Should I get a sewer camera inspection before buying a house?
A sewer camera assessment can help you understand a system that is not usually included in a standard home inspection. Confirm the scope with your inspector. Knowing the visible condition before closing can help you plan, seek repair estimates, or negotiate, whether the home is old or newly built.
What to consider
Confirm what your home inspection includes. A standard inspection generally evaluates visible and accessible systems; a camera examination of a buried sewer may be a separate service. Ask which portion of the line will be assessed and what access is required.
The assessment can document visible conditions such as obstructions or damage, but the result depends on access and visibility. It is not a guarantee of future performance or a complete view of every hidden connection. Read the report’s limitations as well as its findings.
Arrange the assessment early enough to discuss the result before applicable contract deadlines. If concerns are identified, obtain appropriate contractor proposals and consult your agent. Our buying or selling with sewer concerns page covers how independent findings can support that conversation.
Read more: Buying or Selling With Sewer Concerns
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