Before you buy
Sewer Inspection for Home Buyers
A standard home inspection does not look inside the sewer line. A camera scope shows you what is down there before you own it, so a surprise repair does not become your problem after closing.
01Sewer & drain
The sewer lateral is the pipe that runs from the house to the street connection. It is the homeowner's responsibility, and replacing one can be one of the larger expenses a new owner faces. A camera scope shows the full picture before you commit.
Many homes in North Jersey were built with clay or cast iron laterals. Some of that pipe is 50, 60, 70 years old. It can still be working fine, or it can have root intrusion, cracks, offsets, bellies, or sections that have started to collapse. A camera tells you which situation you are walking into.
We push a waterproof camera through the full length of the line from the cleanout to the street, measure distances to each finding, and walk you through the footage. You get a clear picture of the pipe material, condition and any defects, along with the video for your records or your agent.
02When to call
Signs it's time
- 01You are under contract on a home and want to check the sewer before closing
- 02The property was built before 1980 and likely has clay or cast iron pipe
- 03Mature trees stand between the house and the street
- 04The seller disclosure mentions previous sewer work or backups
- 05Your lender or inspector recommends a sewer scope
- 06The neighborhood has older infrastructure and you want to know what you are getting
03How we handle it
- 1
Schedule around your timeline
We work with your inspection window. Tell us the closing date and we will get on the calendar.
- 2
Camera the full line
We push the camera from the cleanout to the street connection, stopping at anything that needs a closer look and measuring the distance to each finding.
- 3
Show you what we found
We walk you through the footage and explain what each finding means: what is cosmetic, what to watch, and what would need repair.
- 4
Provide a report and video
You get the footage and a written summary to share with your agent, your inspector or anyone else involved in the transaction.
04What's included
The scope, in plain terms
On the truck for this
- Sewer camera inspection
- Pipe locating equipment
- Full sewer camera inspection from cleanout to street
- Identification of roots, cracks, offsets, bellies and collapse
- Pipe material identification and age assessment
- Distance and depth measurements for each finding
- Video footage for your records
- Written summary suitable for a closing file
- Clear explanation of what needs attention now versus later
05Questions
What people ask about home buyer sewer inspection
When should I schedule a sewer scope during a home purchase?
During the inspection period, the same window you use for the general home inspection. Schedule it early enough that you have time to negotiate if we find something.
What does the camera actually show?
A live video picture of the inside of the pipe wall as the camera travels through it. You see the pipe material, joints, any roots growing in, cracks, offsets, build-up, bellies and breaks.
Who pays for the sewer inspection, the buyer or seller?
Typically the buyer pays for inspections during the due-diligence period. Some buyers negotiate it as a seller concession if the inspection reveals a problem. That is between you and your agent.
What if the sewer line has a problem?
We tell you how serious it is and what a repair would involve. You can then decide whether to negotiate, request a repair credit or walk away, depending on your contract.
Home Buyer Sewer Inspection in these towns
- Bloomfield
- Boonton
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- Clifton
- Fairfield
- Franklin Lakes
- Hackensack
- Lincoln Park
- Little Falls
- Livingston
- Madison
- Midland Park
- Montclair
- Montville
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- North Caldwell & West Caldwell
- Nutley
- Oakland
- Paramus
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Pompton Plains
- Ridgewood
- South Orange
- Totowa
- Wayne
- West Orange
- Wyckoff
Request service
Tell us what's going on.
We'll get back to you to set a time. Anything urgent, call instead: (973) 513-7751.