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| I'm often asked about... | |
| Domestic Wells | |
 Generally, most rural properties depend upon a well for domestic water use and possibly some irrigation if the well has sufficient output of gallons per minute. Sellers are required by law to have their domestic well sampled and tested for Nitrate-N and Coliform Bacteria. Other water tests for Arsenic, Iron, PH, etc. can be performed (see linked form: Domestic Water Quality Indicator Tests). Water test samples should not be taken by the Seller or the Realtor. I recommend that a Contractor familiar with taking water samples and the procedure for submitting to a licensed lab within the 30 hour time limit be used. Water test results are to be submitted to prospective Buyers within the specified time on the Purchase Agreement.
Domestic wells can be tested for output flow or measured in gallons per minute. This is done by a Contractor who will meter the flow of water for a period of 4 continuous hours and record the output in a log every 15 minutes. If prospective buyers have any doubt about the well's stability or production limits, it would be worth spending $150.00 to have this procedure performed. |
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| Professional Inspections | |
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Whether you are considering buying a home within the city limits or rural property you should be aware of the professional inspections available to you. (See linked form: Professional Inspection Addendum) If your property purchase will require some financial assistance from a lender, the lender will require at a minimum a Pest and Dry Rot Inspection of the home. In most cases, however, it is my strong recommendation that a buyer go a step further and order a whole house inspection from a licensed contractor that is certified to do home inspections. The whole house inspection includes Pest and Dry Rot, Roof, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating/Cooling and Fireplace/Chimney. The usual cost for a whole house inspection is about $350.00. In my opinion this is money well spent on a major investment. |
| Easements | |
| In general, and easement is a privilege to use the land of another. Access rights is an example of an easement which gives the owner the right of ingress and egress to and from his property. An easement is an encumbrance or burden on that parcel of property over which it crosses.
The dominant estate, or tenement, is the parcel receiving the benefit. The easement is appurtenant to this estate. If this property is sold to a third party, the easement passes with the real property to the grantee. |
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| The servient estate is the parcel over which the easement crosses. The servient tenement is the parcel, which is burdened on the encumbered.
For the most part an easement may exist with a rural property, however in some cases it can exist on a property within the city limits. It is important to understand the content of a recorded easement. Many easements contain language that address road maintenance agreements, thus it would behoove the recipient of and easement to understand its function and liability. |
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