Why inspect the sewer before buying?
When you buy a home in Rancho Palos Verdes, you also take on its sewer lateral, all the way to the public main, including any part under the street. City rules put that entire pipe on the owner. A general home inspection typically runs water through fixtures but does not film the buried line, so serious problems can hide until after closing.
The City itself points to a change of ownership as a time to inspect the lateral when it has not been checked in the previous ten years. A camera inspection before closing turns that advice into leverage.
What does a pre-purchase inspection show?
- The pipe material, such as clay, cast iron, ABS or PVC, and where it changes.
- Root intrusion and how many joints are affected.
- Cracks, holes and corrosion.
- Sags where water and solids pool.
- Offset or separated joints.
- Past repairs and how well they have held up.
- The distance to each defect, so its location can be marked on the ground.
Why does it matter more on the Peninsula?
Much of Rancho Palos Verdes was developed before the City incorporated in 1973, and some neighborhoods are much older; parts of Miraleste date to the 1920s. Many homes sit on graded hillside lots, where fill settles, and some are near areas of land movement. Each of those raises the odds that a lateral needs work, and a long hillside lateral is not a cheap surprise.
How do you arrange one?
- Ask the listing agent for access to the cleanout and confirm where it is.
- Schedule the sewer camera inspection within your contingency period.
- Be present, or ask for a walk-through of the video afterward.
- Request the video file and a written log of defects with distances.
- If repairs are needed, get a written scope and estimate to support your negotiation.
Pro tipAsk whether the inspector will film all the way to the main. A camera that stops at the property line misses the street portion you will own.
What can you do with the results?
A clean video is peace of mind and a baseline for the future. A problem video gives options: ask the seller to repair before closing, request a credit, or adjust your offer. Having a contractor's written scope makes those conversations concrete. If the line needs work like sewer lateral repair or lining, you will know the plan before you own the problem. For more on how sewer issues are handled here, read our overview of sewer line repair in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Which findings are red flags?
Not every defect on a sewer video is a deal-breaker, but some deserve a written repair estimate before you remove your contingency:
- A collapsed or flattened section the camera cannot pass.
- A long belly holding water and debris.
- Joints that have separated, with soil visible.
- Root mats at many joints along the run.
- Deformed bituminous fiber pipe.
- Heavy corrosion with holes in the bottom of cast iron pipe.
Minor findings such as light scale or a single root intrusion are common in older homes and often handled with cleaning and monitoring.
What should you do after closing?
Keep the inspection video and report with your closing documents. If the seller agreed to repairs, ask for the permit sign-off and the contractor's final video showing the completed work. If you accepted a credit instead, schedule the repair before moving in heavy furniture or starting renovations, especially if the work will cross a driveway or patio. And note the location of the cleanout, the material of the lateral and any defects to watch. That small file will save time for any contractor you call in the future and gives the next buyer confidence when you eventually sell.
Pre-purchase inspection FAQs
Is a sewer inspection part of a standard home inspection?
Usually not. Most general inspections do not film the buried lateral. It is typically a separate service.
Who pays for a pre-purchase sewer inspection?
Usually the buyer, as part of due diligence. Who pays for any repairs is a matter for negotiation.
What if the home has no cleanout?
The inspector may go through a toilet or roof vent. The lack of a cleanout is itself worth noting in negotiations.
How long does the inspection take?
For a typical lateral with good access, about an hour, longer if the line must be cleared first.