What You Need to Look at Before Buying a Rural Home

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If you are sick of the city life or of all the activity in the suburbs, then you may decide to look for and purchase a house in the country. Country homes are very different than city or suburban ones for a variety of reasons. While you may be happy about the wide open space, there are a few things that you need to look into when exploring your rural options. Keep reading to learn about a few. 

Water Well Systems

Many rural homes are not connected to town water supplies. The properties are instead supplied with water from water wells. While wells can provide fresh water, just like town systems, they can also contain contaminants from the soil. E. coli bacteria, lead, arsenic, radon, and pesticides are just a few examples. You will need to have the water well fully tested before considering a home. The water itself should be tested for contaminants, the well should be examined for cracks and holes, and the well pump should also be evaluated for wear and tear. 

Water should be taken directly from the well when testing is completed and fluid also should be taken from the faucet. Water wells need to be connected to some fairly substantial filtration and purification systems. While it is normal for water to contain some contaminants, even in a fairly normal and clean well, water coming out of the tap should be completely free of contaminants if the filtration system is working correctly. If it is not, then it will need to be repaired as soon as possible. 

Repairs may also be needed to the well itself or a new well will need to be constructed. This can be expensive and should be worked out before you purchase a home. There are some other signs of major issues as well, like if fertilizers are detected in the water. This is something that often happens when runoff from a nearby farm gets into the well. This can be a serious issue and cannot often be controlled. If this sort of problem occurs, then it may be time to look for another home elsewhere. 

Septic Tanks

In most cases, rural homes also do not have sewage systems that are connected to town waste lines. This means that the home needs a septic system and this may be something that you are unfamiliar with if you have never lived in a rural area before. The septic system will consist of the septic tank and the drainage field. The tank will hold all the solid wastes and the wastes will break down slowly over time. As the tank fills with the solid matter, the space will be taken up in the tank. Once the space fills, the tank will need to be emptied. You should have a septic professional investigate how much waste is in the tank, whether or not it has been emptied recently, and whether the tank has any holes or cracks in it.

The other part of the septic system, called the drainage field, is where the fluid wastes will be dealt with. This space will be located on a wide area of the property and it also must be examined. In some cases, the drainage field will clog or will be unable to pull fluid away from the septic system. A new drainage field will need to be constructed, so make sure the field's ability to function properly is examined. 

Some other issues with rural homes may include poor property drainage, frequent electrical outages, upkeep of private roads, and lack of trash pickup. Many issues can be worked out before you purchase a rural home. No matter where you're looking at houses, make sure to work with a realtor like Century 21 New Millenium Inc. to help you negotiate with the home owners.


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