Outside the towns, many homes in Southwest Virginia draw their water from a private well instead of a public system. If you are buying one, the water deserves its own look, and your lender may ask for it before closing.
Start with the lender’s request
Lender requirements for well water testing vary by loan and by property. Before the inspection, ask your lender which parameters must be analyzed and what documentation they will accept. Send us the actual request if you have it. The name of a loan program alone does not tell us exactly what your lender wants, and getting it right the first time keeps your closing on track.
One visit instead of two
Well water sampling is $299 as an add-on to your home inspection. We collect the sample during the same visit. That means one less appointment to arrange and one less time someone needs access to the property.
We collect the sample using the handling procedure the laboratory requires, document the collection, and arrange delivery for analysis. Our standard lender-focused sampling can include coliform bacteria and nitrates.
Who does the analysis
The laboratory, not Level Home Inspections, analyzes the water and issues the results. EMSL Analytical performs the analysis on our samples. When the results are ready, you receive the laboratory report to review with your lender or with a water-treatment professional.
What the results tell you
A water test tells you about the water collected on that day. If a result needs attention, the next step depends on what was found and how the water system is set up. Bacteria and nitrates, for example, call for different responses. A water-treatment professional can explain the options for your system.
Plan for the timing
Laboratory analysis takes time, and some lenders need results before they will finalize the loan. The lab’s turnaround starts when it receives the sample and runs on its working days, so a sample collected late in the week can take longer because of the weekend. Book the sampling with your inspection, early in the inspection period, so the results arrive with room to spare. If you are working toward a tight date, tell us when you book.
You can read more on our well water sampling page.
Choose an inspection day or call (540) 293-3383 to talk through your lender’s request.
The Virginia Department of Health’s real estate transfer FAQ explains how lender requests fit alongside private-well requirements.