Septic Inspections for Home Sales in the Triangle
Celebrating 30 Years of Service; Est. 1996
Real estate septic inspection: what buyers and sellers need to know
North Carolina does not require a septic inspection when a house sells. Buyers, lenders and agents often ask for one anyway, because a septic system is buried, out of sight and costly to fix if it fails.
For a buyer, the inspection shows what the system is doing today, before closing and not after. For a seller, it means no surprise when the buyer’s side asks, and time to fix a small problem on your own schedule. Agents and home inspectors can send us the address and closing date and we work around it.
We do the inspection, and we are also the crew that does the repairs, so we know what a finding actually means.
What a certified septic inspector checks
Every septic inspection from us covers:
- The tank: condition, cracks, lids and liquid level.
- The baffles and outlet tee, and the effluent filter.
- The distribution box: level, cracks, roots and even flow.
- The drainfield: wet spots, odor, surfacing and signs of overload.
- The pump, control panel and alarm, if the house has a pump system.
- The county permit records for the system.
We pump the tank as part of the inspection when it needs it, because that is the only way to see the walls, the baffles and the pipe openings. If it was pumped recently we inspect the exposed parts and the records. See septic tank pumping.
Point of sale septic inspection in Wake County and Durham County
We inspect across Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham and Johnston counties. Permit records come from the county environmental health office: Wake County Environmental Services, Durham County Public Health Environmental Health, and the others. We pull them so you can compare what was permitted with what is in the ground.
The report covers each item above in plain words: what we found, what is in good shape, what needs work now and what to watch. If it points to a drainfield problem, see drainfield repair and replacement. A box or tank issue may be a smaller job, such as distribution box repair and replacement.
To book around a closing date, call with the address, the contract date and the closing date, and tell us who can open gates and meet us at the tank. We cannot promise a turnaround before we know the property, so call early.
Inspections belong to our residential septic service. Buying or selling in one of our main towns? Start with septic pumping in Cary, septic service in Raleigh, septic repair in Apex, septic service in Durham, septic service in Clayton or septic service in Chapel Hill.
Septic inspection questions
From buyers, sellers, agents and home inspectors.
Does North Carolina require a septic inspection to sell a house?
No. But buyers, lenders and agents often ask for one, and the county keeps permit records that we pull as part of it.
Do you pump the tank during the inspection?
When the tank needs it, yes, because that is the only way to see the walls, baffles and pipe openings. If it was pumped recently, we inspect the exposed parts and the records.
Who orders the inspection, the buyer or the seller?
Either one. The contract between them decides who pays. Agents and home inspectors can also book it for a client. Call (919) 481-6929.
What happens if you find a problem?
The report says what we found and what it likely involves. Drainfield repairs go through the county, and a repair permit may be required. Buyer and seller decide how to handle it. We do the repair if you want us to.
Can you tell me how long the system will last?
No one can give an honest number. We report on the condition today and what to watch, so you can plan.