Whether you are putting your home on the market or looking to purchase a home that utilizes an onsite wastewater treatment system or septic system or you are an agent representing either the buying or selling parties, the following information can be of great value to you or your clients.
SELLING YOUR HOME
When you make the decision to sell your home there are many factors involved. Finding a buyer is often times the easy part. Many times the septic system is forgotten about until the last minute. Are you ready? How much information do you have about your system? The following is a list of the septic related questions you need to know prior to our arrival.
1. Where is the septic tank? Do you have a layout drawing?
2. Are you going to uncover the lids or do you want the company to do it?
3. How long has it been since it was last pumped?
4. Have you had any problems in the past?
5. How many people live in the home?
6. How many bedrooms does the home have?
7. Does your laundry go into the septic tank or does it utilize a gray water system?
8. Have there been any repairs to the system in the past, if so, what were they and when were they done?
9. Is this the original system?
10. When was the system installed?
11. Are you prepared to have repairs made to the system should it be necessary?
You should feel comfortable with your decision to hire our company, make one phone call and know you are going to be well cared for from start to finish. We do not hire sub contractors, nor do we refer you on to other companies to complete the repairs and leave you hanging if it gets too tough to handle.
PURCHASING A NEW HOME THAT USES A SEPTIC SYSTEM
You have just found the house of your dreams, the price is right, the house is great, fantastic views and everything you ever wanted in a house.
Do you really know what you are getting into? Have you read your septic certificate? Really read it! What do you think, does it pass or fail? The following questions we feel are things you should know or ask about before you purchase that house of your dreams.
1. What type of water test was done to the leach field, metered or 20 minute?
2. Did it show passing or failing results?
3. What shape is the septic tank in and are all the components in place. Has the deterioration process gotten to the point of being a safety and health concern?
4. How old is the system?
5. How large is the property, is there room for additional leach lines when the existing field fails. Are you planning a room addition or pool? If so, is there room for a larger field and or tank if necessary and still maintain the required reserve area?
6. Is this the original system?
7. Was this a permitted septic installation?
8. Were all compartments pumped when the certificate work was done?
9. Has the system had regular maintenance?
10. If problems were listed, were they repaired?
11. Is this a high water table area?
12. Is the system large enough for the size of the home?
13. If the tank has risers, are they to code and large enough to do an adequate pumping job?
14. Has there been chemicals used to maintain the system in the past?
15. Has any part of the system been driven or parked on in the past? If so, has any damage been done to the system.
16. Is there more than one tank or system on the property?
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION REPORT
Our Septic Report Packages are one of the most comprehensive in the business today. We feel that providing both the buying and the selling parties all of the information available is what is important.
The one page report by itself leaves a lot to the imagination. There are many questions that should be addressed that end up being swept under the rug only to be discovered when it is too late.
We gather all septic related information from the selling party or property representative and on site observations, We base our test results on the size of the home, provide tank location, including photos, for future reference, repair information and site specific observations for codes and functioning related issues as well as future system care for buyers that are new to septic systems.
Our philosophy is that honesty is the best policy. We will provide straight forward, honest, helpful and direct answers to your questions. Granted, they might not always be what you want to hear, but so much of life is sugar coated. Your septic system doesn't need to be.
Click on the "Metered Water Test" bar for more information