Serious question, did anyone else skip the sewer scope inspection to save cash?

I bought my first place in Tacoma last year and thought the $250 for a camera check was a waste. My realtor pushed for it but I said no. Two months in, the main line backed up and the plumber found tree roots that cost $4,000 to fix. Now I tell every new buyer to get that scope done before closing, no matter what. Has anyone else had a surprise like this after skipping an inspection?

3 comments

3 Comments

milacraig5d ago

Honestly, that sounds like some bad luck. I get why people skip it, especially on a tight budget. A lot of older homes are just fine. My cousin bought a place built in the 60s and never had a single issue with the pipes. Sometimes you just roll the dice and it works out. Spending that extra cash isn't always the right move.

gavinb975d ago

Wait, a house from the 60s with zero pipe problems? That's honestly a miracle. Those old galvanized lines are basically rusting shut from the inside out after fifty years. Your cousin got insanely lucky, like winning the lottery lucky. Skipping an inspection to save a few hundred bucks is how you end up with a $10,000 repipe bill six months later. It's not just rolling dice, it's betting your whole savings on a single number.

the_nathan4d ago

Remember my buddy who bought a place with the "original charm" which meant the pipes were basically held together with hope. He skipped the inspection too, said the water pressure felt fine. First real cold snap, a pipe let go in the wall and flooded the kitchen. That "saved" money turned into a nightmare real fast. Makes you wonder how many walls are just hiding a time bomb.