Admin

Sewer or No Sewer - March Challenge

By
Real Estate Agent with Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 SA5376460000

This post is thanks to the March Challenge created by Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP  and Kathleen Daniels for this opportunity share!  

 

In some areas of Scottsdale, County Islands are sprinkled in between City of Scottsdale neighborhoods.  It's not always obvious, but the area might not have curbs and the lots tend to be larger.  These exist throughout Scottsdale and other cities in Maricopa County.  

 

Brad and Lisa were neighbors who had been renting a beautiful home down the street from me for a few years.  Right after the housing recession, this couple stopped me in our neighborhood saying they'd like to buy a home in Scottsdale.  And the search began! 

 

Not far from the neighborhood, a nice home on a large lot was selected after viewing a few homes.  (You get where this is going. )  The home had been remodeled and was listed for sale by an Owner/Agent.  Meaning, the agent was selling his own home that he had remodeled.  

 

In Arizona, like most everywhere else, seller disclosures are required.  The seller noted that the home was on public sewer.   During the home inspection, it was discovered that the home was not on public sewer, even though the current and previous sellers were paying for it since the 1970's!  Someone had to know it was on septic, but not this seller.  

 

The listing agent/owner, having no idea that it was on a septic system, was  now required to pump and inspect the system to which he had no idea existed. 

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

 

The buyer went ahead with the purchase,  even though it wasn't their ideal sewage scenario.  The sale closed and they've enjoyed their home.  

 

After that sale, it's now my practice for both buyers and sellers  when assisting in real estate purchases or sales to search a site to see if in fact there is a septic system.   Might as well be prepared!  

 

The following link is a database for Maricopa County homes to check for septic systems:  envonbase.maricopa.gov/septic.aspx

Posted by

Search the Arizona Regional MLS

Search for Homes

      

 

HomeSmart Elite Group                                  

8388 E Hartford Dr., Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85255                                                         

(602) 620-2699   DIRECT

www.AZGreenRealty.com

www.GotGreen.info                  facebook   Google + twitter   youtube   linkedin   pinterest   

 

Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

How in the world can you live in a house for any length of time and now know if you have municipal sewer or septic?  Depending on the type of system (we have a mound system) it needs to be typically pumped every month, every year, til the light goes on alerting to "service needed" or if a mound like ours, every 3 years.  Amazing the things you hear and learn ... thank you for sharing this.  It's a real eye-opener Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ 

 

 

Mar 29, 2023 08:32 PM
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

Go with the flow as septic owners will surely know. Thanks Jan, in Arizona we all have our own septic stories. Jeff 😀

Mar 29, 2023 09:49 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Jan I find it that often sellers know but chose not to tell, borderline unethical... and as to agents it is an easy business to get into but it takes perseverance and knowledge to stay in the long term, Endre

Mar 29, 2023 09:51 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ I have seen where a buyer thought there was a public sewer, and it was on septic. 

Mar 29, 2023 10:06 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

That must have been quite the surprise! Yes, it would be a good idea to look around and see if there is evidence of a septic system. Good tip!

Mar 30, 2023 05:01 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Jan - some issues seem to "pop up" in the "end" while others seem to "stir" just below the surface.  And then. . .    A life in real estate shows us that so much "stuff" has the potential to "erupt".  

 

 

 

 

Mar 30, 2023 05:28 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Jan... I sell homes with septic and well on occasion. But fortunately it's rare. And I've yet to come across a seller who doesn't know what system they have. The biggest "mystery" often is whether it's city, county or private.

Mar 30, 2023 06:06 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jan, seems pretty incredible the seller did not know they had a septic system, and no maintenance of it sounds crazy, AND paying for public sewer.   Pretty crazy story, and the seller was an agent.... OH MY!

Mar 30, 2023 07:08 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ - a great lesson learned with that transaction.  I cannot get my head wrapped around the fact that sellers did not know the house was on septic. Don't they need to be serviced? 

I can understand it they are paying for public sewer they could reasonably "assume" it was not on septic ... yet as mentioned above, was the septic never serviced?

Inquiring minds want to know. 

Thank you for participating in the March to a Solution Challenge! 

Mar 30, 2023 08:10 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Water if any type will always flow downhill. A buyer need to know where their water flows, especially if it comes from the bathroom

Mar 30, 2023 09:34 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Thank you for the challenge Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP and Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist !   Remember that his agent had remodeled this home to sell.  He probably knew, in the back of his brain, that the house was on septic; however, he was also receiving a sewer bill from the city.  I've seen this before!  He wasn't in the house long enough to service it.  They don't have to be serviced annually, depending on the number of occupants!  I've also heard stories of other scenarios where they didn't know for YEARS that they were on septic.  Now that's a sticky situation!  Thanks ladies!

Mar 30, 2023 09:41 AM
Patricia Feager, ABR,CRS,GRI,MRP

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ - Stick around in this business long enough and I'll bet we can all pass with flying colors to become a Detective. 

I am so glad to hear you enjoyed the challenge. Thank you, so much for participating. Each story was unique and not like the others, which were all pretty much different for this challenge. This is exactly what AR needs, real estate educational posts. That's my opinion.  

Mar 30, 2023 09:50 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

That makes sense, Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ thank you for the explanation.  

Mar 30, 2023 09:54 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Good question Diana Dahlberg ! Our septic systems are buried and if a seller was receiving a sewer bill, which happens, then they may not be aware they are on septic.  Those don't have to be pumped every year so a seller could go for years and not pump them, depending on the size of the system and the number of occupants in a home.  Systems here are based on number of bedrooms.  Crazy!

Mar 30, 2023 09:43 AM
Diana Dahlberg

Ours are too "somewhat" - however, these still have time-limits. Talk soon!

Mar 30, 2023 10:38 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Good one Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI !  Thanks for the chuckle!

Mar 30, 2023 09:44 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

True Endre Barath, Jr. and we've all seen those scenarios!

Mar 30, 2023 09:44 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Then you get it Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 !  It seems obvious, but when a homeowner receives a sewer bill from the city, and has been billed for years, well......

Mar 30, 2023 09:45 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Thanks Kat Palmiotti .  Funny thing is oftentimes we don't know where to look!  Since septic systems are buried there may be nothing obvious about the system.  Still, when I show homes in areas that look different than regular city neighborhoods, my radar picks up on it.  There's one such neighborhood 5 minutes from house and I'm on sewer!  

Mar 30, 2023 09:47 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Michael Jacobs , you "crack" me up!  Just couldn't resist 😂

Mar 30, 2023 09:48 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Nina Hollander, Broker , here in AZ it's all covered by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality so no guesswork after it's discovered.  Just a couple more steps in a transaction.   The other obvious sign is to look at home sales in that specific neighborhood.  But do we trust the other agents/sellers?  

Mar 30, 2023 09:50 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ hi Jan... as Ronald Reagan used to say "trust, but verify."

Mar 30, 2023 11:38 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Right Joan Cox ?!  In this case, the owner/agent/seller didn't own the house for long, which seemed like a red flag to me anyway!  

Mar 30, 2023 09:50 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

That's true Ed Silva , but here in AZ, they tend to place them off to one side of a backyard, not necessarily downhill.  It's interesting when it's all figured out that there is one, a seller may have paid for sewer to the city for years!  I've heard all kinds of crazy stories.  

Mar 30, 2023 09:52 AM