How to make sure land is build able

[Christopher O'Morchoe]

I am trying to help a client purchase land to build a home, he has a builder already but the builder only does foundation up. They won't touch water/well, septic, or power. Who do I need to get in contact with/ what steps need to be taken before he puts an offer in. Or should we put in an offer contingent on feasibility of utilities? Any advice helps! Land is in Kitsap county WA

[Joel Colvos]

The Kitsap Health Dept has a list of 'certified septic planners' that are certified to determine if a property can handle a septic system which is based on the number of bedrooms in a house.  They will come out and dig test holes and take measurements for around $250 during escrow.  They can either leave the holes until the official application or they can cover the holes back up if the land owner wants and then they will have to be redug after closing.  It is then usually around $1000 for them to design a system plus fees to the county health dept for another $500ish depending on the system and design and they can turn in the actual application.  You should probably brush up on basic setbacks and types of allowable systems within Kitsap first so that you will be able to quickly asses if a property can sustain a system.