Sewer line inspections

[Bienes Raices]

Has anyone paid someone to come do one of these during their inspection period? My offer was accepted on a short sale where the seller and his friend apparently put in a new sewer line on their own (not sure what the reason was for doing that), so I thought it might be a good idea to have one done.

Also I read that some houses built in the 1950s have something called Orangeburg pipes which do not hold up well over time.

[Jason Grote]

Here in Central Texas, this is a consistent concern. Our last flip was a perfect example. The house was built in 1959 and had cast iron sewer line. After rehabbing and putting on the market, we received a buyer. During the option/inspection period, they had a hydrostatic test done. A hydrostatic test is the test that Joel is speaking of where they pull the toilets and put a stopper in the cleanout just outside the house.

Well, the test failed because cast iron pipes were never designed to hold pressure. End result, we paid to have the plumbing rerouted to the outside. It cost $5,000

The hydrostatic test typically costs about $250 for an average sized residence. I would find out more info on the plumbing work that was done. It could be a great positive if done correctly.

When you go to sell the home, it can be a concern of the future buyer.