An Important Pre-Purchase Property Inspection

CONCORD — An important part of buying a new home is performing pre-purchase property inspections. These inspections verify that the home is in good condition and help rule out any unwanted (and expensive) surprises. One pre-purchase inspection I highly recommend is a sewer lateral inspection.

Since sewer laterals are situated below the ground, it’s easy for problems to go unnoticed until they become full-blown. These include cracks and breakages caused by intruding tree roots, as well as foreign objects or buildup clogging the line. Repairing or replacing a damaged sewer lateral can cost thousands of dollars, so it’s something you’ll want to be aware of prior to purchasing.

A sewer lateral inspection is performed using an in-line camera that provides an interior view of the pipe’s condition. If it turns out the sewer lateral is damaged, you can either move on to another property or use this information as a bargaining chip to get a reduction in price. In either case, a sewer lateral inspection can help you avoid a very expensive mistake.