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Homes and Land in Sunny Sequim, Washington

Homes and Land in Sunny Sequim, Washington

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125 Olympic Ranch Ln, Sequim, WA 98382

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Sequim Wells and Well Inspections

by Chuck Marunde / Wednesday, 08 December 2010 / Published in Sequim Real Estate

Sequim wells are either public or private.  If you buy a home or a lot that is not on a public water system, you will have a private well, and there are some critically important issues you definitely want to be aware of when you make an offer.  Resolve these issues prior to closing with the right contingencies and the right language. I will share what those critical issues are here, and offer some practical suggestions.

Sequim Wells and Well Inspections

Sequim Wells

In this photograph Tom Long of TNT Pumps is doing a water flow test on a well.  Sequim wells generally produce very good clean water, but there are a few areas where a private well either does not get enough water or the quality of the water requires a filtration system.  Here Tom ran the water directly out of the top of the well head through a water hose for one hour, and during this time he used a device (the little gray box shown in this photo) to measure the drop in the water level. From this data he was able to determine how many gallons per minute the well produces.  This well produced 10 gallons per minute, which is more than enough water for any family.  If the water flow is low, such a 2 or 3 gallons per minute, a well cistern can be installed to store 1,000 gallons, which will then keep up with a normal family’s use.  Many Sequim wells produce 15 to 20 gallons per minute, and a few produce over 30.  This particular well pump failed in the first few minutes of the test and then worked for the remainder of the hour.  The buyers are asking the seller to either replace the pump or credit them the cost of installing a new one, which is about $3,000.

Sequim Wells and Quality

Sequim wells produce high quality water as a general rule, but some buyers will decide to pay a company like TNT Pumps to collect a water sample and send it to a Seattle lab for a bacteria and nitrate test.  In the well shown above, the water quality test failed, meaning it had higher levels of bacteria than it should. There is a unique reason that this well failed the water quality test.  This home was listed for sale for almost three years, and the home was vacant that entire time.  That’s a long time for a home to sit vacant with very little use of the water system.  A landscaping company ran the outdoor water sprinklers for a few months during the hottest time of the summer, but that still did not run the pump or use much water over a three year period. The result was well water that was too high in bacteria.

What did this mean?  It just meant the well and the water lines had to be chlorinated, which typically will cost about $250.  Not the end of the world, but still important to take care of if your buying a home with a private well.

Sequim wells do not have major problems as a rule, but a particular well could if it has not been used much or if it is in an area with water problems.  I recommend being very careful to use the right contingency language and the right timelines when you draft your offer to be sure you don’t get stuck with a serious problem.  It’s wise to understand Sequim wells and the issues of Sequim wells when you are buying.

Possibly Related Posts:

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  • The Six Steps to Finding Your Sequim Home
  • Real Estate Books
  • When is Early Possession Safe for a Home Seller?
  • Sequim Real Estate: How do I find a Home in Sequim

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About Chuck Marunde

After practicing real estate law for 20 years in Washington, Chuck opened iRealty Virtual Brokers covering the Sequim and the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. Chuck is the author of numerous magazine and Internet articles with a primary focus on real estate. He is also the author of over a dozen books, mostly about Sequim real estate. Chuck is a photographer, videographer, and Registered FAA Drone Pilot. Chuck has combined his love for real estate and technology to create a growing Internet presence in his market, and enjoys building his websites and blogs, including SequimBlog.com and Sequim4Sale.com and LuxuryWaterViewHomes.com. Chuck has degrees in Economics, Law, and Education.

1 Comment to “ Sequim Wells and Well Inspections”

  1. Bob Harasick says :Reply
    July 22, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Have you any experience about sand getting into the well water pump. I live at 12 Big Foot Lane and had to replace the pump twice in the past year because of sand in the well. Thanks

    Chuck Marunde: Yes, I’ve seen that during well inspections. I talked with Canal Pumps in Sequim about the cause, and they recommend you bring a sample of the sand into their office, and they can identify it for you right away. What many people think is sand is actually rust particles. If it is rust, they can trouble shoot the source or the cause. I recommend taking a sample to them. Their office is in Carlsorg at 110 Village Ln, and their phone number is (360) 683-6328.

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Chuck E. Marunde, J.D.

Sequim Buyer's Agent
(Atty Ret.)
Founder and Broker of
Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate dba iRealty Virtual Brokers
125 Olympic Ranch Ln,
Sequim, WA 98382
(360) 775-5424
ChuckMarunde@gmail.com

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From Los Angeles

It's rare, but once in awhile life provides the perfect collaborator for an important endeavor such as buying your new home. For me that person was Chuck Marunde. His two decade background as a Real Estate Attorney, his prolific career as an author of articles and books on Real Estate and his forthright and moral character made choosing Chuck a no-brainer. Chuck is dedicated, thorough, incredible at the negotiating table, knowledgeable about all local laws & regs but, most importantly, Chuck loves what he does. And what he does is find his client the perfect property. Chuck isn't about making the sale, he's about making the sale that is OPTIMUM for his CLIENT and this makes Chuck a rare bird indeed. I love my new home in Sequim and I am indebted to Chuck for making it happen. Kevin E.

From Seattle

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Chuck over the past three years in selling my parent's estate. It was a tough time to sell during the housing recession, but Chuck always kept things on the positive side. With his real estate law background, he offers sound, practical advice. He helps you along with the process using discussions and reason, rather than opinions and speculations. If Chuck doesn’t know the answers, he will get them for you. In several instances, Chuck took the initiative to meet with county officials to get up-to-date facts about zoning and regulations. I was always impressed with his company’s tech savvy communi-cations and internet presence: weekly email updates, blogs, videos, links, Linked-in networking, etc. He is truly pioneering the future of buying & selling real estate. Brian M.

From California

"Andy Romano is a successful motion picture character actor with over 40 years in 'the Biz.' Mr. Romano has a home in beautiful Santa Barbara, California, but he chooses to live most of the time in Sequim, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula in the great Pacific Northwest. Why? In his own words, 'Because it's even more beautiful and surrounded by more beauty in this incredibly peaceful and quiet place. With respect to real estate agents or brokers, well my friend Chuck Marunde, owner of Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate, is hands down the best there" Andy R.

Intro by Chuck Marunde

From Florida

We do our homework for the task at hand and we look for and expect to enlist partners that do the same. It was our good fortune to select Chuck Marunde of Sequim and Port Angeles Real Estate to represent us as a buyer's broker in our search for a home in the Sequim/Port Angeles area. Chuck's site is all encompassing and super fast compared to many others, he knows the market at every conceivable level and his guidance through the process of selecting and purchasing a home is priceless - above and beyond that of anyone with whom we have ever worked. Add to all this his 20 year background in real estate law and you have discovered a superb asset in the adventure of purchasing a home. Greg and Marilyn

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