I carry some sort of treat on me now whenever it's a rural location.My carpet guy has a 50 dollar snake removal fee that he has gotten me with twice already.  

They’re put there so if a clog occurs, the plumber can snake it out without having to cut the pipe.If you have multiple cleanouts in the line, it helps you find where the clog is.

And feel free to join the local Real Estate Networking meetup (that goes for everyone actually - it's free and I personally guarantee no gurus selling snake oil partake):  http://www.meetup.com/Bellingham-Real-Estate-Inves...Tell us a little more about your experience with construction and design.  

This way those snake sellers and investors with no morales can get stopped in their tracks when they try to open title on your property. 

@Brian EastmanThanks Brian, you don't know how many Solo 401k / SDIRA salesmen don't use this for themselves and how they waste investors time trying to sell it as snake oil cure for everything.

No strings attached and don't worry about me snaking your lead, I just wish to provide guidance and advice as others have provided for me.

Combine with putting up window plastic for them, door snakes or weather stripping, maybe a programmable thermostat, and the education tactics.

@Jakoby Moore  your not trying to snake the deal from Mastin are you.. ?

For the most part, I find books (especially the self help ones) to be 21st century snake oil, with one exception:   The Compound Effect.  

If the drain tile is on the outside of the foundation it is probably lower than the floor and will drain the water down if it can be repaired with a snake.