When you’re buying a house in the Charlottesville are that is not on public water and has a septic inspection, the traditional test is the “stomp and sniff” “inspection” – (update 2020: holy cow, I was young!)
I’ve talked about septic inspections for buyers in Charlottesville before, but my opinion has been reaffirmed and solidified recently.
Update 8 June 2010: The new Virginia residential property disclosure (explained at VARBuzz) further highlights the fact that the standard septic “inspection” is utterly worthless.
WASTEWATER SYSTEM: The undersigned owner(s) makes no representations with respect to the presence of any wastewater system, including the type or size thereof or associated maintenance responsibilities related thereto, located on the property and the purchaser(s) is advised to exercise whatever due diligence the purchaser(s) deems necessary to determine the presence of any wastewater system on the property, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to that contract.
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Jim Duncan has been helping buyers and sellers in Charlottesville’s neighborhoods for 25 years. Get local insight born of experience.
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