Thursday, June 14, 2012

While homebuyers are often tempted to skip the sewer line inspection when purchasing their home, this can result in thousands of dollars worth of repair down the road. Veteran plumbing service Roto-Rooter offers the following suggestions for avoiding costly plumbing repairs:

Homebuyers should know that:

• A sewer line inspection is not included in the standard home inspection and is regularly waived in the purchasing process.
• Responsibility for the condition of the lateral sewer line leading from the street to the home lies with the homeowner, not a municipality.
• A plumber can complete a sewer line camera inspection for $250 to $550. While not cheap, it’s a relatively small price to pay when buying a home, especially if it helps a buyer avoid thousands of dollars in repairs down the road (anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 depending on the extent of repair required).

Sewer line inspections are particularly important when:

• The home is 20 years or older.
• There are mature trees around the property.
• The home has been vacant for a period of time.
• The concrete surrounding the home is cracked or raised.
• There is considerable visible root growth in the yard.

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