Buying A Home With A Septic Tank

If you’ve never purchased a home with a septic system, we will go over some very basics that you need to know. Owning a home with a septic system may seem intimidating, but septic systems have been around for thousands of years. If installed and maintained properly, septic systems are a very safe and sanitary solution for your home’s waste.

Septic systems take the waste from your home, purify the wastewater and safely return it to the environment to replenish the groundwater supply.

The wastewater from your home’s pipes travels into a septic tank where bacteria digest organic materials in the wastewater. From there, the effluent travels into the drain field (also called a leach field) where the bacteria complete the purification process and the wastewater slowly leeches back into the soil.

If you’re a home buyer, here are some questions you may want to ask when buying a home with a septic system:

How old is the septic system?
May I have copies of the maintenance records?
Has the septic been inspected recently? Are there any deficiencies that I need to be aware of?
When was the last time the septic was pumped?
Are there copies of the “As built” so I can see where the septic and drainfield are laid out on the property?

Of course, your real estate agent will need to know what to ask on your behalf.

Your agent also needs to know how to deal with this part of the real estate transaction.

What happens if you find out during inspections that the septic system is compromised in some way? Can it be fixed? Who pays for that? Can you get out of the transaction if you don’t like the results of the septic report or the septic inspection?

All of the answers depend on how well the real estate contract was written. Selecting an experienced real estate agent is as important as the home you choose. Getting you to the finish line with keys in hand, advocating for your rights, and protecting your earnest money are the primary concerns of a Bushnell Real Solutions agent.

Learn more by clicking the link to this video.

Work with the best and contact a Bushnell Real Estate agent today.

Kristin Bushnell is a Designated Broker/Owner of Bushnell Real Estate Solutions in Washington and Arizona states. Kristin has a 25+ year career in real estate with comprehensive knowledge to help you with your real estate needs or your real estate career. Contact Kristin here at kristinbushnell@gmail.com or call 425-559-1355. You can also click here to set up a time to chat.