If you are considering the purchase of a Lake Lanier waterfront home, be sure to include a
septic system inspection or at least a history report which outlines the systems details as part of the
due diligence inspection of the property . Many of the homes on Lake Lanier were built decades ago, in some cases over 50 years ago, and it is important to make sure that the septic system is in good working condition!
The septic system is one of the major components of a home. Because most of the homes on Lake Lanier are not serviced by public sewer, a private or community septic system is usually the case. To investigate the history on these types of systems, we usually start with a visit or a call to the county environmental department. Many of the original records, location drawings, septic tank size, location of field line and other details can be found in the county records. Of course, much of this depends on the date that the home was built, as the county records become less accessible prior to the 1970s. Nonetheless, if the record can be located, it is often a good starting point in determining a number of the original specifications of the system.
Regardless of the records that we often find at the county health department, we will generally recommend that our buyer clients seriously consider having the septic tank pumped and inspected. This can be done by asking the seller to address this concern during the due diligence period. Often times, the seller will agree and pay for this type of inspection. However, many times the buyer is left to pay for and conduct this inspection by hiring a local certified septic system vendor to visit the property, open the lid of the tank, provide the inspection, and if necessary pump the tank. Most of the tanks that we encounter are located just a few feet under the ground in the yard. However, in all of our years of selling Lake Lanier properties, we have found septic tanks located underneath driveways, tool sheds, outbuildings, decks, porches, on neighboring properties, under gravel parking pads and many, many other surprising, unsuitable areas! Hence, the importance for locating the tank, making sure it is accessible, and making sure that it has been serviced in order to confirm that it is still functioning properly. Most of the septic inspections that I have experienced at residential properties around Lake Lanier have generally involved less than one hours work for inspection and pumping, and the charge for the service has typically been between $180 and $300. In my opinion, this fee is a small price to pay for the peace of mind and security in knowing that the septic system is accessible, the proper size for the home, and that it is in good working condition!
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| Septic Tank Uncovered |
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| Septic Tank Uncovered |
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| Septic Tank Lid |
Lake Lanier Area County Environmental Health Departments:
Forsyth County Environmental Health
Hall County Environmental Health
Dawson County Environmental Health
Lake Sidney Lanier Homes is the most comprehensive online source for information on Lake Lanier homes for sale and Lake Lanier area real estate. View the latest Lake Lanier home listings, foreclosures, lots, land, sales trends and real estate topics on Lake Lanier. Arthur Prescott is an Accredited Buyer's Representative and Certified Residential Specialist with
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. He has over a decade of Lake Lanier real estate experience. If you would like to schedule a free buyer or seller consultation, please feel free to contact us directly at 678-513-2014 or email us at Arthur.Prescott@BHHSGeorgia.com.
