Can you sell a house with a bad septic tank system?

If you need to sell and your septic system is bad or is failing, you can still get out of the house but you will need to disclose the situation and you may need to reduce the price. As the seller, it is your responsibility to disclose all known issues with the property.

Offer Options

The first option will be to lower the price. In addition, consider gathering estimates from contractors to provide to potential buyers so they know what they’re getting into and have an approximate idea of what it will cost.

This is particularly critical if you are selling to a first time home buyer. Many buyers can get a loan for a house, but getting a loan for repairs such as a septic system can be more challenging.

Fully Disclose the Nature of the Problem

What exactly is failing in the septic system? Is it an issue with a collapsed line to the main or is the septic field no longer draining properly? By finding out exactly what the problem is, you can give potential buyers options on what they will need to do to make the house livable.

Also, do your homework. Have their been improvements to septic access in your neighborhood that would make it possible for you to hook up to city septic lines? While this may not lower the price of the repair, it would give potential buyers information on a once and done repair. Give potential buyers as much information and as many options as possible.

Be Ready to Drop the Price – Sell Your House FAST!

Updating the septic system can be expensive and messy. In addition, if the new owners need to re-route lines to connect to newly available options, they will face a torn-up yard and other challenges for years.

Depending on how deep the septic lines run, they may need to work with their new neighbors to gain heavy equipment access to the digging site. All of this will result in a great deal of bother for the new property owners.

Get Creative With Financing

You might also consider an owner carry loan for a time. If potential homeowners have the money for the septic repair, consider that the down payment and be willing to act as their mortgage holder while they build up additional funds for a down payment on the mortgage. You will have to wait for the payout on selling your house, but putting together an owner carry would get you out from under the septic system repair and the new buyer will be fully invested in their new property and likely to stay.