oil heat

[Calicat2u]

Shishu - My advice is listen to Wiley. She is an expert in this field - does this for a living. She is speaking from her years of experience in the field.

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by gman711

I don't think you need to stay away from a property with a tank, but be sure to do your proper due-diligence and some preliminary research before you commit to buy it. First, you need to find out some additional information: 1) How old is the tank? 2) Has there been a number of tanks removed in this neighborhood and if so, how many have leaked and how bad was the leak? You can start by making a phone call to the building inspector at the township or better yet; go to their office and ask them the information related to #2 above. The should be able to answer the question based on permits filed for tank removal, their observations of the tank conditions at the time of the removal and any follow up permits submitted related to any significant remedial projects in that neaighborhood. You can also search the NJDEP Site Remediation website to see if there are a number of cases in that neighborhood. As a quick and rather inexpensive indicator, the best option is to have a qualified environmental consultant complete soil borings around/under the existing tank to determine if there is evidence of any discharge from the tank. Costs for such an investigation would range from about $400 to $600. To remove the tank & replace it with an aboveground tank would range from about $2,000 to $3,500 depending on site accessibility and other site-specific conditions, but its still cheaper than converting to gas. Hope this helps!

Wow. These cost sound cheap, I remember it costing much more. Maybe my remediation company charged to much to the insurance Company.

Diane G

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by wileynj

The Roth tank is nice but they have been having issues with them lately... I would either go with a Roth or the new polycoated Granby Steel Tank - I think the warrantee is 20 yrs. vs. Roth's 10 yr. Important things to consider are - inside or outside for the new tank? I would try to have it installed inside if possible... basement, garage, etc. It will add to the life of the tank.

Mine was installed outside in a protective area on a cement slab. The Roth was the only one other than a cheaper one suggested to me, so we went with the Roth.
We did all this before putting the house on the Market including have all the permits from the DEP. The day they came over I was so nevorous I fainted on my outside deck. Everything was done to code so the samples came out clear. It was not fun.
Willy do you acually do the work or contract it? I've never seen a woman doing the actual cleanup.
To the op, the closing will be stalled if there is a problem. You need to have them remove it first, have tank and soil tested for leeks.
My Realtor would not put the house on the Market until I had the final papers from the DEP even though that was in the works. I can't believe your realtor even suggested you buying with the tank still in.

Diane G

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Diane Giam

Wow. These cost sound cheap, I remember it costing much more. Maybe my remediation company charged to much to the insurance Company.

Diane G

His prices are a bit off... need more specific data to give out real numbers but regarding yours, it may be possible that the contractor over charged - not uncommon with some contractors in this field...we call those types of contractors "cowboys". They give the rest of us good folk a bad name. Currently tank removal and install is running about $3000 - more if you go with an upgraded tank, i.e. Roth on the install.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Diane Giam

Mine was installed outside in a protective area on a cement slab. The Roth was the only one other than a cheaper one suggested to me, so we went with the Roth.
We did all this before putting the house on the Market including have all the permits from the DEP. The day they came over I was so nevorous I fainted on my outside deck. Everything was done to code so the samples came out clear. It was not fun.
Willy do you acually do the work or contract it? I've never seen a woman doing the actual cleanup.
To the op, the closing will be stalled if there is a problem. You need to have them remove it first, have tank and soil tested for leeks.
My Realtor would not put the house on the Market until I had the final papers from the DEP even though that was in the works. I can't believe your realtor even suggested you buying with the tank still in.

Diane G

We actually do the work : ) I have even been inside many a tank. I typically only have to go out in the field anymore during the remediation projects. Otherwise I am in the office dealing with client's, insurance companies, our lovely DEP, etc. Our installer is a female...and let me tell you, she is good! She can install a tank in a basement in less than 1 hr! She also does the cleaning of the old tank before they are pulled. My business partner swears he will never hire another guy..lol - he's a bit spoiled having her around to work with him.

[AntoinetteNJ]

Wiley is correct; your agent has given you inaccurate info.

If you really want that house, your offer should be contingent on the current homeowners removing the current oil tank and installing an above ground tank AND you can cancel the contract if the u/g oil tank shows to have holes or a leak. The process can cost from $2600 to $3500.

I have a listing where the u/g oil tank was removed and an above ground one installed. The process took a couple of weeks. The oil tank specialist gets the permits from the town for whatever it costs, and then just gets the job done.

What a shame that your agent had to compromise the level of trust in your relationship. Makes you wonder where else they could mislead you. Good luck!

[gman711]

Originally Posted by Diane Giam

Wow. These cost sound cheap, I remember it costing much more. Maybe my remediation company charged to much to the insurance Company.

Diane G

With all due respect to wileynj as the information he has provide has in my opinion been truthful, acurate, trustworthy, and extremely helpful to those on this thread, I should have qualified my post by first stating that I am also "in the business" and I have been providing environmental consutling/contracting & tank removal services to insurance carriers, as well as the commercial and residential sectors since 1992. I have completed both small remediation projects at residential properties costing around $3,000 and larger projects like one I am currently working on which involves the structural support of two dwellings and is budgeted for $620,000. The prices I quoted are what the market will bear in Southern New Jersey, down here in "the land of sand".

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by gman711

With all due respect to wileynj as the information he has provide has in my opinion been truthful, acurate, trustworthy, and extremely helpful to those on this thread, I should have qualified my post by first stating that I am also "in the business" and I have been providing environmental consutling/contracting & tank removal services to insurance carriers, as well as the commercial and residential sectors since 1992. I have completed both small remediation projects at residential properties costing around $3,000 and larger projects like one I am currently working on which involves the structural support of two dwellings and is budgeted for $620,000. The prices I quoted are what the market will bear in Southern New Jersey, down here in "the land of sand".

Good point gman - North Jersey and South Jersey are completely different animals! North Jersey is mostly boulders, clay - and South is Sand! I would actually prefer the sand : ) What firm are you with?

[gman711]

Originally Posted by wileynj

Good point gman - North Jersey and South Jersey are completely different animals! North Jersey is mostly boulders, clay - and South is Sand! I would actually prefer the sand : ) What firm are you with?

I was wondering the same about what firm you are with as well. I don't think the rules for this forum permit us to post that info, do they? I am a newer member to this forum and I just want to be sure that I comply with the requirements. I would tell you tell call or email me off-line, but I am not sure how to accomplish that here either without violating the forum rules.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by gman711

I was wondering the same about what firm you are with as well. I don't think the rules for this forum permit us to post that info, do they? I am a newer member to this forum and I just want to be sure that I comply with the requirements. I would tell you tell call or email me off-line, but I am not sure how to accomplish that here either without violating the forum rules.

I sent you a Direct Message with my company name. We don't really come across too many contractors/consultants from South Jersey but I'm sure we know mutual people in the business : )