Septics Can Stink... But They Do Not Have To!

In much of rural America, property owners rely heavily on their

septic system to "take care of business." Those that live within a municipality that offers water and sewer services may not be familiar with these systems. For those living with benefits of having a local municipality to handle their waste water from the sink, shower, toilet and other water sources it is hard to imagine exactly where the water goes since the city has a complex drainage and wastewater treatment plants that remove much of the inconvenience of the septic system. However, these services are never free and are funded with taxpayer money. Therefore, the properties without these public services raise a few questions when it comes to handing business. When buying or selling a home it is imperative to get these systems inspected, and some areas in the Ohio, like Tuscarawas County and Stark County are requiring it.

There are several different types of septic systems that serve the same purpose. Whether the septic system is a Mound System, an Off-lot system, a Conventional system, or another variation depends on several different factors. Things like soil content, density, lot size, zoning regulations, and more are taken into account when upgrading or replacing these systems. Ultimately, there will be a number of different parties that help contribute to deciding the best system for your yard, and your community.

Some communities make it a point to have the appropriate, functioning septic systems among the residents so everyone can live in a nice, stink free area! Point of Sale (POS) inspections are utilized, and required in some areas to help implement the policies the municipalities make regarding septic systems. These POS inspections can involve contacting the local health department, or water and sewer department, filling out an application, contacting a registered water or sewer contractor to obtain a quote, having soil samples taken from the property and analyzed at a lab, coordinating with the contractor on what systems he thinks will work for the property, sending proposal plans to the county, obtaining approval or altering the plan, ordering the equipment for your new septic, and waiting for the new septic to be installed. This can be a lot. It is important if you have plans to sell your home, you contact a Realtor that is familiar with local processes, contractors, and the overall septic system Point of Sale process.

One major question that will need answered when selling or buying your home is how you will be affording this important, and often expensive system; some residential systems can be upwards of $30,000 in Northeast Ohio. Thankfully, there are several options that can be utilized to ensure a smooth transaction depending on your circumstances and the banks requirements:

1) If a seller has cash to afford the new septic they can pay to have this done, and market their home with the dependability and reliability a new septic can offer.

2) If sellers do not have the cash, but will be receiving a large cash settlement at closing, they can coordinate with the title company, and the buyer and their accompanying parties, to set up an escrow account to pay for these repairs from the proceeds of a transaction.

3) When sellers do not have cash, and sell their home without enough equity to afford the new septic, buyers are able to step in and pay for the septic system using an escrow account the same way the sellers can, so long as their lender permits it. This usually results in a home sold at a discounted price.

4) If neither party can afford the new septic, but agree to the discounted price, some loan products will allow the buyer to finance the repairs.

It is important to get your septic system serviced regularly by a respectable, licensed contractor. If you have plans to sell or buy a home it is important to familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations, your banks guidelines for handling septic and well replacement, and if needed, point of sale regulations. Your local Realtor should be able to help with these resources. Otherwise feel free to contact me and I will refer you to a licensed, trustworthy agent if it is in a market I do not service. Remember: If the grass is greener on the other-side, they might have an overflowing septic tank.