When I sent our realtor our "Housing Wish List," a prominent request on there was NO SEPTIC.
I've never known anyone with a septic system who didn't live in an old house with an old system and who wasn't experiencing issues with it. Scott apparently lived with this situation in his childhood and was as adamant as I was.
NO SEPTIC.
So the realtor sent us 2 separate lists, a total of 16 houses. Of those 16, 6 were over our price range, 2 had no interior photos (usually means trashed interior), 3 had septic systems, and the rest didn't really make either of us go "ooh...must have!"
So nothing then? Well...
We both fell in love with a house. But it has a septic system. The kitchen is beautiful! But it has a septic system. The view from the back of the house is amazing. But it has a septic system. Garden tub in the master bath. But it has a septic system. And around and around we went. As it turns out, neither of us was willing to cross the house off the list just because of the septic system.
And so I spent this morning researching septic systems. It seems even the EPA doesn't think you need an inspection more than once per year, and pumping less than that. And as long as you keep up with the maintenance, they're not so bad. They say you shouldn't do all of your laundry in one day, which is what we do now, but I think we could get in some sort of weekday rhythm. They say you shouldn't flush anything but toilet paper. I'm wondering where the tampons go? Is there some sort of mini diaper genie out there? And what about butt wipes? They also say garbage disposals are sort of a bad idea.
So, I'm asking the realtor for more information. But I'd also like your input, whomever you are! See anything bad about the house that I'm missing? Any septic pro/con stories? Anything at all?
7 comments:
Long time lurker, first time commenter...
I've lived in houses with septic systems for the last 25 years or so, give or take a few years in college and 9 months in an apartment. I've never had any trouble whatsoever. Tampons go in the trash, as do baby wipes. Rid-X once a month or so is fine. We've never had ours inspected or pumped or anything like that. Can't speak to garbage disposals since we haven't had one. I hadn't heard about not doing laundry in one day, and I've been doing that for a long time, including cloth diapers. Granted, I use hippie laundry soap, but still.
Don't be afraid of the septic system!
What KT said. I've lived with septic systems, city sewage & a private sewage company. I can't say that there's much difference to any of it.
I wouldn't be afraid of having a septic tank but it might be a good idea to make sure it's included when you have the home inspection done.
And hey, how about a link to the listing so we can check it out? I'm dying to see it if you both love it!
Thank you both! I feel better about that aspect. However, the short sale w/ 2 banks involved probably precludes the purchase. I don't see that going through before the $8k deadline Dec 1!
(also wickedmess, apparently the links aren't noticeable in the new template. the word "house" in the paragraph about the septic system is the link)
Ah, found it.
I LOVE the house - cute, nice size property, lake access, good bones, and French doors. Squeee!
:: fingers crossed ::
Now to look at the code for that template and fix the links...
What happend with this? It is a gorgeous house. And what do you mean "where do the tampons go?" I'm not sure if I want to know, but what were you doing with them when we lived together???
It is gorgeous, and it'll make someone very happy some day. Someone who has time to wait for a 2-bank short sale.
I didn't mention that we went to visit it last week. The neighborhood is awesome - big old trees, nice cars in the driveways - but this house has seen better days. No one is mowing the grass, and the landscaping out front is severely overgrown. Still, if we had any chance of getting it before the end of November, we would have loved to.
And tampons? I flush them. I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of not flushing them. Do you just wrap them in TP and throw them in the trash?
It sounds BEAUTIFUL! I so hope it works out for you.
As for tampons and other nasties - OMG, yes! Just wrap them in TP and toss it into the bathroom trash. Take all of the trash, bathroom and kitchen, out at night.
I can't sleep with any trash in the house (mice! bugs!) but maybe that's just my own personal OCD compulsion kicking in.
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