For many of us, purchasing a home is one of the most expensive investments we’ll ever make. Regardless of whether you’re buying or selling, you need to make the best deal, and it is common for a home inspection to be performed before a sale is finalized. While this may highlight some minor points, what can you do if the inspection report is negative because of plumbing issues?
The Importance of a Healthy Home Plumbing System
While it is often overlooked, home plumbing systems are designed to ensure our lives are more comfortable. Your home plumbing system includes a water line running from the house to the road and a sewer line that runs away from your home. The water line supplies your water heater, splitting cold water from hot to send it throughout your home. The wastewater produced in your home needs to go somewhere, and the drains reverse the water through the sewer line into a municipal or septic system. At any stage, a break or fault can create massive disruption inside the home with potentially costly repairs and property damage. So, it is essential that your interests are covered before you begin.
The Contingencies of the Purchase Agreement
The purchase agreement is a contract binding you to the sale. This will have a contingency clause pertaining to the results of the home inspection. You will need to consult with your real estate attorney or realtor to discuss the contingencies in your contract.
Any home is likely to have plumbing issues, and the severity of these problems should pop up on the home inspection report. While replacing or repairing a leaky faucet is one thing, a need to replace sewer lines is another thing entirely. A contingency clause in your purchase agreement should be a point of negotiation between the buyer and the seller.
When the Report Highlights a Plumbing Issue
The home inspection performed for the buyer may find plumbing issues that will need to be addressed before the sale is finalized. This scenario provides both parties an opportunity to renegotiate the purchase price or allow the seller to perform repairs. Every case is different, but some plumbing problems are so severe that the sale cannot go forward without action being taken.
If the home inspection report highlights an issue, you should consult a
professional plumber. If your home has been built in the 1900s, the plumbing system may have been constructed with older materials that can lead to problems. These older materials can decay over time, become penetrated by tree roots or break and these issues will be highlighted in a home inspection report. Your plumber will be able to guide you through the options such as replacing with more modern materials such as PEX piping, that is flexible and less vulnerable to plumbing issues.
As a seller, performing a home inspection before selling your property will allow you to uncover any issues of which you were not aware. This will provide you with an opportunity to make repairs or disclose these issues to price your home accordingly rather than face an unpleasant surprise during the sale.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
