Warning: Inspect The Water Before You Buy Your Mountain Home!

It's really true that it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Although I have been handling real estate closings on the computer ever since the PC and the software have been around, there are still things in the computer world that I don't understand. Blogs are one of them.

I certainly understand about writing a journal and even putting it on a web site. But how does anyone find it?  There are millions of web sites and to have one web site "blog" and somehow people find it??

All that is to lead up to responses that I received from my last post. I truly appreciate those of you who took the time to write and leave a comment. From the comments I received, it seems I need to do a follow up.

Wells and water are obviously very important and essential in a home in the mountains.

I should have noted that testing and inspection should also be part of the negotiation and contract process. If your well is in a community that has a community well, you may not need to have it inspected. I live in a neighborhood with 107 lots and 45 houses. We pay a community water fee and support the community with 8 wells. Obviously, a problem with the well will be handled by the Owners Association. However, if you are buying a lot that has it's own well, or a lot that is sharing a well with only a small number of people, then the liability if the well fails is higher. You want to have a professional inspect the system prior to buying the property or speak with the professional who is servicing the well. Very few people actually maintain their wells themselves. There are many well companies in the mountains that drill and maintain wells. Any well will have someone maintaining it that you should be able to speak with.

Testing the well is an issue that has rarely been addressed in many transactions in the mountains.

I am often amazed that very few people actually think of having the wells tested. My community tests the wells every quarter and we have also installed chlorinators to help keep the system clear of bacteria. But I have also spoken with many people who say that they have lived here their whole life and have never had their well tested. It seems to be a matter of personal preference. It is just one more item to consider and discuss with your real estate agent as you negotiate a contract. The condition of the well can be a made a contingency of the contract.

Thanks again for all your comments