A point-of-sale inspection is not a formality. It is the item most likely to move a closing date, and one of the few a buyer can still negotiate on.
This is one chapter of our complete guide to owning a septic system.
The checklist
Tank condition, baffles and effluent filter. Sludge and scum depths measured, not estimated. Structural condition of the tank and lids.
Drainfield condition, including a hydraulic load test on many county forms. Pump, floats and alarm where the system has them.
As-built records and permit history pulled from the county file, and the date of the last service.
Why it moves closings
In Minnesota the tank generally has to be pumped before a compliance inspection, which means two visits and two schedules. In Iowa, a time-of-transfer inspection is a statewide requirement on nearly every sale.
Book both at once and at least three weeks out. The most common cause of a slipped closing in this category is a buyer requesting an inspection ten days before funding in the middle of spring thaw.
What a failing report means
A non-compliant finding is not automatically a dead deal. It is a number. Get the repair quoted, and the parties negotiate from there.
What kills deals is an unquantified problem. Quote it fast and the transaction usually survives.
Need a hand with this?
Send your address and we will route you to the Bur Oak company that covers it.
Common questions
Who pays for the inspection?
Convention varies by market and it is negotiable. In much of Wisconsin and Minnesota the seller pays; in Iowa the statute assigns responsibility but parties often agree otherwise.
How long is an inspection valid?
Typically two to three years depending on the county, but lenders and buyers frequently ask for one dated within the last several months.
Keep reading
- Pumping frequency
The tank has to be pumped first in many counties.
- Drainfield failure
The finding that costs the most.
- Costs
What to expect on the repair quote.