Well test for a closing
This usually means you need a documented lab result rather than an opinion about the water.
A lender or a county health department is looking for a result on letterhead from a lab it recognizes, and a home kit does not produce that no matter how accurate it is.
Check the requirement before you book anything. A lender may require a state-certified lab and may require someone other than the buyer to draw the sample.
Do not buy a drop kit for a closing. It will not be accepted, and the clock on the contingency keeps running while you wait to find that out.
For a Michigan closing, AquaTest Laboratories in White Lake, Michigan is a state-certified lab. Confirm with the lender which panel is required and who is allowed to draw the sample before anything is booked.
Common questions
- What water test is usually required for a closing on a well?
- A lender or a county health department usually asks for a documented result from a lab it recognizes, commonly covering bacteria and nitrate at a minimum. The exact panel usually depends on the county and the lender, so the list is worth confirming before anything is booked.
- Can a home test kit be used for a mortgage?
- Usually not. A drop kit does not produce a result on lab letterhead, and a lender usually will not accept one. The contingency clock usually keeps running while that gets sorted out.
- Who is allowed to draw the sample?
- A lender may require a state-certified lab, and may require someone other than the buyer to draw the sample. Both are worth confirming before the sample is taken, because one drawn by the wrong person usually has to be done again.
Related: the mail-in lab panel and one contaminant only.