As a Realtor in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or Maine, your clients may look to you for information on specific areas of concern in a home they intend to purchase, or one they are about to sell. One of these areas that comes up more often in New England than in other areas of the country is the water quality and testing of private wells.

The EPA estimates that approximately 40% of residents in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine use private wells for their main source of water. Because private wells are privately maintained, this is often cause for question or concern when dealing with the sale of a home. So we have compiled some information to help you understand the role you play as a Realtor in the discussion of water testing and quality.

If your buyers are applying for an FHA or VA home loan on a property with a private well, water testing may be required to secure the loan. Please check with the appropriate lending office for more details.

For all other buyers and sellers, here are some tips that Realtors should keep in mind:

• Do your homework in the listing phase
• Testing a private well for water quality PRIOR to listing the house will help you in the long run. Any problems can be dealt with before a buyer enters the process, which reduces the chance for delays and questionable waiting periods.
• Good water quality can be a positive selling point in a tough housing market
• With approximately 40% of homes in New England using private wells for their water, the quality of water is probably already on potential buyers minds. By showing a good water quality test upfront in the listing, you may entice new buyers who were previously on the fence.
• The information you need is available, if you know where to look.
• The best source of information on the age of a private well, the amount of water it can reasonably accommodate, the contaminants that should be tested for based on the location and mortgage loan type, and it’s proximity to potential contaminant sources, can all be found online or through your local EPA office.
• If you would like to setup a free consultation to determine your client’s specific needs, please click here to contact us today.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elitatt/4396382634/

Many of the concerns surrounding the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are centered on the safety of our seafood supply. How can you tell if your seafood is safe to eat? Want to know what to look out for?

Here are a few resources to provide insight into what is safe in the water, and where issues may lie:

- NOAA Says Gulf Seafood Tested is Safe So Far: Huffington Post, July 12, 2010

- FAQ’s about Seafood from the Gulf during the Oil Spill: Sea Grant Florida, June 25, 2010

- How Does an Oil Spill Affect the Ocean?: BlurtIt.com

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, or it’s been a while since you’ve had your well water tested, you should read this report from the NH Department of Environmental Services on Radon in Air and Water. In New England, radon is a concern for homeowners due to the large quantities of bedrock in the ground, and something that should be paid close attention to.

High levels of Radon in water or air can pose serious health risks, and precautions should be taken to test levels of this gas in well water. If you do find that your water contains high levels of Radon, you should consult a specialist to have your water treated. Radon can be mitigated, and does not require a major restructuring of the water system.

If you have questions about the level of Radon in your home, or want to know what questions you should be asking your Realtor, feel free to contact us anytime.