Should You Consider Sewer Scope Inspection

A Sewer Scope Inspection is one of the most frequently overlooked inspections during a home purchase.

Often buyers don’t consider it as a necessary service. A damaged sewer line can cost thousands of dollars to repair! Like other services, it is a valuable investment in the home purchase process, especially if buying a newly built or an older home. Let me share what a sewer inspection should entail, when it’s warranted, and some of the common limitations of a sewer inspection.

What is a Sewer Scope Inspection?

To perform a sewer scope inspection, a flexible borescope camera is pushed through the home’s main sewer line (which drains the home’s wastewater into the city sewer system) to view otherwise not visible conditions. The inspector will be looking for cracks, crushed, broken or other damage, roots that have grown through the pipe, and other potential concerns. Your inspector narrates and video-records this process in order to provide you with a comprehensive report of findings.

What Are The Signs I Need A Sewer Scope Inspection?

A home of any age can have sewer problems. Surprisingly, it’s more unlikely that your newly constructed home may have issues. After the initial year, the potential for problems increases as the age of the home. Trees grow and become larger and roots may constrict or damage your sewer pipes.
No one can say definitively if a house should or shouldn’t have a sewer inspection. Ultimately it’s the buyer’s decision on how much risk they are willing to assume.

When Should I Have a Sewer Scope Performed?

The most common time for a sewer scope inspection is during the home purchase process. Ideally, the sewer inspection is scheduled at the same time the home inspection is scheduled. Then, they can be performed during the same appointment. If sewer line issues are discovered, the buyer can negotiate with the seller to resolve these issues before the transaction is finalized. Again, repair costs can run $10,000 more and can be a very messy process. It’s highly recommended that you repeat the sewer scoping after having any work done on your lateral sewer line.

What If Sewer Access Cannot be Located?

If sewer access cannot be located, the inspector will determine if the property is eligible for a toilet pull or if access is possible through a roof vent. Generally, a toilet pull requires engaging a plumber to remove a toilet close to the main sewer line, scoping through the toilet drain, and then reinstalling the toilet with a new wax ring. There are additional charges for this and the seller will have to agree to sign a waiver. This normally means rescheduling the inspection for another day and time. If it is determined an inspection could be conducted through the roof vent, the inspector will obtain permission for the additional charge before proceeding. Some roofs are not possible for a roof vent inspection due to height and pitch.

What If the Sewer Inspection Reveals Issues?

When inspectors discover damage to the home’s piping during a sewer inspection, you have the option to negotiate repairs with the seller. Or, you may exercise your inspection contingency and back out of the sale.

I Skipped the Sewer Inspection, Now What?

Once you’ve taken ownership of a home, the sewer, like all other home systems, becomes your responsibility to maintain and repair. Periodic sewer scope inspections and cleanings are a good idea to ensure your pipe is in good condition.

Here are a few indications a sewer inspection is advisable:

Multiple drains are backing up at once inside your home.
There are very lush, thick, green patches of grass near the area where the sewer pipe runs. This indicates a leak may be present.
Large trees are growing near the sewer line area.
Your home was built 40+ years ago and may contain clay sewer pipes. Clay can damage more easily than the PVC pipe commonly used today.
Or your home was just built and the Builder did not do a post-construction inspection

Schedule Your Sewer Inspection Today!

A sewer scope is quick and affordable. It can save you thousands of dollars if you discover an issue during a buyer’s “inspection window”. Please call our office at (708) 232-8881 if we can help answer any questions or to schedule your sewer inspection.

https://bit.ly/3AWBV4g

Why you need a Pre-Purchase Home Inspection

Anyone buying new home should invest in a home inspection – no exception

I mean, you wouldn’t buy a used car without taking a test drive and doing a lot of research OR marry the first person you met on Tinder. Think about it, when you buy a house, you are probably making the biggest purchase of your life after a short 10-15 minute showing with your realtor. Most people spend more time shopping on Amazon than they do making a house purchase decision.

Getting a home inspection before you buy a home can literally save you tens of thousands of dollars and a mountain of headaches! A qualified, unbiased home inspector is worth their weight in gold. You want someone who is:

Well trained and experienced
has no emotional attachment to the home
will provide a truly impartial assessment

You want someone that looks beyond the eye candy (i.e. granite countertops, hardwood floors, crown-molding, stainless steel appliances, etc.) Someone that knows how to find the water damaged walls & ceiling, the mold in the basement or attic, crumbling mortar on the exterior, or the rotting framing around windows. Your qualified home inspector should be checking:

Roofing
Building Envelope
Exterior and Interior Issues
Structural Issues (foundation, basement and/or crawlspace)
Heating, cooling and ventilation
Plumbing (supply and drainage)
Electrical Systems
Mold, Radon, Indoor Air Quality at your request

Armed with this data, you can then make an informed decision about your future and decide if the home is worth your investment.

Hiring A Home Inspector

You want an expertly trained home inspector with several years of experience. In our area, Illinois requires Home Inspectors to be licenses and insured. You should make sure that they will provide a documented report after the home inspection which is customized to you. I create my reports using Home Inspector Pro (HIP). You can see a sample report at:

https://bit.ly/3AWBV4g

Hold on to that report. It might be helpful when you need to resale.

A typical home inspection of an average single-family home size 1500 – 2500 sq. ft. will take approx. 2-3 hours. During this time, a home inspector can thoroughly inspect your home, provide you with a detailed home inspection report and answer any questions you may have. I always encourage the buyers to attend the inspection and you are welcome to ask any questions you may have.

Finally, remember the key is hiring someone who works for you. Even if your real estate agent recommends a home inspector, do your own research. You want someone who will tell you the truth about a home, even if it means walking away and not buying it. There are good and bad home inspectors just like there are good and bad contractors. It’s your job to do your due diligence and do your research. Even in today’s market, not getting a home inspection before buy is probably one the worst things you can do as a homebuyer. I don’t know too many people who regret getting a home inspection, but I do know plenty who regret not getting one.

Please call our office at (708) 232-8881 if we can help answer any questions or to schedule your home inspection.