Should I inspect the perimeter drains and sewer line before buying a house?

While no amount of due diligence can 100% protect you when purchasing a home in Victoria or Vancouver Island, there are important steps that we recommend that help reduce your risk dramatically.

Once we have negotiated the purchase of your new home and ensured that the contract looks after your best interests, we enter the “conditional period” or what we call our due diligence period. During this time, we recommend getting a home inspection, but also checking a number of other things from the zoning and the permits on the property, to scanning for underground oil tanks. One item that sometimes is overlooked is the inspection of the perimeter drains and sewer line.

Why is it important to inspect the perimeter drains and sewer lines of homes in Victoria, Oak Bay and Saanich?

The perimeter drains and sewer line are part of the plumbing infrastructure of every home and they need regular maintenance. Clogged or collapsed perimeter drains and sewer lines can cause basement flooding, mildew, mold and environmental contamination.

While the cost of inspecting and maintaining your perimeter drains is very affordable, the costs to repair damage caused by flooding or replacement costs for aging perimeter drains and sewer lines can be extremely expensive.

The Capital Regional District (CRD) has an excellent brochure on perimeter drains and sewer lines entitled: Maintenance of Underground Pipes to protect your home from Basement Flooding. It’s a great resource that can help homeowners and buyers in Victoria understand how a home drainage system works and how to ensure it is maintained. It includes answers on:

What type of underground pipes are on your property?

Who is responsible for the sewer and drain pipes around your home?

What are the risks of not maintaining your perimeter drains and sewer line?

How often should I clean my perimeter drains?

What factors put your perimeter drains and sewer line at risk?

How to tell if your home has drainage problems?

Important questions to ask a home inspection or drainage company which is inspecting your perimeter drains?

How to maintain residential perimeter drains?

Don’t ignore the perimeter drains and sewer line in your current home or in a home you are thinking about buying. Learn why?

TOGETHER, Hal Decter, LL.B. and Audra Poole bring a unique level of knowledge, experience and service that is hard to find.

For eleven years, Hal was a practicing real estate lawyer and partner with one of Canada’s top law firms. His client experience ranges from some of the country’s largest corporations to individuals and couples starting their first businesses or buying their first homes.

Audra brings her research acumen and luxury marketing and sales talents to the team. She is a highly respected marketing and public relations executive with more than twenty years of local, regional and international experience.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home in Victoria, Oak Bay, Sidney or Saanich – we’ll be on your side and make the process as stress free and seamless as possible.