What's Worse: Northern Virginia Short Sales or Prince William County Septic Repairs?

What's Worse:  Northern Virginia Short Sales or Prince William County Septic Repairs?

I know what you're thinking.  The answer is obviously Northern Virginia Short Sales, right?  WRONG!  I'd take a five loan Short Sale and expect fewer problems and bureaucratic B.S.than a Prince William County listing that needed a Septic Repair.

This week, I gained two Approvals on Bristow Short Sales.  One was a HAFA Approval.  Those were my listings and the result of my work as a Northern Virginia Short Sale Agent.  I was also fortunate enough to get a Buyer a counter on a Haymarket Short Sale that didn't take away his closing costs and only raised the sales price $5,000.  That one is getting close to being approved.  No heavy lifting or stress associated with any of those.

Then there's the septic issue that has dominated my brain, my activities, eaten up my gas and disrupted my sleep.

The Septic Repair involved the State Health Department, located in our Prince William County government center.  So the purposed of this post, the bureaucratic officials my Seller and I have had to deal with will hereby be referred to as THE COUNTY.  The County was also handling a well issue.  I'll make that the icing on the cake.  Let's talk septic first.

The County had told my Seller back in mid-June that the repair to her septic was nothing major and would easily be done in time for her July 5th settlement.  Little did they realize that no bureaucratic agency should EVER make a promise like that.  Especially when they have to write up a permit and have it checked for quality assurance.  That wasted about ten precious days. 

Then comes the repair.  Easy right?  Sure. The repair was easy.  But finding a certified septic operator to do that on short notice, not so much.  The repair was started on the 30th of June and ended today.  Did I mention we were trying to settle this transaction on July 5th and the Buyer's loan was hanging in the balance waiting on the completion report, which was dependent on the County coming out and blessing the repair?  I waited for two hours on a porch for a completion report from a septic employee that he was going to hand deliver, only to be told, "I changed my mind.  I'm going to have someone fax it to you."  Useful information TWO HOURS AGO!

The Buyers loan was also hanging in limbo waiting for well water test results.  The County FINALLY called me back (with a side of attitude) to tell me the results were in (that was the 30th of June) and that they were being MAILED to the Seller.  You've got to be joking.  I asked them to email the results.  They responded they were not authorized to do so, BUT, I could drive 45 minutes out of my way to pick up the copy at the County government center.  This was my punishment for doing that awful task called following up.

Both results are in with the Buyer's lender and settlement is scheduled for the 5th of July. The title company called and the loan docs are in.  WHEW!  This was far more stress than I have ever faced in a Northern Virginia Short Sale.