If you are a Lake LBJ waterfront owner- septic knowledge is important. Important while you enjoy your home and even more important at the time of sale. Always make sure your Realtor reaches out to the LCRA and requests re -inspection paperwork prior to listing the home on the open market. This paperwork is vital for several reasons. This paperwork will disclose the last time LCRA performed an inspection, who the owner of record is per LCRA, tank and drain field preparation items to be completed prior to scheduling inspection. At this time, a diagram is provided of the property to show where the septic tank(s) are located, drain fields etc. Very important information that I find serious prospective buyers will ask AND a third-party septic inspection company will need in order to locate the tank cover. Knowing what the house is rated for is imperative to make sure the size of the septic system is sufficient for the number of beds in the home.

If the current homeowner is not the owner on LCRA paperwork; form 1100 is required to be filled out which is also known as a continued use application. This just means the paperwork was not submitted to the LCRA at the time the homeowner purchased the home. Not a huge deal, just additional paperwork.

Next, is the reinspection application. With this, you will need the house floor plan. Does not need to be to scale but will need to include all rooms (kitchen, living room, flex room etc), bathrooms and closets. In this sketch make sure you include the address of the home, number of bedrooms/ baths and heated/cooled square footage of dwelling.  If the house is not actively in the MLS for sale, you will need to provide a letter providing the number of bedrooms. If you have it listed for sale, you can provide the MLS listing.

If you have an aerobic treatment system- requires an O & M contract, you will need to provide this contract as well. Operation and Maintenance contract is when a third party septic company does inspections to ensure the septic is in good working order. If your system requires a maintenance contract and you do not have one in place you will not be able to call in for inspection.  I have found it can take 10-15 business days to set a company up, pay a fee and have them do their own inspection, write a report and submit it to LCRA.

Once this is complete, you will submit it online to LCRA. LCRA will then review and if all looks good, will send you an email asking for you to remit the application fee of $150.00. Once that is paid you will send the checklist provided to you by LCRA to a third party septic company that is well versed in septic inspections. They will prep the system/drainfield as outlined on LCRA checklist and call in for inspection.

When buying, selling or owning Lake LBJ Real Estate it is critical to work with a Local Expert that has a proven track record of success to avoid costly mistakes. Reach out today at (512) 786-1515 if we can be of assistance.

Great brokers do more than just sell real estate.  We solve problems, and often times in a moments notice in order to get deals to the finish line.  I was recently hired to a sell a property in Horseshoe Bay and two days before closing we found out that the driveway was poured over the septic drain lines and that LCRA would not approve the septic system without modification. With anxious buyers and sellers ready to close we had to act quickly in order to get this process expedited.

In less than two weeks time I was able to have the system designed, obtain a permit from LCRA and add approx 45 feet of drain line to the system.  We also had to cover the holes created by the work and get the yard landscaped for the new buyers.  For most agents this would be a very difficult task and for me it was not easy, but doable.  Due to my experience serving the Lake LBJ area I was able to tap into my connections and move my client’s needs to the front of the line.  The septic system was completed, approved and today the sod will be laid to finalize the project for closing.

When you are buying or selling Lake LBJ real estate there are many unknowns and challenges that may come up throughout the process.  Its critical that you work with a Broker that is not just good at selling but also at solving problems and getting things done.  Getting to the closing table is what matters.

Before you buy or sell Lake LBJ real estate I strongly encourage you to give me a call and learn more about what all I do for my clients.  This may good and well be the biggest investment you make in your lifetime and its only prudent to hire the best!  Contact me today at (512) 786-1515 to learn more about my passion for selling real estate on Lake LBJ.

When buying or selling Lake LBJ Real Estate, the LCRA requires that all septic systems be inspected at the time of sale and a new continued use permit be issued to the new buyer before they legally operate the system. This can be a very costly repair and something that needs to be factored in to value/sales price. No matter which side you are on, working with an experienced real estate broker will most likely save you thousands and help you avoid unexpected expenses.

The LCRA rates each septic system by the number of bedrooms and total square footage of the house. Often times homes are added on too without the septic being adequately expanded. This means that the LCRA will most likely require a new system or the old system to be retrofitted to meet the new sizing requirements. It is also common on properties with a lot of trees for the roots of the trees to get inside the septic lines and tanks and impact their ability to function properly. Sometimes the system can be doctored to pass inspection but in most cases a new system would be a better bet. A seller is typically going to do whatever to simply get a “pass” where as a buyer may have a higher standard when it comes to their property. Understanding the age, capacity and condition of the system is very important.

For a septic inspection on Lake LBJ Real Estate, the tanks typically have to be uncovered, pumped and with older systems a water load test done to see if the current system is functioning as intended. Working with a reputable septic company can be critical in this process.

When you hire the Carvajal Group to represent you to buyer or sell waterfront property on Lake LBJ, you get a experienced and knowledgeable broker that knows how to navigate through the LCRA’s process of inspections but also how to point buyers and sellers in the right direction when it comes to septic systems to accomplish their goals.

Don’t sell yourself short. Hire the expert! Call me at (512) 786-1515