Selling by owner means you handle the details an agent normally tracks, and the septic system is one of the easiest to miss. If your property in Pima County is on a septic system, there is a transfer process that has to happen as part of the sale, and the buyer, the title company and the lender will all expect it to be done correctly. Here is how to keep it from derailing your closing.
In Arizona, a sale of a property with an on-site wastewater system involves a notice of transfer and, in many cases, an inspection of the system. Our pages on the ADEQ inspection and the notice of transfer explain the steps in plain terms. Because requirements depend on the type of system and the property, confirm the specifics with the regulator or your title company. Do not assume the buyer will handle it. Without an agent in the middle, it falls on you to make sure the paperwork is filed and the inspection is complete.
The most common mistake we see from for-sale-by-owner sellers is ordering the inspection after they have a buyer. That compresses everything into the escrow window. If the inspector finds something, you now have two clocks running: the repair and the closing date. Ordering the inspection before you list gives you time, and it gives you a report to show serious buyers. Our septic transfer inspection page lays out what we examine, and the cost guide helps you budget.
We check the condition of the tank, the baffles and the lids, the flow to and from the tank, and the disposal area, whether it is a leach field or another design. We also look at signs of past backups, soggy ground or odor. If you want to know what typically causes trouble, read what fails a septic inspection.
Pumping the tank before the inspection is common practice, since it lets the inspector see the interior. Our septic pumping service can be scheduled together with the inspection so you do not need two separate visits.
A failed item is not the end of the sale. Many problems are small, such as a cracked lid, a damaged baffle or a broken pipe, and can be fixed quickly through our septic repair service. Bigger problems with the disposal area are more involved, which is exactly why you want to know before you accept an offer and set a closing date. A seller with a clear report and a repair record can price the house with confidence.
If something does go wrong after you are under contract, see how we handle a backup during escrow.
When you sell without an agent, documentation is your protection. Keep the inspection report, the pumping record, any repair invoices and the filed transfer paperwork together in one folder. Hand copies to the buyer and to the title company. If a question comes up after closing, you can answer it with a document instead of a memory.
Agents who work with buyers of for-sale-by-owner homes often ask for the same documents, so having them ready makes your listing easier to work with. We also work with agents directly, as described on our realtor page.
Call (520) 389-5764 with the address and your target listing date. We will explain the inspection steps, schedule the visit, and make sure the report is ready when you need it.
Arizona requires it before the property changes hands · Reports turned around fast · Serving all of Pima County
Call (520) 389-5764