New Home Buyers: Get A CCTV Drain Survey Before You Take The Jump

When you’re in the market for your first home, there will be a number of things you want to consider before you buy. It’s hard enough to navigate the various sales processes in the first place. While you are considering whether or not to buy the house, one critical factor that is often overlooked is the state of the drainage system. It’s just not the first thing that comes to mind compared to how the house is built, if the space is right for you or what area it’s located in. 

Here’s why you should consider bringing in a drainage specialist to survey the system.

The Unseen Enemy Of Pipes

When it comes to your drains, what you can’t see certainly can hurt you. The home you are looking to buy might look absolutely perfect. It may be in the right area or have the amount of rooms you want and the space you are looking for; but underneath, there could be a serious issue that will come back to bite you after escrow is closed. Those beautiful trees around the house have strong root systems that are constantly searching for water and in their search will inevitably find your pipes. You may have seen how a tree’s roots can completely destroy a sidewalk or roadway. They can do the same to your pipes. 

The smallest leak will attract them, and they will slowly grow into it and expand, wreaking havoc on your system. The best way to be sure is to take advantage of a CCTV drain survey offered by 24/7 Drainage Solutions. They’ll be able to tell you if your dream home is actually a ticking time bomb that will require very expensive repairs.

Damage Adds Up

If your CCTV drainage survey comes back with any signs of an issue, you want to factor that into the price of your offer. These kinds of issues don’t fix themselves and simply having the problem cleared out of the pipes may not be enough. If the surveyor says that the system needs to be replaced, take that seriously and get a maximum quote to take with you to the realtor. 

You may be surprised just how much it will cost to replace your downpipe. Since it connects to the main sewer system, it will usually require several permits that take time and a good chunk of money all on their own. Then, factor in the damage that was likely already caused to the home, the companies you will have to hire to fix it – now you have a money pit instead of your dream home.

The Seller

You should be able to get the person putting the home on the market to provide a CCTV survey. It’s best for you to choose the company that conducts the survey as well. If they refuse, then you probably don’t want to move forward with the sale. Move on and find one that already has a recent survey completed or is willing to provide one for you out of pocket.