You just received the documents from the real estate agent. The papers were about the house that you were going to purchase in two weeks. One by one, you analyzed the documents that you had to sign to finalize everything. The agent apologized for not having delivered them himself because his wife was having their first born. You called him to inform him that you received the papers and that you were studying them. You read each page carefully. By the end of the last page, you noticed that the raised mound inspection report was not there. You called the agent again and informed him that you required a thorough raised mound inspection.
You stressed that the raised mound inspection should not be performed by a house inspector but by a licensed full service septic expert in the area. The thoroughness of a septic expert involves giving repairs to areas of the raised mound that need them. You had no idea who that person would be so you suggested that the agent get a list of these septic experts from the area’s health department. It would truly help if the agent would be present at the time of the inspection. The house was perfect for you and your fiancé. You have been together for seven years and it was time to move things to another level. This was the next level—having a house that the two of you will share and start a family in. It was to be your love nest. You would develop it into a home fit for a big family like you have always dreamed of. But in order to do that, you had to make sure that the technicalities, including the raised mound system were all right.
There was a book on raised mound inspection that you read the night before. It discussed the following considerations:
- The raised mound, like any other septic system is often subjected to neglect and could only be paid attention to when the property is about to be sold. Be in contact with the septic expert that works on the property that you are about to purchase to know the exact details.
- The raised mound system of your prospective property should be in line with the code requirements of the area. The upgrade should have been maintained by the previous owners. If not, then you should be the one to spend for that once you have purchased the property.
- A fully fledged septic expert should be the one to do the following during the inspection:
a. Visual inspection and structural inspection to check for any signs of malfunction or failure.
b. The tank’s contents and fluid level should will be checked.
c. The measurement of the raised mound should be done.
The raised mound inspection could cost about 150 to 500 USD. This depends on the condition of the raised mound. Any amount that is spent on any work to be done of the raised mound should be factored with the total amount of your home. The septic expert should also be able to repair any damage or replace any part in the system. Effluent filters should also be installed to prevent solid wastes from exiting into the soil absorption system. After the inspection, a complete report should be forwarded to you as a formal document that would indicate the condition of the raised mound before purchase.
Finally, the most anticipated day of the big move happened. You and your fiancé were two of the happiest people in the world at that moment. Everything about the property was exactly what you both wanted. Even if you insisted on heavy duty paperwork, it was all worth it. It won’t be easy but you would always make sure that you use bacteria-friendly detergents and soaps; properly maintain your drains, sinks, and toilets; and use lint filters. Remember, a raised mound inspection is essential to maintaining a healthy septic system.
