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Looking for some advice from experienced members here... We are under contract and recently did house and UST (underground storage tank) inspection.
Initially they found something under the driveway on the side of the house and stated that probing is needed to further determine what it is. After probing was done the report stated the following:
"The technician arrived at the location and began the probing. The technician probed down
36" and hit object. Although the area in question is smaller then the size of an oil tank and
the sound when probed is not consistant with an oil tank, the area can not be cleared.
Additional Options - Soil testing, to make sure there is no contamination - $595.00
or excavation of the area to determine what the object is - $1200.00"
If it's too small to be an oil tank... then it's WAY too small to be a septic tank.
So ... tell me about this testing that you're doing? They are probing the whole property, looking for undisclosed underground storage tanks? This is not a common test done here... so I'm curious. Is this common? Is there reason to suspect an undisclosed tank on this property? Is there any requirement to do such a test?
Looking for some advice from experienced members here... We are under contract and recently did house and UST (underground storage tank) inspection.
Initially they found something under the driveway on the side of the house and stated that probing is needed to further determine what it is. After probing was done the report stated the following:
"The technician arrived at the location and began the probing. The technician probed down
36" and hit object. Although the area in question is smaller then the size of an oil tank and
the sound when probed is not consistant with an oil tank, the area can not be cleared.
Additional Options - Soil testing, to make sure there is no contamination - $595.00
or excavation of the area to determine what the object is - $1200.00"
We paid for the initial sweep and probe... It is my understanding that now it is sellers responsibility to further investigate...?
Any thoughts on what it could be? Smaller oil tank (275 gallons?), cesspool or septic tank?
The house is in Bergen county, NJ.
Thank you very much for all the help in advance!!!
Curious why, with such an inconclusive result, the SELLER would have any responsibility to investigate further? From what's been written here, it could be a rock, could it not? Is there a local ordinance or other requirement to pass this testing?
Curious why, with such an inconclusive result, the SELLER would have any responsibility to investigate further? From what's been written here, it could be a rock, could it not? Is there a local ordinance or other requirement to pass this testing?
Thank you for all of the responses!
Seller did his own tank sweep back in 2016 (and the report found nothing... but who knows?) when he bought the property to flip it... he knocked down the old house and build this one from the foundation up...
Presumably your offer was contingent on a satisfactory inspection for underground storage tanks.
You can either (1) decide this is satisfactory (2) decide further inspection is necessary at your expense or (3) decide it is not satisfactory and back out of the purchase.
If you decide (3) you COULD ask the seller to pay for further inspection at his expense. He is under no obligation to do so.
(All of this assumes "typical" conditions in a offer.)
Maybe a dry well. Does this house or the former house have a sump pump? How about a washing machine? I have seen both drain to a separate tank instead of septic tank. (or sewer).
If I really wanted the house and the current owner will not offer to pay for or split the cost of further investigation, I would just pay for he $1200 and know for sure what you are dealing with.
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