Should You Get a Sewer Scope Before Buying a House in Livingston County?
A sewer scope is a short camera inspection of the main sewer line that runs from a house to the city connection or septic tank. For about $250 to $500 it can reveal a problem that costs $5,000 to $15,000 to fix, which is why more Livingston County buyers are adding one to their inspection. Here is when it is worth doing and what the camera actually tells you.
Why the standard home inspection does not cover this
A general home inspector runs water and checks that drains flow, but they do not put a camera down the main line. The sewer lateral is buried three to six feet underground and is almost always the single most expensive plumbing component of a house. A line that drains fine on inspection day can still be cracked, root-filled, bellied, or partially collapsed. You only find out after you own it.
Homes where a scope pays for itself
- Built before 1985. Clay tile and cast iron were standard, and both are near or past their service life. Orangeburg (tar-paper pipe) shows up in some 1950s and 1960s subdivisions and can fail completely.
- Large trees between the house and the street. Maple, willow, and silver poplar roots find every joint and crack.
- Additions or a finished basement. Reworked plumbing and added load can expose an undersized or poorly graded line.
- Any history of backups mentioned in the disclosure, or a recent “we just had it cleaned” comment.
- Septic properties on the outskirts of Howell, Hartland, and Fowlerville, where the line to the tank matters just as much.
What the camera finds
On the footage, a technician is looking for cracks and offset joints, root intrusion, grease and scale buildup, a “belly” (a low section that holds standing water and collects solids), pipe-material transitions, and any sign the line has been previously repaired. Everything is recorded, and you get the video plus a written summary you can share with the seller.
What findings are worth to you in negotiation
If the scope turns up a real defect, you have three options: ask the seller to repair it before closing, ask for a price reduction or credit equal to a contractor’s written estimate, or walk away. Livingston County repair ballparks for 2026: a spot dig repair runs $1,500 to $4,500, trenchless lining $4,000 to $12,000, and a full sewer line replacement $3,500 to $15,000 or more if a road or driveway has to be cut. A $300 inspection that surfaces a $9,000 problem is the best money you will spend on the transaction.
How to schedule one
Book the scope during your inspection period, ideally at the same time as the general home inspection so you are not making a second trip. The utilities need to be on and someone needs to provide access to a cleanout or a pulled toilet. The inspection itself takes 30 to 60 minutes.
Howell Sewer & Drain provides pre-purchase sewer camera inspections across Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, Fowlerville and Genoa Township, with same-week scheduling during inspection periods. Call 810-484-0748.