After the inspection

Your home inspector found a possible oil tank. Now what?

A note like "fill pipe observed, possible underground fuel tank" doesn't mean the deal is in trouble. It means there's a question to answer before you close, and you usually have time to answer it within your due diligence period.

Step 1: Find out if a tank is really there

A fill pipe in the yard is strong evidence, but sometimes a tank was already removed and the pipe left behind. A tank locate, usually a metal-detector sweep around the house, confirms whether a tank is in the ground and where.

Step 2: Ask the seller for records

• Was the house heated with oil, and when did that stop?
• Was a tank ever removed or filled in place? Is there a disposal certificate or closure report?
• Has anyone noticed fuel smells, oily soil or stained water near the house?

Step 3: Check the soil if a tank is found

Soil samples from beside or under the tank show whether it leaked. That answer drives everything else: a clean tank is a routine removal, while a leak means reporting to the state within 24 hours and a cleanup with a scope nobody can price until testing is done.

Step 4: Decide who handles it

Common outcomes are the seller removing the tank before closing, the seller giving a credit, or both sides agreeing on testing first and deciding after. Your agent can advise on how to write it into your offer or repair request.

Why not just leave it?

Once you own the house, you own the tank. North Carolina stopped reimbursing homeowners for cleanups of leaks found after October 1, 2015, so a leak discovered later is your expense. See the NC rules for details.

General information, not legal advice. Talk with your agent or an attorney about your contract.