Oh, my goodness. I'm batting 100% on sewer inspections lately. This is the third sewer inspection in Land Park over the past 30 days that has called for a new sewer line. The last two Land Park homes my buyers inspected turned up problems, but that was expected, primarily for the following reasons:
However, I really did not expect problems with this home today because there were no trees in the yard and it had all new plumbing. The home had been extensively remodeled. Still, I advised the buyers to get a sewer inspection. The estimate for a new sewer liner was $4,542. That doesn't involve digging up the yard, just pulling a liner through. Somehow, the sewer line was completely full of tree roots!
It was funny because the buyers really did not want to pay for a sewer inspection, but decided to heed my advice, regardless. I'm very glad they did. Whew. This would have been awful to deal with after the escrow closed. I expect the seller will pay for it because if they refuse, they will have to give a copy of the sewer inspection report and estimate to the next buyer. And the next buyer will want it repaired, too.
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Broker-Associate at Lyon RE. Selling since 1974, helping buyers & sellers in Sacramento. Land Park resident. Midtown office. Home Buying Columnist for New York Times' About.com. DRE license #00697006
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How do they do a sewer inspection out there?
Hi Barbara: They send a digital camera into the sewer line, sort of snake it down there, and the image shows up on a monitor. So, you can watch the progress. It's pretty cool. Costs about $125 if there is a clean out, a bit more if they have to go up on the roof.
Hi Barbara: They send a digital camera into the sewer line, sort of snake it down there, and the image shows up on a monitor. So, you can watch the progress. It's pretty cool. Costs about $125 if there is a clean out, a bit more if they have to go up on the roof.
Elizabeth
You do not miss a thing.
Sincerely
Tom
I try not to miss a thing, Tom. It's important to look out for your clients, though. So, I try to take myself out of the equation and think about what is best for them. As I'm sure you do as well.
I don't believe that has reached Arkansas yet. We pretty well say the only way to do the septic inspection is run a lot of water with dye and see if it comes to the surface. That's like high classed surgery! I've learned something new.
Barbara,
The only time we snake a septic line is if there is a blockage.
Is this practice done on public and private septic systems???
Elizabeth, this has happened to me. Beautiful home, fully remodeled, but the remodeler did not check the sewer line. My buyer had estimates from $8000 to fix. I had another deal fall out because the sewer line got to the street and then stopped at a big, dark hole. We weren't sure where the sewage was going. The first deal we negotiated, the second, we found another house. I always recommend a sewer line inspection. The rest of my area is on septic -- don't get me started!
Hi Barbara: Maybe you haven't checked around. I imagine other companies use a digital camera to inspect sewer lines. They might not have a made a practice of selling this service to the public, though. It's the best way to assure a buyer that the sewer is OK.
Hi Linda: In Sacramento, we are known as the City of Trees. Not only will tree roots get into the sewer line -- because they seek moisture -- but some older sewer lines were made of Orangeburg. Which is a kinda tar paper, if you can imagine that. Over time, it disintegrates.
Hi Elaine: It's amazing how people will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to remodel the cosmetic areas but forget about the fundamentals.
Elizabeth, I think when homes are just this old this kind of inspection is just par for the course and buyers just need to be educated.
Good advice. Sewer lines can be a mess if you have to dig them up, and the cost certainly justified an inspection.
Elizabeth, I've just added this tidbit as an item to automatically suggest that my clients and customers do. Thank you. ;-)
Hi Gary: I read through home inspection reports, too. Buyers will miss things. Sometimes, a home inspector will suggest further evaluation of an item -- so, I call them to find out if it's a cover-your-butt type of suggestion or whether it could be serious. I had buyers last month who discovered a cracked heat exchanger upon further investigation, and the seller paid for a new HVAC system.
Hi Robert: Nowadays, most sewer companies use the trenchless method. So they don't dig up the yard.
Hi C: Given the age of the homes where you sell, I'd think a sewer inspection would bring peace of mind to your buyers.
Elizabeth, I second that and absolutely agree. It would definitely bring peace of mind, indeed!