RSA 485-A:39 Waterfront Property Sale Site Assessment Study

[Massasauga]

Looking for a little help/guidance... I have a P&S to sell my Winnipesaukee waterfront home and could use some advice:

1. Do I Actually Need a Site Assessment? - I have a closed system (no leach field...) holding tank that pumps up to municipal sewer...

2. Recommendations for Who Does these?

3. Timeline and What should it cost?

4. What is involved? Need to dig up the holding tank?

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by Massasauga

Looking for a little help/guidance... I have a P&S to sell my Winnipesaukee waterfront home and could use some advice:

1. Do I Actually Need a Site Assessment? - I have a closed system (no leach field...) holding tank that pumps up to municipal sewer...

2. Recommendations for Who Does these?

3. Timeline and What should it cost?

4. What is involved? Need to dig up the holding tank?

Has your Real Estate Broker or Real Estate Lawyer provided you any guidance regarding the actual requirements?

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Massasauga

Looking for a little help/guidance... I have a P&S to sell my Winnipesaukee waterfront home and could use some advice:

1. Do I Actually Need a Site Assessment? - I have a closed system (no leach field...) holding tank that pumps up to municipal sewer...

2. Recommendations for Who Does these?

3. Timeline and What should it cost?

4. What is involved? Need to dig up the holding tank?

These would all be on the buyer and his bank if they are obtaining a mortgage to decide if the site assessment is required.

Just as a precaution as Timetraveler said consult your broker and attorney for further guidance. If you need an experienced attorney I recommend Frank Michel in Meredith


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[jeffk]

Originally Posted by Massasauga

Looking for a little help/guidance... I have a P&S to sell my Winnipesaukee waterfront home and could use some advice:

4. What is involved? Need to dig up the holding tank?

Nothing should need to be dug up. This has nothing to do with the functionality of the system, only what you have and where it is located. Any information you have about the system will be useful. When I sold my house I knew where the tank was but not the leach field. The inspector just took the information I provided and wrote it down. I think he took a couple measurements to indicate the tank location. That was it.

Note that this is not about whether the system is "legal". My system was not current code compliant but was grandfathered. As long as no changes are made to the house (extra bedrooms) or system (new tank) you are not required to update anything and you can sell it as is. The new owners did want to make changes and had to get a new design and approval. That was not my problem EXCEPT if they could not get an acceptable design for the lot. Then they had a right to cancel the purchase. They got the design approved and the sale was completed.

Old Bay Septic Design in New Durham did the inspection and I think it cost $400 in 2015.

As to whether you need it, because you have a holding tank and a pump, I suspect you may need to get an assessment but I agree that your realtor should be able to give you guidance. They may have recommendations for who will do it as well.

[kimdaved]

Seller is required to provide. Contact septic designer to have form completed. Varney Engineering in Alton completed one for a friend a couple weeks ago.

[Triboro]

Here is a link for what is required from the seller of a waterfront property.
http://https://www.des.nh.gov/organi...nts/ssb-10.pdf

Any septic designer can do one. Please note this is not a septic inspection and is the sellers responsibility.

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Originally Posted by kimdaved

Seller is required to provide. Contact septic designer to have form completed. Varney Engineering in Alton completed one for a friend a couple weeks ago.

Agree, if the property meets requirements, site assessments are not optional and are on the seller not the buyer. Here's the DES link -

https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/...nts/ssb-10.pdf

Went through this a few years ago and they verified the design, number of bedrooms, etc. Varney did ours as well. Not sure how it applies to you with holding tank and municipal, but the link should help.

[codeman671]

As others have said, it is mandatory for the seller to provide a site assessment survey should the property meet the requirements that call for one. The agent is actually supposed to have it in hand before listing, although most bend the rules and state that it is in process.

Varney does them so does David Ames. There are plenty of others out there that do, but everyone is pretty backed up right now so I would suggest scheduling asap.

Nothing gets dug up. Its not an inspection. It shows the location, size and type, well radius, structures, etc. It is not a real survey though. Honestly a basically worthless document but required. Usually in the $400-600 range.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Massasauga

Looking for a little help/guidance... I have a P&S to sell my Winnipesaukee waterfront home and could use some advice:

1. Do I Actually Need a Site Assessment? - I have a closed system (no leach field...) holding tank that pumps up to municipal sewer...

Everything I see requires an assessment for a septic system. The OP does not have a septic, he is on sewer. Big difference.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Descant

Everything I see requires an assessment for a septic system. The OP does not have a septic, he is on sewer. Big difference.

That is exactly why I responded the way I did. If it’s wanted it would be up to the buyer. The seller has no obligation when tied into the city sewer. Again always consult your broker and attorney.


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[mswlogo]

I agree I don't believe he needs a site assessment.

The whole idea of the Site Assessment is to describe what could be done to meet current standards if your SEPTIC system were to fail. It does not need to be provided until closing but it's good idea to get it done early because a buyer can back out if they don't sign off on it.

[NH.Solar]

Peter Cooperdock of Fernstone Associates did both my septic design and waterfront assessment. I suggest giving him a call, 603-323-7507