Plumbing Inspection Question

[Joseph Schommer]

Hi Bigger Pockets Community!

So, I'm under contract on my second SFH and I got the sewer lines scoped (like a good BP member). They found something! There's a belly in the cast iron sewage line that's about 10' long and about 40' from the house causing the sewage to settle and "back fall" a bit. They also found a lip on the pipe that shouldn't be there. I watched the video so there's no foul play here. The seller (a real estate agent) has never had any problems reported, and thus won't pay for any "preventative maintenance".

The estimated repair is $10,500. SO, This is a major Cap Ex!  The property cash-flows $170 after Maintenance and cap-ex reserves are taken out, so this repair kills my cash on cash for 5 years...

What do you think folks?  IS it something that I can ignore for a while?  Why would a cast-iron pipe have sagged so much (assuming they put it in right)?  Murphy's law too right? 

I super welcome all your feedback and love what BP does .  Thanks in advance.

[John Warren]

@Joseph Schommer pipes can sag over time for sure, and this may or may not be a big deal. If everything is draining, I can totally understand why the seller doesn't want to pony up for you to replace the sewer line. Also, there may be other options as opposed to replacement. In some areas you can do sewer liners, and you may also be able to dig up and just put a patch in. 

Sewers are tough.... in my area most of them are clay pipe, and it is one of those ongoing issues when you buy older buildings. I have a building here locally in Berwyn where I had to replace all the 90 degree angles on the down spouts (they go to a catch basin which goes to the sewer) because they had all broken. I had one of my handy guys do this, and it saved me a small fortune I am sure.