Main sewer line damaged the day before closing

[Brian Zaug]

Always make sure you do a quick inspection right before the closing on any property you are buying.  Here is why..I was scheduled to close at 9:30 today, went to the house and saw an active sewer leak in the basement.  Upon further investigation, we determined it to be either a block in the main sewer line or worse, a damaged sewer line.  I went to the closing to let everyone know this and my attorney and I decided to postpone the closing since we weren't sure if it were a $200 repair or a $12000 repair.  Later that day, we had a plumber come and try to snake it and that didn't work.  He suspected there being a break, collapse or disconnection in the pipe.  This plumbers manager/owner came and used a camera to determine it was a break/collapsed line.  The only thing he said was that it was hard for him to see on the camera as there was still water clogged up in this drain.  But, the house is 130 years old and it still has the original sewer line so he's more than certain it needs to be replaced.   The seller, who was there, was trying to say that the tenants probably flushed something down the toilet, the plumbers said no way..

So with that said, I can only imagine that the sellers have to fix this correct?  As a buyer, I still want the house but  If I were to walk away from this deal, which i don't want to, then they would have to fix it anyway and they'd be out a cash buyer.  I just hope they do the necessary repairs and we can move ahead with this deal.    What would you do in this situation?  Does this repair take a long time?  I hope not, the sewer was backing all the way up close to the downstairs tub and sinks.  

[Mark H.]

I'll second @Theresa Harris. Get a quote and have that escrowed from the closing funds. Seller already doesnt want to do this and if you force them to do the repair, they'll do it as cheaply as they can get away with.