Willard Environmental Group, heating oil tank inspection, environmental

When it comes to successful home renovation projects, choosing the right contractor for the job is an important first step. Whether you're remodeling a bathroom, building a deck or removing an underground storage tank, slow down and do some research. If you don't choose the right contractor, you could end up disappointed in the work, feeling swindled and needing someone else to finish the job.

Get a referral from someone you know. People love updating their
homes so you should have no trouble coming up with a list of contractors.  Sometimes it's difficult to find a company that performs work on petroleum storage tanks.  We have a list of folks in our TESTIMONIAL section that are very satisfied with our services.

Hire a contractor who specializes in the type of work you need done. Someone you hire to install wood flooring or to build a deck should be a carpentry contractor, while someone you hire to remove an underground storage tank should specialize in tank work.  There are many different trade certifications, so be sure to check the title on your contractor's certification to make sure he or she is a specialist.

Check licenses and insurance.  Ask the contractor for copies of the following documents: Contractor's License and Certificates of Insurance.  A reputable contractor will have no problem providing copies of these documents.

Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find out if complaints have ever been filed or are outstanding against the contractor.  Beware of companies who display the  BBB Logo on their information to make it appear they are members.  Our information can be found
HERE.

We have discovered a lot of companies in the Northern Virginia area performing tank removals without the proper licensing and insurance.  Don't be afraid to ask for proof of licensing and insurance.  We can make these documents available at your request.

Tips & Warnings

Hire a contractor who seems professional and knowledgeable.

Check with your county or city building department about whether a permit is required for the work to be done. If a permit is required, the liability is on the owner of the property to procure the permit or authorize the contractor to pull the permit.

Don't hire unlicensed contractors to do the job. If you do, you
will have no recourse should you be unhappy with the job or should you have code or permit violations cited by your county.

Oil Tank Leak Rates Reported in Real Estate Publications Real Estate Publications, while reluctant to scare home owners and buyers by aggressive reporting on leaky oil tanks (which can involve a very large cleanup expense), also cite the concern for leaking oil tanks.

"Statistics indicate as many as 25% of all Underground storage tanks (USTs) may now be leaking. These underground tanks may hold oil or gas but can most frequently be found at homes heated with oil. Over time, there is a tendency for these older tanks to corrode and leak their contents into the ground and possibly into the ground water. Because of the great expense involved in cleaning up the contamination caused by leaking tanks, it behooves those that have older underground tanks, to have them or the soil tested."

When we observe evidence that a buried fuel storage tank is located at a property and when no other information is known about the type, condition, or even exact location of the tank, underground tank leaks, environmental damage, local water or well contamination, and a costly cleanup are potential risks to the property owner. Because significant site cleanup costs can be involved if an oil tank has leaked at a property, unless there is reliable documentation that the tank has been tested quite recently, it would be prudent for a home buyer to have such testing performed before purchasing the property.

Installing a new oil storage tank will involve significant expense. There are also proper methods of "abandoning" old unused buried tanks.

Before completing purchase of a property that has or had a buried oil tank you need to have either had the tank removed, abandoned in place, or tested.