buyer beware: septic

We’re thrilled to be back with another Real Estate post today. Last time we checked in with this topic, we looked at Three Trends for 2024 and a Warning. You can catch up on that, as well as all our Real Estate posts, here!

If you’re in the market now or will be in the future, we want to provide you with valuable information for navigating the real estate market so we can help you make that next purchase. This is why today, we’re launching a new series within our RealEstate series called “Buyer Beware.” 

But first, let’s keep all the legal humans happy. The purpose of this series is to explore the housing market and what I believe we can expect from it or that you should know about it. Please understand we’re not offering personal financial or investment advice. We highly encourage you to talk to your local Realtor and licensed financial adviser. {Side note: If you need help finding a good local Realtor, let us know no matter where you live. We’ve helped several people with this not-so-little task.}

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Caveat Emptor

A Latin phrase meaning, let the buyer beware and one you should fully understand if you’re buying Real Estate. In its most simplistic form, the buyer holds all responsibility for research, due diligence, and understanding the conditions,  as well as the possible dangers and hazards of the purchase. Welcome to a new series, where we talk about all things on which you should be fully informed.

Depending on which state you live in, disclosures about the property can mean vastly different things. There are actually 21 states that do not require a seller to disclose that a home has flooded. Can you imagine? You purchased a home only to learn it flooded, and the mold remediation was not done properly.

Tom Papa – BTW, we highly recommend all his Netflix specials.

With every state being a little different, we can’t get into all the specifics of where everyone lives, but your local Realtor should be able to guide you in that process. If you need help finding a Realtor in your location, let me {Jamin} know. I know lots of great Realtors all over the country and I’m sure we can help you out.

I do want to cover some “buyer beware” issues that I think can apply to everyone, no matter where they live. Things that you might not have thought about or that you might not have given much thought to. These are things that may not rise to the level of a flooded house, but they might be things that would be nice to know before buying the house.

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Buyer Beware – Septic

Unfortunately, most people can be caught off guard after buying a home with a septic system. This is because they are unfamiliar with them and did not hire the right agent to educate them. We have run into more people than I can count who say, “Well, if I had known that, we wouldn’t have purchased the house.” Unfortunately, in a “buyer beware” situation, it’s your responsibility to “have known that,” and without the right people guiding you, it can be a kick in the gut later when you find out.

So, if you’re looking for a home, here are a few things you should know about septic systems.

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Buyer beware – Septic – Not All Drains Lead to the Sea

For what it’s worth, we’re not sure why people would flush things anyway if this was the case, but stay with us here. A lot of people on sewer systems simply flush and put almost anything down the drain {which you shouldn’t do}, and generally, they don’t see any problems when doing this. However, on a septic system, that’s a recipe for a disaster. Feminine products, baby wipes, tissues, Q-tips, etc., shouldn’t be flushed. Basically, unless it says septic safe on the package or is completely organic {a nicer way to say human-made}, it is a no-go, and that includes some toilet paper, too.

Also, don’t think about using the garbage disposal like you did when you were on a sewer system or allowing oil to slide down that drain. Water and crumbs are ok, but your septic isn’t going to love you if you don’t learn to scrape that plate in the trash and find another way to deal with your vegetable oil.

Buyer beware – Septic – Pump it

You need to maintain the system, which can involve putting a septic enhancer down the system regularly and having the system pumped every 3-5 years. Pumping is not only stinky; but it also requires digging up the access, in many cases. Not to mention it is an extra little fee you’ll need to pay.

We’ve now lived with a septic system for nearly 8 years. This isn’t a big deal as long as you know how to care for it. The point is, helping others make fully informed decisions before they make that leap.

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Buyer beware – Septic – Renovations

Unlike a sewer tap, which feeds to a ، system and can handle extra needs easily, a septic system was built for a certain size house, and if you plan on adding on, it might not meet the local codes. Not only that, but most areas are now requiring that you have not only a primary system but also a backup area dedicated in case the primary system fails. So this could mean that if your current system isn’t up to code, you’ll need to find two new areas that can support the size system you want. That equals a lot of yards, probably 10,000+- square feet for a four-bedroom home on good soil. We’re gonna need a ، b̶o̶a̶t̶  yard: you’ll need at least an acre. 

This will likely require you to re-plat the property involving a soil scientist and a survey and a significant amount of time.

Buyer beware – Septic – Cost

Any issues with your plumbing can be an unfortunate cost, but the cost of replacing a septic can sting, especially if you didn’t know it was a possibility. And if you’re trying to add on to the house, you’ll have the extra expense of the survey and soil scientist.

Buyer beware – Septic – Unusable Yard

You’ll want to keep in mind that wherever your septic system is located in the yard is essentially unusable from a building or planting standpoint. Most local codes will not allow you to build within 10′ if not 20′ of the area, and trust me when I say that planting your vegetable garden in the area probably isn’t the best idea. Also, you won’t want to plant trees as their root systems can really mess with the leech field.

Buyer beware – Septic – Final verdict

With all that said, septic systems shouldn’t scare you away, you just need to understand the challenges that come with them. As with all things in Real Estate, a fully informed decision makes for a good decision. This is why it is so important to pick who is on your team wisely… Not just someone with pretty signage and who sold a lot of homes. You need someone who understands homes and will ask the right questions for you because no matter where you live, some things are simply buyer beware. 

We can’t wait to continue covering more in this new series, and we have lots of topics planned coming up. If you have a specific topic you’d like to see us cover, let us know! We’d love to help. 

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Real Estate is an interesting beast, and having an agent who can pull the curtains back and help navigate what will most likely be the biggest purchase of your life, is essential. As they say, you don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s where a good realtor comes in. {If you need help in hiring a Realtor, check out our post here.}

If you’re in the Middle Tennessee area, I’d love to meet you and help you find the perfect home, you can sign up here so we can start the process. And even if you aren’t in Middle Tennessee, contact us here and we will take care of you no matter where you live. There is no reason to go it alone.

When it comes to renovations we have you covered there, too. See our client spaces here + contact us here to work with us! We hope to hear from you!

Have an inspired day!