Jump to content

recommending sewer line scopes


John Dirks Jr

Recommended Posts

What triggers you to make a recommendation to have the sewer lines scoped?

Is there a specific age that you begin to lean in that direction? What other things push you to prompt it?

I get my fair share of older houses in my area. I havn't recommended sewer line scoping very often. I'm wondering if I should do it more often.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What triggers you to make a recommendation to have the sewer lines scoped?

Is there a specific age that you begin to lean in that direction? What other things push you to prompt it?

I get my fair share of older houses in my area. I havn't recommended sewer line scoping very often. I'm wondering if I should do it more often.

Had a 60 year old vacant home a couple years ago. I did my inspection w/o a problem however a couple weeks after client moved in, toilets backed up. Sewer line to road was filled with roots, cost them a bunch because evidently a break was in line also....

Also, had a home with deteriorated copper waste line under basement slab, plugged up, copper drainline was rotted/deteriorated and they had to cut slab, etc to replace...

So my criteria is vacant home and/or a home over 40 years.... may be overkill but CYA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Harsh reality is it's a good idea on any home. I've found 20 year old houses where some moron didn't fit the bell and hub joint in the tile, and it separated, causing major backup and damage.

Me? If there's trees in the front yard, I tell people they ought to scope the sewer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are there any circumstances which the scope guy and the inspector clash if they're there at the same time. What might be some complications?

Also, do you anticipate by using property information and let the client know in advance that you might be recommending the extra service or do you wait until you see the conditions at the property?

Do you know of any good educational links I could put in an email to show what sewer scopes are and what they can do?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One complication could be if the inspector is an idiot and thinks they should be the center of attention during the entire inspection.

I always defer prima donna status to the sewer scope guy. His stuff is much more interesting what with a TV and all. Sometimes I even take a few minutes and watch.

Conflict? Only if I need to use the loo and he's got his camera down the sewer line. That doesn't happen very often.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never had a conflict with the line scope guy. He sees home inspectors all the time; he understands us and we understand him. I often stop what I'm doing for a few minutes to check out his video once he's had his camera deployed for a while. The guy's job is just as important as mine; more important sometimes, and he's a pro and good at what he does. I'm not afraid to recommend folks to him and he's remembered and referred a few back to me.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I regret not warning my clients sooner in my career.

7 or 8 years ago, a client of mine woke up in her ground floor 1970's condo a year after I had done her inspection to a couple of inches of sewage compliments of a tree clogged sewer and the units above her. It came right up her laundry room floor drain.

She was beside herself with anger and nausea and was strongly considering suing me for not recommending a scope. I did not get sued but I really wish I would have thrown the possibility out there for her to consider. No one should have to go through that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I regret not warning my clients sooner in my career.

7 or 8 years ago, a client of mine woke up in her ground floor 1970's condo a year after I had done her inspection to a couple of inches of sewage compliments of a tree clogged sewer and the units above her. It came right up her laundry room floor drain.

She was beside herself with anger and nausea and was strongly considering suing me for not recommending a scope. I did not get sued but I really wish I would have thrown the possibility out there for her to consider. No one should have to go through that.

Sadly, that's how most of us learn things like this. I never used to recommend it, either, till someone here posted a tale about an inspector AND a realtor getting sued because of a damaged waste line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh yeah......

My on the job training occurred about 17 years ago.

That, and I ran a little database search in my report archives to see how many places had sewer problems.

18 1/2% of my customers have building sewer defects. Almost 1/5 of all houses.

Those two things got me on the case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does this boiler for sewer line scope recommendation look ok? The itlalics part is open for tweaking depending on the specifics of the place.

This general home inspection cannot fully verify the condition of the sewer lines. The conditions at this property including the age of the house, sewer line material, foundation conditions, soil conditions and large mature trees can have a negative affect on the condition of the sewer lines. Failure of the lines can interupt service and allow sewage to backflow into the house. Repair or replacement of the lines can be expensive. Because of these things, I recommend you hire a qualified contractor to scope the sewer lines to verify their condition. If things are found wrong, have them corrected.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are there any circumstances which the scope guy and the inspector clash if they're there at the same time. What might be some complications?

Since I'm on a first-name basis with most of the sewer-scope guys in town, I try really hard to get along with them all. I try not to run any water while they're scoping. If I get there first and I happen to notice the location of the sewer cleanout, I'll tell them as soon as they arrive so they don't have to spend time looking for it. If one of them has a hard time finding the cleanout, I'll sometimes stop what I'm doing & help him. I don't watch the scope most of the time, but I always try to listen in on his narration. None of these things is a complication.

In return, these guys are always really nice to me. Several of them have referred business to me and I to them.

Also, do you anticipate by using property information and let the client know in advance that you might be recommending the extra service or do you wait until you see the conditions at the property?

No only do we anticipate it, we actually offer to schedule the sewer scope for them if they'd like us to. (Of course, there's no kickback or any other monetary incentive for us.)

Do you know of any good educational links I could put in an email to show what sewer scopes are and what they can do?

I don't know of any. I just say that tell people that a sewer scope guy can sent a camera on the end of a long snake into the sewer pipe and take a video of it. No one seems to have any questions or have the need for further "education" about it.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does this boiler for sewer line scope recommendation look ok? The itlalics part is open for tweaking depending on the specifics of the place.

This general home inspection cannot fully verify the condition of the sewer lines. The conditions at this property including the age of the house, sewer line material, foundation conditions, soil conditions and large mature trees can have a negative affect on the condition of the sewer lines. Failure of the lines can interupt service and allow sewage to backflow into the house. Repair or replacement of the lines can be expensive. Because of these things, I recommend you hire a qualified contractor to scope the sewer lines to verify their condition. If things are found wrong, have them corrected.

Sewer Scope

I can’t tell you anything about the condition of the underground portion of the drain pipe or sewer pipe.

1. Have the interior of the sewer piping video recorded to learn about its condition.

Or

FYI – Sewer Scope

I can’t tell you anything about the condition of the underground portion of the drain pipe or sewer pipe. During the inspection, Joe Jones from Jones Scoping performed a sewer scope inspection. Please refer to his video report for information about the condition of the drain pipe & sewer pipe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If someone doesn't quite understand sewer scope means, I use the term "colonoscopy".

Folks get that.

I sense a trend to over-reliance on boilerplate to describe all things. You end up sounding like a robot and your reports will be twice as long, or longer, than they need to be.

Just tell folks old sewers often have problems that are expensive and disruptive to repair. Describe a few defects if you must. Tell folks the only way to know is to scope the sewer. Offer to schedule the scope. Tell them to call you at your office to discuss if they just can't get the idea in their head.

Then get out of the way and let the guy do his job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...