When selling a home with a private well, there are a few extra factors to consider beyond a regular home sale. With proper preparation, though, you can smoothly navigate the process and make the well a selling point of your property.
Up-to-Date Water Testing
When listing a home with a well, it’s good to have current water quality testing results available. In fact, it’s helpful to include test results in the listing so prospective buyers know up front that the water is safe and that you’ve done your due diligence to ensure water quality.
Water testing is not an area where you want to find a budget option. Make sure all tests are conducted by a reputable, state-certified lab, and test for all basic contaminants as well as any area-specific contaminants that need to be assessed.
A basic water quality panel usually tests for:
- Bacteria
- pH
- Nitrates
- Mineral content
- Water hardness
Additional location-specific tests might be needed for heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, or other hazardous substances. These tests can be especially important if your property is near agricultural, industrial, or mining sites.
Required Disclosures
Providing current water quality test results is best practice, but there are also several required disclosures to keep in mind when selling a property with a well. These include:
- Well age
- Well depth
- Flow rate in gallons per minute
- Water quality testing records
- Known well issues or pending repairs
- Current treatment systems for filtration, water softening, or other water adjustments
Additionally, always check local regulations to ensure you’re aware of any location-specific rules regarding required disclosures. Your well contractor, realtor, or local health department should be able to advise on disclosure requirements.
Prepare Your Well Records
Buyers will also want historical information on the well when looking at your property. Has it been well maintained? What kind of service has it needed, and how often? Has the water quality been consistent? How much does it generally cost to run and maintain the well, pump, and water treatment system?
Ideally, you’ll have the information and records needed to answer these questions. Even if you don’t have everything, some information is better than none.
To reassure buyers and help the selling process go more quickly, have all your records ready before they’re requested. This includes:
- Annual water quality test results
- Recent utility bills to show the typical cost of running the well pump
- Service and maintenance history for all well components
- Drilling and installation records from your well contractor
In general, think about what you would want to know if you were buying another property with a private well. Even if buyers don’t review every single record, the fact that you have them available will inspire confidence in the health of the well and its water.
Pre-Sale Repairs and Upkeep
If your well, well pump, or treatment system needs attention, do the necessary repairs or maintenance before listing your property. Even if it means spending money, having a well system that looks good and works well will usually pay for itself by helping the whole property sell more quickly and for a better price.
Anticipate Contractual and Legal Requirements
Getting your well into prime condition will also help with the legal aspects of selling your property. An inspection may be required in some situations, whether it’s a loan requirement or a contingency instigated by the buyer.
If a buyer is using a Veterans Affairs (VA) or Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, there will be additional regulations regarding water quality. Since the VA and FHA are federal agencies, your well water may need to meet EPA standards, not just state or local water quality measures. You can work with your realtor and local health department, and consult information from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to determine how to address water quality standards for your well.
When you sell your property, you typically need to conduct a separate transaction to transfer ownership of the well. Health departments or state environmental agencies can usually provide information about this process, including the time frame for completion (typically by or near closing).
Overall, it pays to be prepared when selling a property with a private well. The process can feel overwhelming at first, but you’ll be able to navigate it by researching state and local regulations and contacting local authorities and experts, including your well contractor.
For support selling a property with a well in Valatie or the greater Albany area, call Goold Wells & Pumps. We’ve offered well drilling, well installation, water treatment, and water testing services throughout the region for over 90 years. As a family-owned company, we prioritize building positive relationships with every client and are committed to providing outstanding well services so you and your family can enjoy a safe, plentiful water supply. Our team offers free estimates, and we’re available for weekday appointments, weekend service calls, and emergency service as needed. Goold Wells & Pumps—Trusted Name Since 1928.