Who pays for a perk test?

Question

JD Martin · Answer

The buyer for sure. A perc (with a c, short for percolation) test will determine how fast the waste water will move through the soil, which will determine the maximum load available on that property. If the property fails the perc test completely - and this is not uncommon, and lots of sellers know that a property will not perc but will keep pitching until they find a sucker that doesn't run a test - then it's almost worthless as a building parcel, assuming there's no sewer in the first place. If it passes, it may not allow the type of construction the buyer wants to put on the property.

Either way, it's part of your due diligence as a buyer. I would be unlikely to accept someone else's perc test unless I knew who did the testing.

Josh Cuthbertson · Answer

The seller isn't the one wanting to build something. If the buyer wants to find out if they can build, and they need a perc test to know for sure, then they should pay that cost.

Ryan Murdock · Answer

Buyer

Account Closed · Answer

This has been so helpful. Thanks everyone who has replied.

In the end I have two pieces of land that needed tests. Land A the buyer happily paid for their own test and will be getting back with me next week about purchasing the land or not.Land B, the buyer went to Sweden for a couple weeks so the seller is paying for it.

Account Closed · Answer

So one says seller and the other says buyer. Uh, still a little confused.

Michael Plante · Answer

Anything is negotiable

Could be buyer

could be seller

Brian Piazzisi · Answer

I am a Realtor in California, but lived in Washington state for 9 years and bought and built my own house. In Washington the majority of properties I looked at the sellers would do the PERC test. Since this increases the value of the property. Especially if its zoned Residential and not agriculture. So what happens if the buyer has a Geologist do the perc test, but the buyer backs out and doesn't pay for the PERC Test. Then the Geologist could put a mechanics Lien on the property. Probably not likely but could happen. Just my 2cents.

Amy Aziz · Answer

@Ryan Murdock As a seller we purchased it and deducted it from closing, but I know some people who perked the land as sellers and did not charge the buyer.

James Campbell · Answer

@Jacqueline M Will I can see how being on the buying end it would seem crazy but even with an inspection on a home the buyer is responsible (at least where I live). It's considered due diligence on the buyers part and one shouldn't assume everything for sale is as it seems and priced fairly.

Who pays for a perk test?

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