Tips for Home Buyers
Thinking of buying or selling a house with a well and septic system?
Buyers
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has put together a checklist of questions to ask and points to consider when purchasing a house with a well and septic system.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (scroll down on the CMHC page to get to septic systems).
If you are thinking of purchasing a property with an onsite system, it is strongly recommended that you have the system inspected by an Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP). By having an inspection done, buyers can determine whether the system is working well, and needs no maintenance, some minor maintenence, or whether expensive corrective action is needed. Septic system issues can have a profound effect on a new homeowner; though they were not responsible for creating problems with the septic system, as a new owner, they would be fully responsible for correcting them.
An inspection can provide you with information on:
- The size of the system and whether it is adequate for the house
- Location of the system and drainfield, including any potential property encroachments
- Functioning of the system
- Any required maintenence
Sellers
if you wish to sell a property served by a septic system, it is worth considering having an inspection performed by a ROWP inspector to determine if there are any problems with system condition or function. If problems are found, they can usually be readily corrected, and this proactive step can help you sell your property more easily.