How To Keep A Sewer Pipe From Costing You Thousands

One of the most overlooked and expensive repairs any Minneapolis or St Paul duplex owner can face is the replacement of a sewer line.

It isn’t something we think about often; not like a roof or a furnace. After all, it’s buried and as the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind”.

In the case of Minneapolis and St Paul, where much of the existing small multifamily inventory was built prior to the Vietnam War era, and more still prior to World War II, the sewer line has likely been out of sign and mind for several generations.

The line may well be made out of clay pipe. Over time, these have a tendency to not only become clogged with tree roots, but also crack and even break. But unless there’s a problem, how would you  know?

As the duplex market has begun to shift, many buyers are choosing to have the sewer scoped as part of their inspection contingency. That tends to be when these things get discovered. And of course, that almost always results in either an expensive repair (anywhere from $2500 to $10,000, depending on what’s required) or a price concession.

There is a solution, and it isn’t what you think.

Believe it or not, if your property insurance doesn’t already include coverage, for about $30 a year you can get a rider that will cover it.

So whether you’re thinking of putting selling your duplex, or would just like to avoid a major repair, it would be smart to call your insurance agent and ask about adding the coverage. You may spend a little, but end up saving a lot.