For most people, buying a new house comes with a lot of worries because they are never really sure of the actual physical condition of the home. That’s why it’s common to hear homeowners spending thousands of dollars on unplanned repairs after moving into a newly purchased home, says Keyrenter Gilbert team.
This problem comes partly from the fact that most buyers don’t know how to properly assess a building before buying it. The second reason is that sellers intentionally mislead buyers by doing repairs and improvements that are meant to hide the true state of their building.
This causes tension between sellers and buyers and places a huge burden on estate agents.
Why a home inspection is not enough?
Although home inspections are more or less mandatory when buying a home, they don’t always solve this problem. That’s because presale home inspections are not detailed enough to uncover every possible issue that can be found in a building.
Also, most home-buyers don’t know that a home inspection is the bare minimum inspection they are expected to do before buying a home. Home inspections protect buyers, but the scope of that protection is very limited.
Why is that?
A licensed home inspector will only check the features of a home if those features are accessible. Any systems or structures that are hard to access will not be assessed. By design, home inspections are only meant to give you an overview of the building.
This can have serious implications for buyers, because essential structures like the drainage system will not be inspected, since they are not easily accessible. If there are sewer line issues in that home, the presale home inspection will not detect them.
To solve this problem, when buying a home, especially an older home, it is wise to always get pre-purchase drain-cleaning. What is a pre-purchase drain-cleaning, and how can it help buyers avoid buying a home with sewer line issues?
Why pre-purchase drain-cleaning is critical when buying a house
Drainage problems in a home can be very hard to detect. You may be on the verge of buying a home with major sewer line issues, without knowing it. That’s because a home can have serious sewer line problems without them being obvious.
Moreover, these drain problems can have a far-reaching impact on the other systems of the building. Broken sewer lines can damage the walls and flooring or even destroy a home’s foundation. Furthermore, the problems are costly to fix, that is, if they can be fixed at all.
How does pre-purchase drain-cleaning solve these problems?
Before cleaning the home’s drains, the professional plumber will conduct what is known as a sewer camera inspection. A sewer camera inspection is the most up-to-date and most efficient way to access the physical condition of drainage systems and sewer lines.
How pre-purchase drain inspections and professional drain-cleaning work
A sewer camera inspection will help the plumber determine the following:
- The types of pipe materials in the drainage system. Are there outdated materials like galvanized steel, lead, clay, or Orangeburg pipes in the system?
- The size of the pipes and their overall connections. Are the pipes wrongly sized, and is there any visible evidence of improper pipe installation and repair?
- The condition of the pipes. The inspector will check the age of the pipes and the rate of wear and tear while looking for leaky or collapsed sections.
- The presence of buildup and similar problems. Are there tree roots inside the line or a buildup of grease, fatty deposits, or limescale?
- The inspection will assess how the drains are used and whether the system is sufficient for the home’s needs or if urgent upgrades are needed.
- Lastly, a pre-purchase drain inspection provides a detailed visual map of the home’s drainage system and how the entire system operates.
Based on this information, it is easy for your plumber or technician to make a decision on whether the pipes can withstand professional drain cleaning and how to clean the pipes. The buyer can also make an informed decision whether to buy the home or not.
Benefits of doing a pre-purchase drain inspection
- Saves you money and stress
After investing hundreds of dollars in a new home, the last thing you want is to spend more money fixing avoidable drain issues.
- It is a valuable negotiating tool
The inspection report provides detailed information on the status of the drainage system, and you can use this to negotiate a lower price for the home.
- Ensure compliance with local codes
A pre-purchase drain inspection helps to verify that the home’s drainage system complies with local codes and regulations.
- Plan future repairs and upgrades
A pre-purchase drain inspection also helps you determine the potential cost of any drain issues in the home.
Lastly, a pre-purchase inspection shows how much care and attention the owner has invested in the drainage system. This information can be useful for helping you get a general sense of how well the rest of the home has been maintained.
Finally, what should you look for in the company you hire to do your pre-purchase drain inspection? You want a team of professionals who can interpret data accurately, use advanced technology, and have an established reputation in the community.