you are the one, try it all the cool kids are doing it these days.) I noticed a fellow East Valley real estate agent @PhoenixREGuy saying he had not been on a bike in several years and 60 pounds ago. Perfect I thought to myself, someone else who may be wanting to lose some weight. So I sent Jay “Phoenix Sexiest Realtor” Thompson a message and offered up a challenge. Let’s have a bet who can lose the most weight over the next two weeks and the loser send a $50 check to the winners charity of choice.

Jay agreed, and came up with an even better idea, let’s send a Tweet and get other agents involved and we can raise more money for charity and that is how Real Estate’s Biggest Loser got started. Want to join in, it is easy just send me a Tweet. If you don’t have Twitter you can sign up on Jay’s blog in the comments section, then sign up for a Twitter account.

The rules are we weigh in on Friday December 5th and again on February 1st. Whoever loses the highest % of their body weight wins. We also will be Tweeting our results from each week to help keep each other motivated. While this is a friendly competition where we all win, trash talking is not only acceptable, it is strongly encouraged. So get off your fat blogging butt, take a walk around the block and I will see you in February and you will see a lot less of me.

And please, if you get upset easily when you lose please don’t join the group because this one is in the bag and you will only suffer a tragic defeat. If you decide to join anyways start making the checks out to the American Diabetes Association.

Mesa District 5 Councilmember Dina Higgins is inviting her constituents to a free pancake breakfast on Saturday December 6th from 8am-10am. The event will be held at Fire Station 214, 5950 E. Virginia St in Mesa. Higgins is asking those attending to bring a canned good to donate. Those attending will have a chance to talk to their Councilmember as well as other city officials. The canned goods will be donated to the United Food Bank.

Please join us tonight for a turkey drive to benefit St. Vincent DePaul Society at the Food Center on Southern and Mesa Dr in Mesa from 4pm until 8pm.  Your donations are greatly appreciated.

Lost Our Home Pet Foundation is a non-profit group of real estate professionals who rescue pets left behind due to foreclosure or other financial hardships.

With the growing number of abandoned pets the Foundation is in great need of donations. Helpful donations include collars, pet food, treats or any other pet items.

You can drop off locations by contacting Lost Our Home, by dropping donations off at the West USA Realty and American Title office at 2266 S. Dobson Rd in Mesa, or if you live in or around the Marlborough Mesa development you can drop off your donations at 3061 S. Spruce and I will make sure they get to the proper place.

Thanks for your consideration.

Dean Ouellette