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Well Water Tests - Have a Third Party Pull The Water

By
Real Estate Agent with West + Main

salt creek falls oregon

 La Pine is known for a lot of great outdoor activities and a beauty that many only dream of.  The town motto is "The Outdoors at Your Front Door." 

Most of the homes in La Pine have a domestic well for drinking water.  The water in La Pine tastes like water many people buy.  But with this water source comes a few items that an out of area REALTOR® would not know were necessary for each transaction.

Every time a home sells that is supplied water by a well the water must be tested for nitrates and ecoli.  The test is simple and can be done by a third party for less than $100 usually.

Many agents will suggest that the seller complete the test and take it to the lab or worse the REALTOR® will do the test themselves.  I highly recommend you not do this, hiring a third party that is neutral can save you a lot of head aches.

Ecoli and nitrates are both found in soil - if your well has a small cave in after the test it can appear that you pulled the water from a different source.  By having a neutral third party pull the water you have saved yourself the possibility of an issue.

Some lenders such as VA loans do require a flow test in addition to the State mandated tests.  It is very easy to have the same professional pull the water for the water test and do the flow test at the same time.

Many of the locals have their water tested every year or so, just to be sure of what they are drinking. 

 

 

Marlene Scheffer
Realty Station - Bremerton, WA
Realtor to Kitsap County, WA
Thesa, we rusually ask for the same tests for homes on wells in Kisap County.  Excellent recommendations!
Feb 24, 2008 05:42 PM
Matthew J Blum - (retired from the business)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Thesa, What an amazing picture!  You really gave some great information as well when it comes to testing the water.
Feb 24, 2008 09:29 PM
Sandra Cummings
William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT
Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut
Thesa - beautiful picture! I surprised at this. Some homes here have wells also, buyers and realtors never do the test, a third party always do them. Is this common in Oregon?
Feb 24, 2008 10:18 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

This is a good risk reduction message.  Often a buyer or seller will compromise on these important tests to save a few pennies.  That's all it is when compared with the risks involved in either not having the test performed or having it done on the cheap.

 

Feb 24, 2008 10:21 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Great suggestion. I agree it is always good to have a third party chosen by the buyer do the tests.
Feb 24, 2008 10:24 PM
Chris Tesch
RE/MAX Bryan-College Station - College Station, TX
College Station, Texas Real Estate
I think I'd rather get my water from the fall that you show!  To heck with the well!!!  Got a property with that on the back?????  I want it!!!!!!!!
Feb 25, 2008 11:44 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro
Thesa, great information for your buyers.  I love the taste of well water but I would for sure want to know that it was safe well water.  
Feb 25, 2008 11:59 AM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Thesa,

Good information and a good reason to use a local REALTOR. All too often I see some who work beyond their knowledge.

Feb 25, 2008 03:21 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Thesa... good info for the average seller and buyer to know.  besides, FHA is stricter on this also....

jeff belonger
Feb 25, 2008 04:54 PM
Steve Scheer
Realty Oasis - Metro Brokers - Highlands Ranch, CO
Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Denver Real Estate
Thesa - If I had a referral for your area, I would definitely want someone like you who is so familiar with such local, important matters such as this.
Feb 25, 2008 11:00 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital
Thesa, your photo is gorgeous!  And I think they sell your water in the local Whole Foods!
Feb 27, 2008 12:13 AM