The Importance of Sewer Inspections in Real Estate

SAN FRANCISCO — Before purchasing a home, buyers typically have a number of inspections performed to ensure the property’s integrity. A few common areas of inspection include the roof, the structure and the foundation. However, there’s one area of the home where inspection is equally crucial yet often overlooked: the sewer system.

Most people know how important the sewer system is to a home’s functionality, which is reason enough to have it inspected before purchasing. What’s more, sewer line problems can be expensive to fix, with major repair projects often falling into the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Considering the potential expense, it’s certainly worth paying a couple hundred dollars to verify the sewer system’s condition before you buy.

Sewer system inspections are simple to perform thanks to today’s in-line video technology. Most plumbers have access to this technology, which allows them to inspect the integrity of a sewer line without the need for excavation. If a major problem is found, you’ll not only be spared an expensive surprise, you’ll also have some additional bargaining power when negotiating the property’s final sale price.