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While a home inspection is standard protocol when purchasing a home, many buyers overlook one major type of inspection before move-in day, and if a problem is brewing, it can lead to some nasty consequences later on. What type of inspection is not included in the traditional home inspection? A sewer inspection.

“Too often, buyers are unaware that the responsibility of the sewer line leading from the street to the home falls on their shoulders,” says Mary Lynn Stone, President of Century 21 New Millennium. “Should a problem with the line occur, the cost of repair can be a staggering $5,000—not to mention a seriously messy clean-up.”

An old septic tank can explode or degrade over time. Not only is the smell extremely unpleasant and lingering, but the mess is unsafe and hazardous to your health. Additionally, it can cause major damage to your home and surrounding property. “A damaged sewer system can disrupt your bathroom fixtures, as well as flood your property, wreck your landscaping and seriously offend the neighbors, says Stone.

“A sewer line inspection, often done using a camera to scope out any internal issues, can be done by a professional for anywhere from $200 -$500, depending on the depth and length of your pipes,” Stone notes. While this may seem like a hefty inspection fee to some, it is a mere fraction of what you will pay if a pipe or tanks erupts down the line.

“Because plumbing lies underneath the house, it doesn’t get as much attention as say, the roof,” says Stone, who notes that a sewer inspection is usually an afterthought when purchasing a home. “But the inspection is just as important for the overall financial security of your home, especially if your place is over 20 years old, or has been vacant for a length of time.”

One of the largest causes of sewer disruption is root growth, so if your property has a good amount of trees—especially mature trees with visible root growth—it’s increasingly important to get a sewer inspection in order to stave off a financial burden and a huge mess down the line.

For more information on home inspections, please contact Century 21 New Millennium at move@c21nm.com, 800-382-1101, or Century 21 New Millennium.

CENTURY 21 New Millennium. Smarter. Bolder. Faster. CENTURY 21 New Millennium, www.c21nm.com, is a full service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and luxury properties. In addition to its newest Washington D.C. location, the Virginia locations are in Alexandria, Centreville, Culpeper, Fredericksburg, Gainesville, McLean, Stafford, and Woodbridge. The Maryland offices are located in Annapolis, Columbia, Dunkirk, La Plata, Lexington Park, Lusby and Waldorf. Its core services include: mortgage financing, investing, settlement services, property management, property insurance, global relocation assistance, and commercial real estate.