I can't remember what came first the blog contest or the water test on my listing that was supposed to close a week ago.
Either way both had me looking under the sink, the test kit actually had me looking in the shed, the closet, my office, tool box until I had an idea! yep there it was the Aqua Chem Chlorine, Bromine and PH test kit that I bought a couple of years ago to try and get another listing that was under contract sold.
You see in Wyndfall Subdivision in Clayton, NC most of the homes are on well water and because the whole of Johnston County is covered by the USDA rural loan program, a lot of buyers choose to use the 100% financing that they offer, here's the problem USDA requires a clean well test before they will approve the loan.
Guess what? nearly every well out there has some form of bacteria in it so in order to pass the test, somebody (agent) goes out and pours bleach into the well then runs all the taps in the house, leaves it for 24 hours, come back and runs the water until all the bleach is gone.....here comes the Aqua Chem test kit.
If the Test shows no chlorine then it's off to the county lab to have it tested, except on Friday, they don't take tests on Friday. We will be ready on.... you guessed it, Friday, so now we have to wait until Monday for a re test and then hopefully we will be able to close.
This could have been avoided but unfortuntly the mortgage broker and the agent have never done a USDA loan before so they had the test results for three weeks and did nothing about it!
Make sure when you are buying a house in Johnston County, North Carolina that the mortgage broker and real estate agent are knowledgable in the loan conditions and how to resolve them, like Cindy Prince or Steve and Eleanor Thorne
I would like to help you sell your house, or help you buy a house.
Call me at (919) 601-2268
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Sounds like a must-have item in your agent toolkit. I've handled a few wells over the years and you're right... they almost always need the chlorine treatment.
Hi David,
Some of our listings have had wells, but they've always tested OK. With rural water available in so many of our areas, that''s usually the choice that people make for water.
David - great reminder on some of the "extra" steps that need to be taken for a USDA loan, especially with so many homes on well water here!
Margaret, you know I told the people when I listed the property this might be a problem and I never followed up on it...I will in future.
Judi, It's always been an issue here, but some clean up the first time and there is no problem, I had one that the only way we could get a clean read was for the buyers to install a UV Light for $1000 and this was before they even owned the home!!
David, I've had the shock tests done to satisfy a closing, but didn't need to do it ourselves. But, if the occasion arises, I now know how to get it done.
There are parts of our area served by wells as opposed to municipal water ...and the well test is required but we have yet to have one come back with a problem...lots of filters here too...Paying attention to details is vital to getting a transaction closed in a timely matter...and some people....just imagine everything will magically fall into place.
David this isn't a problem I've had to deal with since moving to Phx in 93. But now....should I ever run across one and a USDA loan as well I'll be prepared, kind of like a girl scout. And hey - what an interesting way to enter the contest AND make it really helpful info at the same time.
A gallon of Chlorine is your duct tape. To me it is kind of funny some of the things the simple products can do. Duct Tape, WD40, Chlorine, with these 3 items you can build virtually anything, make anything work, or clean it up.
David, I've only had a well problem once. It had a large concentration of lead in the water. The solder joints on the pump were leaching lead into the water. Changing out the pump, putting in a filtration system and a couple more tests resolved the issue and the loan went through.
David,
I am with Scott (post #8), the simple tools of life. I think I could survive in the wilderness for years on Scott's list alone...
-Brent
Good story and the Real Estate business is loaded with them...thank you for sharing this. I have one of those kits for testing water also. The local pool supply companies will test it for you for free.....BTW
Thanks for the tip. Sounds like we all need to include these in our utility belts. It is also important to know the requirements of the different types of loan programs.
David, nicely done----so glad I have very few wells to deal with
I think this is an excellent post for the under the sink blog contest.
We are spoiled here with our clean chemical and problem free water-- great hyper-local post using your under the sink kit! Good job! Kathy
Ed I would highly recommend NOT doing it yourself, rather get an expert out, especially if the loan depends on it.
Sally & David, well we all know what happens when we assume.
Anna, I hope you don't this is turning into a nightmare.
Scott, necessity is the mother of invention
Michael, yes I just read about lead leaching in from those joints, lovely isn't it.
Brent, you have a nice time. I'll be at home.
Richie, yes they do however their test is sometimes too high for a water sample to pass inspection, too much chlorine and it fails the test.
Reginald, so true!
Charles, I used to never have a problem with them but they age like everything.
Tammy, why thanks.
Kathy, thanks for reading.