Is it worth paying extra for a sewer camera inspection on top of the regular inspection when buying an older duplex?

Kendra, yes, on an older duplex a sewer camera inspection is one of the best few hundred dollars you can spend, and I would make it a condition of your offer rather than an afterthought. Here is why it matters more on a duplex. Older lateral lines (clay, cast iron, or Orangeburg fiber pipe) fail from root intrusion, offsets, bellies and collapse, and a standard home inspection cannot see any of it because the line is buried. Two units mean more fixtures, more load on one lateral, and more tenants who will flush the problem into your lap. A repair or full replacement of the lateral can run from a few thousand dollars to well into five figures depending on depth, length, and whether it needs to be dug up, so a scope that typically costs a small fraction of that is cheap insurance. What to ask for: have the scope done by a plumber or inspector who records video, ask for the footage and a written report, and ask them to note the location and depth of any defect. Do it inside your inspection contingency period so you can still renegotiate the price, ask for a repair credit, or walk away. Also ask who is responsible for the line from the building to the street, since in many cities the property owner owns the lateral all the way to the main, and some cities require a lateral test or repair at sale or when you pull permits. Tell your agent you want it on the order list before the inspection window closes, and have the scope done at the same time as the main inspection so you are not racing the clock. I am a real estate professional, not an attorney or a plumber, so use a licensed plumber for the repair estimate and check your local rules on lateral responsibility. I work in the Palos Verdes and South Bay area of Los Angeles, so for a duplex in Cleveland I would point you to a strong local investor friendly agent, and if you want help finding one I am glad to connect you. Zoltan Peresztegi Zoltan

Kendra, on an older duplex, I'd treat a sewer scope as money well spent. A standard home inspection usually stops at the drains inside the house, so the line running out to the street goes unchecked. In older homes that line is often clay or cast iron, and tree roots, cracks, sags, and separated joints are common. With a duplex, two units' worth of water runs through that one line, so problems show up faster. A scope typically costs a few hundred dollars. A line repair or replacement can run into the thousands, especially if it means digging up a yard or sidewalk. If the camera finds something during your inspection period, you can ask for a repair or a credit, renegotiate, or walk away, depending on your contract. Ask for the video, not just the written summary, so a plumber can quote from it. I'm not in Ohio, so a local agent or the city can tell you how responsibility for the line is split between the owner and the city there. Mike Fielder, REALTOR® | The Key Home Team of Cummings & Co. Realtors

Yes. On an older duplex, I'd call it one of the best checks you can buy. A standard home inspection usually stops where the pipe goes into the floor or wall. The line running from the house to the city sewer is underground, and nobody sees it without a camera. On older homes that line can be cast iron, clay, or even fiber pipe, and those can crack, sag, separate at the joints, or fill with tree roots. You won't know until it backs up. I spent years in construction, and a broken sewer line is one of the uglier surprises. Replacing it can mean digging up the yard, the driveway, or sometimes the sidewalk or street. That gets expensive fast. On a duplex you've got two units of tenants using that line, so a problem shows up sooner and costs you rent while it's fixed. A few tips: Ask the inspector or plumber to run the camera all the way to the city connection, not just a few feet. Get the video, not just a summary. If they find something, you can show it to a plumber for a repair quote. Do it inside your inspection window. If there's a problem, you can use the quote to ask for a repair, a credit, or a price change, or walk away if your contract allows. Ask who's responsible for the line between the property and the city main. That varies by city, so call the local water or sewer department. For an older duplex, it's cheap insurance against a very expensive surprise.

You've heard from multiple agents that it is a good idea and I concur. This can be very costly if issues are found and is better dealt with before you close!

Hey Kendra, yes, do it. From the property management side, sewer backups on a duplex are some of the worst calls we get. It’s two tenants, two units of damage, and usually a weekend. Two things the other answers didn’t cover. Before you schedule it, ask the seller or listing agent for any history of rooter calls. Frequent snaking is a big tell, even if the scope looks fine that day. And make sure there’s an accessible exterior cleanout. Without one, future clogs get harder and pricier to clear. If anything shows up, get a written quote from a sewer contractor during your inspection window, not just the inspector’s note.

Yes, sewer lines can cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace if completely destroyed. A few hundred bucks is worth the piece of mind. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Yes, I'd include a sewer camera inspection when evaluating an older duplex. First confirm what your regular inspection covers so you know exactly what the additional service will examine. For a duplex, have the inspector explain whether the units share a line and which portions they can access. Request the recording and a written explanation of any concerns, including anything they couldn't inspect. A camera inspection is less useful if you leave without understanding what was actually checked. If something needs attention, get a repair estimate before deciding how to proceed, while you still have time under your contract to address it. You don't need to assume the line is bad because the building is older. You do want enough information to judge the expense you could be taking on. Austin Moore Broker/Owner, Austin Moore & Company Real Estate Realtor in Longview, Texas

Kendra, absolutely! I would strongly recommend a sewer camera inspection when purchasing an older duplex, especially in Cleveland, where many older properties may still have aging clay or cast-iron sewer lines. A standard home inspection typically does not include an examination of the underground sewer line. A camera inspection can reveal tree-root intrusion, cracks, blockages, deteriorating pipes, or even a collapsed sewer line. Here's why I believe it's worth the additional expense: You're buying two rental units, but potentially inheriting one very expensive plumbing problem. Depending on the location and severity of the damage, sewer line repairs or replacement could cost thousands of dollars. The inspection gives you valuable information before closing. If a problem is discovered, you may be able to negotiate repairs, request a credit, or reconsider the purchase, depending on your contract terms. I would also ask whether both units share the same sewer lateral and make sure the plumber inspects all accessible lines serving the property. My advice? Spend a few hundred dollars now to potentially avoid a much larger expense later. When purchasing an older investment property, knowing what's happening underground is just as important as knowing what's happening inside the building. Brenda Ashby | REALTOR® | JohnHart Real Estate | DRE License # 01700249

Yes, Kendra. On an older duplex I'd pay for the sewer scope without much hesitation. A standard inspection usually stops where the pipe leaves the house, so the line out to the street stays a blind spot unless a camera goes down it. Roots working into old pipe, or a section that has cracked or sagged, will show up on the video, and a duplex often sends two households' worth of water through that one line. The scope costs a small fraction of what a line repair would. If it turns something up during your inspection period, you're negotiating with facts instead of guesses, so ask for the actual video file along with the report. One caveat: my license is in California, and a Cleveland agent or the city can tell you which part of the line is the owner's responsibility there. Alla Novytska, Realtor®, JohnHart Real Estate, DRE #02254775