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Onsite Systems + Get AlertsWorking with real estate agents and inspecting septic systems has been a growing sideline business for Ernie Anderson, owner of Allgood Sewer & Septic Tank Service in White House, Tennessee. As more people move from out of state, demand for services has increased. To get noticed for inspection work, Anderson doesn’t simply tell people what he does, he shows what his services are with a PowerPoint presentation.
“For a lot of real estate people it’s a new idea to them,” Anderson says.
Real estate offices ask him to come to staff meetings to make his short presentation and answer questions. The PowerPoint presentation covers reasons for inspections and how he conducts an inspection, shows what a typical system looks like and shares an example of Allgood’s inspection report, which includes a sketch of where the system and riser are located.
“I want to show how we do a more thorough check, and I explain the process,” he says.
The education helps real estate professionals become more familiar with wastewater regulations. If a potential buyer talks about adding a swimming pool, for example, the agent can let them know how far away it must be from the septic system.
“The more we educate them, they can educate buyers,” he says, adding he also answers calls from real estate agents with questions in cities and counties where he doesn’t work.
The work has given him access to some multi-million properties. One of his most memorable inspection jobs was at a gated house that overlooked the city of Nashville. It had an awesome view with a 20-foot hot tub, and Anderson’s job was to recommend where the new septic should be installed.
Anderson has been doing inspections for about 10 years and has been busier in the past five years. “I’ve failed a dozen or less. That helped them (buyer) negotiate the price of the property,” he says. Others have minor problems that can be repaired for less than $1,000.
Anderson emphasizes that his services are about giving his opinion about how well the system is performing the day of his inspection.
