Sewer report: what’s it mean to you?

[Ashley Oyirifi]

I've got a VA foreclosure under contract. On paper it seems to be a great deal, priced $80k - $100k below comps. About $30k - $50k in equity will be left after repairs.

Unless, the following sewer report would result in more repairs. Can anyone help me make sense of this while I work to find a professional who can let me know more about how/if this will impact my rehab.

Summary of report:

Erosion at the cleanout, Stress crack on the hub, Blockage at transition.

Here’s what the report says:

“The camera was first entered at the PVC riser located in the front yard. The camera was pushed 72 feet downstream out toward the sewer main. The PVC riser is a sleave that turns into clay pipe a few feet down the riser. The downstream section of the lateral line is clay pipe. The camera was also pushed upstream from the base of the riser. The upstream section of the line has a lot of settlement and the viewing is obscured. The camera was then moved to the basement and pushed downstream from the base of the stack out toward the clay riser located in the front yard. There is erosion at the cleanout and a thin fracture on the side of the cast iron stack. The camera was not able to push through the debris in the line at the transition from 4 inch cast iron to 6 inch clay outside the foundation wall. The floor was marked with green paint to trace the cast iron sections of the line.

The clay sections of the line that were viewed appear to be in serviceable condition at the time of the viewing. A licensed plumber should review the report and video to make assessment for repair to the cast iron stack and other sections of the cast iron under the floor at the foundation wall.”