Should I Scope the Sewer Line Before Buying A House?
/When you are purchasing a home, one of the inspections you can do is scoping the sewer line. I have done it myself on the last two homes I have purchased. There are times when I think the cost of around $250 to do a scope is a worthwhile cost and times when choosing to skip makes sense too.
The last two houses I purchased are older houses. One was built in 1955 and the other in 1926. I needed to know if the sewer line was original to the house and also its condition. Both houses also had numerous full-sized trees growing near the sewer line. Tree roots can cause damage to sewer lines just as much as age can. I was fortunate that both lines were in great shape. And I know it for sure because it was checked. It helps me sleep a little easier at night.
I find that the $250ish I spent on each of those scopes was well worth the price. If they were in poor condition and needed replacing that could cost over $10,000. It's not a cheap repair. Or a fun one.
I always think that if you are buying an older house or a home with numerous mature trees near the sewer line it's a good idea to get that sewer line checked. I've also heard that if you have a new home being built where an older home once stood, you may want to check it too. There have been times when builders have tried to use the old line rather than run a new one.
A few years ago Salt Lake County partnered with Homeserve. It's an insurance company that will cover your water, sewer, and gas lines for your property for a minimal cost per month. It's a great service for homeowners in our older neighborhoods.
Those are my thoughts on sewer line scopes. I also know some reputable people who do scopes without crazy upselling. Let me know if you ever need a recommendation.