Preparing To Close

There are many moving pieces in buying and selling a property. Our team is here to help keep you on track to accomplishing your task list. We hope you find the information below helpful as you move closer towards closing. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to call or text anyone of us directly, we are here to support you every step of the way!

WATER TESTING (For Sellers):
A requirement of your contract is to test your water for contaminants. You must use a qualified lab to test for total coliform and e-coli to show that it meets local sanitary requirements. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL for water tests to fail the first time so please have the test performed with ample time to correct any problems that may arise. Once your water has passed the necessary tests, written documentation must be provided to me and your attorney. You have TWO options on performing the water tests – see below.

Water Testing: Option A

Option A: You can test the water yourself and bring the samples into a local lab for results. This will cost about between $35-$50. The two local labs that test water are below; please call them for specific instructions:

Community Science Institute
Cornell Business and Technology Park
95 Brown Rd., Room 283
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-257-6606
Testing Fee: $45

Yaws Environmental Lab
951 East Shore Dr.
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-277-7128
Testing Fee: $50

Water Testing: Option B

Option B: If you don’t want to test your water yourself you can hire a third-party well expert to perform the test for you. This option costs more (roughly $100) but lowers your liability.

Lowe’s Soft Water Service | 607-387-6892 | Trumansburg
Quentin Foster Well Drilling | 607-387-9780 | Trumansburg
Berry Drilling | 607-342-6829 | Newfield
Jay Payton Well Drilling | 607-539-7352 | Ithaca
Utter Well Drilling | 607-351-1002 | Lodi

SEPTIC PUMPING (For Sellers):
Schedule septic pumping and certification with plenty of time to have it completed before closing. A few septic pumping service provider recommendations are below for your convenience. Once pumping is completed, please send the receipt of payment for services, as well as the certification to your attorney and to your agent for the closing file.

Septic Pumping Recommendations

Transferring Utilities (For Sellers and Buyers):
A week before your scheduled closing date, is the time to contact NYSEG and request that services be transferred on the day of closing.

See the number below, when you call hit #3 then #2.

Please let your agent know when the transfer has been scheduled.

To contact NYSEG:
NYSEG | 1-800-572-1111 | nyseg.com