Page 62 - Jonathan Gotcher Buyers Guide
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6  SEWER                                                    may experience significant movement causing a major
              Even if the listing or SPDS indicates that the         problem.
              property is connected to the city sewer, a plumber,    If it has been disclosed that the property is subject to any
              home inspector, or other professional should verify    such soil conditions or if the buyer has any concerns about
              it. Some counties and cities can perform this test as   the soil condition or observes evidence of cracking, the
              well.                                                  buyer should secure an independent assessment of the
                                                                     property and its structural integrity by a licensed, bonded,
         7  Water/Well Issues                                        and insured professional engineer.
              The property may receive water from a municipal        http://www.re.state.az.us/PublicInfo/Fissures.aspx
              system, a private water company, or a well. You        (ADRE – Overview of Arizona Soils)
              should investigate the availability and quality of the                  http://bit.ly/2sXBHHw (Problem Soils)

              water to the property, as well as the water             http://bit.ly/2MpcKNU
              provider. A list of Arizona’s water companies is        (Shrink/Swell Potential & FAQs)

              available at the Arizona Corporation Commission.                      http://bit.ly/2yfzVHR

               https://www.azcc.gov/utilities/water                   (Information on Land Subsidence & Earth Fissures)
              (Arizona Corporation Commission - Utilities-Water)      www.btr.state.az.us
              https://new.azwater.gov/aaws/statutes-rules             (State Certified Engineers & Firms)
              (Assured and Adequate Water Supply)
             Adjudications: Arizona is undertaking several Stream   9  Previous Fire/Flood
             Adjudications, which are court proceedings to           If it is disclosed there has been a fire or flood on the
             determine the extent and priority of water rights in    property, a qualified inspector should be hired to
             an entire river system.                                 advise you regarding any possible future problems as

              For information regarding water uses and watersheds    a result of the fire or flood damage and/or any
              affected by these adjudications, and the forms upon    subsequent repairs. For example, if the property was
              sale of the property, visit the Department of Water    not properly cleaned after a flood, mold issues may
              Resources online.                                      result. Your insurance agent may be able to assist you
              https://new.azwater.gov/adjudications                  in obtaining information regarding fire, flood, or other
              (Department of Water Resources – Adjudications)        past damage to the property.

              Additionally, the Verde Valley Water Users assists   10 Pests
              members in matters pertaining to the Gila River
              System Adjudication.                                   Cockroaches, rattlesnakes, black widow spiders,
                      www.verdevalleywaterusers.org  (Verde Valley Water Users Association)   scorpions, termites and other pests are common in
                                                                     parts of Arizona. Fortunately, most pests can be
              CAGRDs: The Central Arizona Groundwater                controlled with pesticides.
              Replenishment District (CAGRD) functions to replenish   Scorpions: Scorpions, on the other hand, may be
              groundwater used by its members, individual            difficult to eliminate. If the buyer has any concerns or
              subdivisions and service areas of member water         if the SPDS indicates the seller has seen scorpions or
              providers. Homeowners in a CAGRD pay an annual         other pests on the property, seek the advice of a pest
              assessment fee which is collected through the county   control company.
              property tax process based on the amount of            Bed bugs: Infestations are on the rise in Arizona
              groundwater served to member homes.                    and nationally.
              www.cagrd.com
              (Central Arizona Ground Water Replenishment District)   Roof Rats: Roof Rats have been reported in some
                                                                     areas by Maricopa County Environmental Services.
          8  Soil Problems                                           Termites: Consumer Information is available from the
              The soil in some areas of Arizona has “clay-like”      Arizona Department of Agriculture.
              tendencies, sometimes referred to as “expansive soil.”   Bark Beetles: Bark beetles have been reported in
             Other areas are subject to fissure, subsidence and      some forested areas.
              other soil conditions. Properties built on such soils

               Page | 7 of 13                Arizona Department of Real Estate            Buyer Advisory (February 2020)
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