A recent post on the Onsite Installer Facebook page prompted a discussion with Miller & Sons Inc. Septic and Wastewater Service located in Fawn Grove, Pa., about how business has increased after years of a down economy as an indicator of how well the real estate recovery is coming along. 

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Co-owner Susan Glackin Miller says the septic service company has seen a steady increase in inspections and repairs. “In our area, the market seems to be improving as some of the foreclosures are starting to sell,” she says. “We work in two townships that require septic inspections by the local Sewer Enforcement Officer (SEO) at the time of real estate transfers which has caused us to be busier. We also have a very long and good relationship with local Realtors and they bring us much business for their customers.”

Miller & Sons is a member of the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association (PSMA) and they are Maryland Department of the Environment certified inspectors. “Those certifications have proven valuable to our business,” Miller says. 

State requirements for septic inspections have changed and Miller says that is also a factor for the increased repairs. “Some townships in Pennsylvania have adopted an onlot management ordinance, which mandates in some of those municipalities that risers and lids be up to grade,” she says. “In townships that have the inspection requirement at the time of sales, we have seen increased work bringing the tanks up to grade by adding risers and childproof lids. Inspections also can show deteriorated or missing baffles, which we replace as well as other repairs.” She says the mandated cycle has also increased system repairs that are now pumped and inspected routinely. 

The company has seen at least a 25 percent increase in business compared to this time last year. “We are much busier than last year,” Miller says. 

While repairs due to inspections of systems already in place have increased, Miller says complete system installations are not necessarily on the rise. “We are not yet seeing many new homes, mostly repairs or replacements to existing systems,” she says. “It seems that the existing homes for sale are still a better value than building a new home in our area.” 

And as the busy season is underway, Miller & Sons determines which jobs will benefit the company based on location typically. “The distance from our office is one of our main criteria,” Miller says. “It just does not pay to travel too far when you have enough work close by. And if you need something at the office and you are farther away, there goes some profit.” 

She also stresses the importance of maintaining relationships with loyal customers before going after new ones. “We service our existing customers first,” she says. “We have been in business for over 40 years and are lucky to have good relationships in our service area.” 

And when it comes to finding new customers and new jobs, the company stays away from those that raise red flags. “People that start off trying to cut corners, telling us how to do our job or someone we know has stuck one of our other competitors,” Miller says, noting those are the jobs they’ll never touch. “And people who have waited until the last minute and then expect us to get the job done in an unreasonable amount of time, especially when weather can often be the wildcard in some situations.” 

TELL ME ABOUT IT 

Have you seen an increase in system installations or inspections? And what type of jobs will you never take? Post a comment below or email me at kim.peterson@colepublishing.com.