Info

Skips provides a real estate inspection service that is now recommended by the State of Connecticut. When buying a home that is serviced by a subsurface sewage disposal system most buyers want two important questions answered:1. How long will existing system continue to function? 2. How much will it cost to have it replaced? Although these are very important questions, they cannot be answered without a lot of investigation and soil testing. Therefore the inspection process which we have developed is designed to integrate all available information above ground and below ground to enable the prospective buyer to make an educated decision regarding the septic system. This process begins with a call to the local health department for any available septic information on that particular property (location, size and type of system installed, test hole, perc test results, etc.) The information is then faxed or mailed to our office. Skips tries to schedule inspections at the buyers convenience. However, when multiple inspections are scheduled for a particular day it is very difficult to set a rigid time. Each inspection is somewhat unique so the procedure is not necessarily the same or limited to the following outline:The steps taken on-site are typically as follows:Interview owner and/or perform walk-thru inspection of interior plumbing and drainage Access the tank Measure air space to liquid If baffles are intact water may be run to monitor flow Tank is pumped out Inspect the internal components and check for structural damage Locate and access distribution box or appropriate component of absorption system (leach fields) Check current liquid levelCheck for indications of previous surcharging Probe stone for effluent ponding Visually inspect field area for any evidence of surface discharge, grading problems, ledge outcroppings, wetlands etc ... (indications of existing problems or possible restrictions for future repairs) Measure and document depth of components below grade and location, typically from house corners or to other fixed point for future access Complete 5 page report with all pertinent information Review report and system layout with buyer/agentThe charges on the invoice will be clearly broken down between buyer and sellerAs long as the invoice is paid in full, we will provide the buyer and agent with the report the following day along with important septic system user information Balance is due upon completion of inspection. Arrangements to pay with credit card should be made with the office prior to the inspection. Skips also accepts cash and personal checks. If, for some reason payment is not secured, the report will not be released. If there are any questions regarding the report, Skips encourages customers to call the office between 8:00-4:00, Monday through Friday. Most local health departments are also available to help with gathering information and answering questions. A reminder notice will be sent to the inspection address at the recommended interval initially established by the inspecting technician. The recommended time between pumpouts is based on the condition of the system at the time of the inspection, the size of the septic tank and the anticipated accumulation of solids. Future intervals will be recommended based on actual solid accumulation and will be noted on the report given at each pumping. Typically a two-year recall is recommended.