Buying a home with a well and septic requires specialized inspections most buyers skip

A standard home inspection does NOT include well water testing or septic system evaluation. Well water testing ($150-300) checks for coliform bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, radon, and lead. Septic inspection ($300-500) includes a tank pump, baffle check, and drain field assessment. Failing to do these inspections before purchase can result in $15,000-40,000 in remediation costs. Make them contingencies in your offer.