Sewer scope — before you buy
A standard home inspection does not include the sewer lateral. The inspector cannot see inside it, so it isn't in the report. Meanwhile a failed lateral costs $8,000–$25,000 to replace, and the day you take possession it becomes entirely your problem.
A sewer scope is a camera inspection of that pipe before you're committed. We do them fast, because you're usually working to a subject-removal deadline.
Why it matters here
Metro Vancouver's older housing stock — pre-1960 homes across East Vancouver, New Westminster, Burnaby Heights and much of the Westside — typically has clay or cast iron laterals, and the city's mature street trees are exceptionally good at finding them. Root intrusion in a 70-year-old clay lateral isn't unusual. It's the default.
What the scope shows
Root intrusion and how far advanced it is · Cracks, fractures and collapsed sections · Bellies holding standing water · Offset joints · Pipe material and rough age · Grease and scale buildup · Whether the line connects properly to the city main · Whether there's an old, abandoned or illegally connected line
What you get
A full view of the underground piping, the ability to pinpoint damaged sections, the recording sent to you, and pictures of any damage.
What it costs
It's the cheapest insurance in a property transaction, and it's the one most buyers don't know to ask for.
If we find something
It becomes a negotiating position rather than a surprise. Buyers routinely use a documented sewer defect to renegotiate price or require the seller to repair before completion. Our report is written to be usable for exactly that — factual, photographed, costed.
We're not the ones advising you on the deal. We just make sure you're making the decision with the information.
For realtors and inspectors
We work with agents and home inspectors across Metro Vancouver on subject-removal timelines. Fast scheduling, next-day reports, plain-language findings you can hand to a client without translating.
