Low Flow Toilet Ordinance a CR*PPY Deal for to DeKalb County Georgia Home Sellers

Low Flow Toilet Ordinance a CR*PPY Deal for  to DeKalb County Georgia Home Sellers

Why institute a low flow toilet ordinance when the real estate market is doing so poorly? The Metro Atlanta Housing Market is stuck in a low gear so you would think our local government would want to kick start some activity. 

This is apparently not the case in DeKalb County Georgia where our wise and learned County Commission imposed draconian rules on new water hookups.Any home built before 1993 must comply with new legislation htp://www.dekalbwatershed.com/PDF/plumbingFixturesReplacement.pdf

that makes it impossible for home buyers to get water service unless they have new low flow toilets, water saver faucets and shower heads.

HOMES BUILT BEFORE 1993 averaging $500 to $700 Costs to Comply: Seller’s of homes built before 1993 must comply with this new rule at a time when they are already getting hammered by a “buyer’s market” that has them paying closing costs, doing minor and major repairs to their homes and taking a beating on the selling price of their home.

LOW FLOW TOILETS COST $275 EACH INSTALLED: Lowes will provide a low flow toilet for around $149 and install it for $114  (there is a $50 to $100 rebate from DeKalb County available for each toilet replacements). 

However, add to these costs:

• A low flow faucet is either $30.00 for a 4 inch spread or $120 for an 8 inch spread.

• Low flow shower heads cost of $20 or so each.

• Licensed Plumbers charge of $250 to $500 to install and certify these fixtures and the toilets.

The really sad thing is, these are not high quality plumbing fixtures and I suspect most will be replaced within the first year of ownership.

HOME WITH THREE BATHROOMS COSTS AROUND $1,000 TO COMPLY: DeKalb County homeowners wwere just slapped with a $700 to $1,000 devaluation of the value of their homes. 

Timing could not have been worse as we are also dealing with negative pressures from foreclosures and a sagging National economy.

HOME SELLERS FOOT THE ENTIRE BILL: In this market you can guess who is footing the bill.  I don’t blame the buyers as the adjoining municipalities do not have similar requirements.  Buyers are just evening up the playing field.

Call or text DeKalb County real estate agent Sally English at 404-229-2995