I work for a plumbing company and we see a lot of first time buyers not getting a camera inspection. We have had people call in and ask if it would be a good idea to have their lines looked at before purchasing the house because sewer lines are not cheap to replace at all. Companies will charge different prices but our company knows how important it is to have the lines looked at before buying a house and that is why we only chare $100 to come look at the line and provide a DVD showing the client what the lines look like. This being a older house I would strongly advise you to get you lines looked at, even if the house was built in the late 90's you never know how well the people before you treated these lines.

I strongly feel that a sewer line video inspection is well worth the fee (usually about $295). Your Home Inspector can not see underground and we live in a city with quite a few potential problems:

1. We are prone to earthquake damage to our sewer pipes.
2. If there are trees nearby, which there are bound to be, this can cause damage to a line.
3. I have heard quite a few stories where the current owner thought that they had been connected to city sewer for years and had even been paying fees to the city but when the inspection was done, they came to find out the the house was on an old cesspool system or a septic system and sometimes these systems were not even on their property due to the fact that Many of the lots in Beverly Hills have been subdivided over the years.

The point of your contingency period is to give you the time to find out all about the property that you are purchasing so that you can make an educated decision about buying the property. Some fixes on sewer systems can cost upwards of $10,000. Hopefully, the inspector finds that nothing is wrong or any issues that he finds are minor but you wont know if you don't get the video inspection.

First of all, I strongly object to the comments your Agent made about justifying fees. That's just wrong! and stupid!
What will they say when a damaged line is found. They just bought you a new sewer line since they incorrectly advised you to pass on the sewer camera. A Home Inspection is a VISUAL inspection. Can you (or your Agent) see through the ground?
I think not.
Now, the chances of a bad line are slim given the 1985 replacement. But it still could be a problem. A several thousand dollar replacement far exceeds the $300 fee to scope it. What's the saying? Penny Wise, Pound Foolish.
Home Inspector (one that refrains from bad-mouthing other RE professionals)

I find it is at worst case scenario a $300 peace of mind investment. To me that is a small price to pay to be able to sleep comfortably knowing that you have it confirmed now that there is no problem. What if there is an issue? Would you rather find out now or later? I think the Agent who is representing you should be glad you are doing the inspection, now the liability will be less.

Definitely get the sewer scope done. My buyer's inspector recommended it, even though the seller was willing to provide their sewer scope dvd from the previous year. They got it done, and sure enough, there were roots that had to be cleared out. Knowing about the tree and root issue, they will be doing the sewer scope on a yearly basis for about $175... it will just be part of their routine property maintenance.

I hope you fired that no good agent you had. I work for a plumbing company that has crews that repair and replace sewer lines everyday. Many of these homes had tree roots get into there lines and started cleaning out the roots once a year. You can cut the roots out for years and years but they will always grow back and they will grow back larger. Eventually they will crush your line or offset it so that solids no longer pass through it. The average repair after permit, back hoe, shoring, labor and so forth is $7,000-$10,000 for a 100 foot long sewer line. I think having it inspected with a camera to insure it is even working properly is very smart on your part. I wouldn't want to be one of these new home owners we have to replace sewers for.

Why did your home inspector recommendd the sewer line inspection? Did s/he find slow drainage or some other condition that indicates the possibility of clogged lines? Unless it's something s/he routinely recommends whether or not there is any indication of potential problem, it would be a few hundred dollars well spent.
I disagree with your agent about a home inspector's need to justify fees. Any one I have ever used more than earned their fee. Remember they check out every little thing that everyone else will probably overlook. Most homes have a pretty clean report. They find all the evident problems, and when they have reason (slow sewer draining?) to suspect others, make that recommendation.
Lastly, you don't have to work with an agent who annoys you. Your agent should be able to present many, many recommendations, but if you choose not to follow every single one, the agent has no reason to express what you feel as annoyance.

Absolutely have it inspected, the agent's reaction would add to my reason, I am a Home Inspector, believe me, we don't charge enough with the liabilities we take on to have the need to justify our cost, it sounds like this agent NEEDS this sale, brand new houses can have problems with every step, they are put together in a hurry often with unskilled labor, an inspection with a camera, report in writing along with a DVD runs about $150.00 here in Oregon. It is also illegal to accept any kind of kick back for any referral from any source or pay one out here. If your agent makes you uneasy, get another one, after-all, they are working for YOU. And a good home inspector just like a good agent will not recommend any trade or home inspector to you, they, we can give you a list to pick from and you will then call them in separately, it is a good idea. Another thing, if there is a problem the agent may loose this sale, it will also become another disclosure statement that may cause repair or loss of sale to other people, sounds like your agent is giving you bad advice. Please post your decision.

Go with your gut. You said, "I feel I should have it inspected." Just do it. However, be sure there is no referral fee your home inspector will receive from the company he recommended--just ask him if he receives any compensation for referrals. It's always better to have peace of mind--if you spend $300 and find everything is OK that's better than NOT spending it and always worrying if there's a problem. Also call about 3 sewer pipe replacement companies and ask the cost of doing it at your property AND whether they know of any problems or other replacements in the immediate neighborhood, and check with nearby neighbors as to whether they have had problems or know of any problems.

Definitely have it inspected! A sewer line can cost thousands of dollars to replace, sometimes MANY thousands- especially if it runs through another property or if they would have to tear up sidewalks, streets, etc. to fix or replace it. It is better to pay a couple of hundred dollars now to know for sure. If they find it is in good shape you will sleep better at night. If they find it is in bad shape you can ask the sellers for a credit or a price reduction...

I agree with Mike. If you are concerned & your inspector has some integrity, then you should go forward.

I don't understand why your agent is annoyed unless she feels you're being taken advantage of.

I'm curious, how did you choose your home inspector? Was he recommended by someone you trust?

Karen Miller

Get the inspection and sleep better at night. In some of our cities this is NOW required. Some actually have laws in place which will MAKE you replace any damaged sewer lines to the street. If you are in your due diligence period then get it done. Your agent, who might be right, should NOT be annoyed.