Last month I attended a septic inspection with my clients – first time buyers, new to Austin. While they had rented houses for years as they moved around attending to their careers, they never had the responsibility of maintaining a home. As I listened to the Inspector explain what he was doing and why, I got the strong impression that the buyers were listening, but they didn’t hear. They were so in love with this house that they were not paying attention, that is, until the end.
Hire a Professional, Licensed Septic Specialist to Inspect the System
It became clear as the proceedings went on that the prior owners had never maintained or had the septic tank and the leach field properly inspected. Fortunately, my clients accepted my suggestion (insistence) that they hire a licensed septic inspector at some additional cost to them to get the system inspected. The inspection was good, the system was not. The system was not in good working order. The inspector identified several health code violations which would have rendered the property uninhabitable and the county health department discovered them. When it is rendered uninhabitable, that means red tag, you get locked out and must fix the problem, no matter the cost, if you want to get back in.
Inspectors Will Explain All Aspects of the Septic System
When the inspector explained the potential costs to repair the system, my clients quickly fell out of love with the house. After all, they were cash poor and buying this home was going to use up all of their liquid assets. Remember, I had to convince them that the inspection was for their protection against unforeseen repair expenses later and the cost was well worth it. The thought of coming up with thousands of dollars more to put the septic system in good working order was out of the question.
Short on Cash?
Prioritize your inspections. If the property you want to buy has a septic system, have it inspected first. The septic system is a big ticket item with pretty significant consequences if ignored. It is imperative you get a professional out to inspect it before you even consider moving forward with the purchase.
Hire Inspectors for All Systems, Especially Those You Have No Experience
Here’s my point: If you have found your dream home with a feature that you’ve never had before, ASK FOR A NEW OWNER SCHOOL. The inspector is the teacher and you are the student. This includes pools, septic tanks/fields, solar panels, and anything else that might create a financial hardship.
Never Go Cheap When the Downside is So Expensive
We know buying a home is expensive, but buying a home that needs thousands of dollars worth of work is even more expensive. We’ll work with you to identify the best types of homes to buy for your situation. Then, we’ll recommend inspections that are needed and tell you when they’re not. We’ll be good stewards of your money and guide you through the process so you know what you’re buying. Check out our Austin Home Buyer page to learn more about how we’re not your average Realtor. Then, call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@11OaksRealty.com to schedule a no obligation consultation.
Leave a Reply