u/Accurate-Farmer-3261

We are in home buying process and under contract (Upstate NY). We got sewer scope done and inspector suggest to re-scope after cleaning, as he was not confident to make any decisions (see text below). We are willing to pay for cleaning & re-scope; but our agent is saying that we are over-reacting. She also mentioned that any damage found after cleaning might become our liability, as seller might say that we damaged it while cleaning. Has anyone from the field heard of this type of liability issue?

We like this house & it has 72 feet line from house to city lateral. House has been vacant since last ~6yrs and seller has no idea when pipes were installed (it could be original). We are worried that if the pipe is damaged we will run into large repair bill (10-20K or more) fairly quickly. Are we overreacting?

Inspector wrote: "The main sewer line from the foundation to the city lateral contained excessive grease build up/debris. Portions of the sewer line appeared potentially compromised, delaminating with possible cracking and/or displacement observed in isolated sections. Visibility was limited during the inspection due to the buildup within the line. Recommend cleaning the sewer line and performing a follow-up sewer scope inspection to further evaluate the overall condition of the piping."

PS: We are pretty certain that inspector was not financially motivated, as he literally told me that he is too expensive for this type of re-scoping. He told me to find a good plumber who can do both: clean and tell us if condition is good.

First time buyer - We offered 15K above asking for a house (590K total; 2500 sqft; 1956 built; 5 beds; 3 bath; ranch with basement) that we liked in capital region NY. We did two independent full house inspections, sewer scope, and chimney inspection, as we later found that this was a flipped house. Inspection found some (major?) issues that I am looking for opinions/suggestions. Few more oddities about the house: it went under foreclosure in ~2021 and no one has been living there since. Flippers bought the house in spring 2024 and tried to sell in spring 2025. It did not go under contract & they removed the listing in nov 2025; initially listed at 625K and got down to 570K when listing was removed. It came back to market 2026 spring. Flipper renovated bathroom & changed kitchen counter. Everything else seems to be old and good condition. We talked with few neighbors and they mentioned that original owners (1956-2017) took very good care of the house.

Are we buying a money pit or are these manageable things? How much approx repair credit should we ask? We just finished inspections and negotiations has not started yet. Our agent said these are nothing to worry about, but she may be motivated to just go through the deal. Some photos are attached.

Electrical: Both inspector flagged breaker Panel and said that it need new panel box(es). Also, MLS listed 200Amps; current service is 100Amps. There are three small panels in total and two of them are right below kitchen. So there are water line running right above two of the electrical panel. We brought in an electrician and he suggested to move pipes, or move panels, or install weather proof panels. Internal wiring seems to be copper. (Electrician will send estimate for all fixes on Monday).
Cracks on rear porch foundation: The first inspector said cracks are cosmetic nothing to worry about (his opinion was these blocks are added later for some failed geothermal type project). However, second inspector was more concerned & wrote "appears to be "shifting". Previous attempt to secure foundation has failed, recommend consulting with a qualified contractor to further evaluate and make any necessary improvements."
Wood fireplace chimney: Inspector verbally mentioned that chimney fails in his opinion due to deteriorated mortar joints and cracks on chimney crown. Our initial plan was that we will put gas fireplace in few years. Inspector wrote: "The fireplace flue contained large openings within the mortar joints, deteriorated mortar joints, and areas of displacement. These conditions may allow heat, smoke, and combustion byproducts to escape into concealed areas of the structure. Based on NFPA standards, chimney flue liners and masonry flues should be continuous, properly sealed, and free of defects that could permit the passage of flames, heat, or flue gases to adjacent combustible materials."
Sewer scope: Sort of inconclusive. Inspector wrote: "contained excessive grease build up/debris. Portions of the sewer line appeared potentially compromised, delaminating with possible cracking and/or displacement observed in isolated sections. Visibility was limited during the inspection due to the buildup within the line. Recommend cleaning the sewer line and performing a follow-up sewer scope inspection to further evaluate the overall condition of the piping."
Mold found in basement crawl space (>10 sq feet) and attic (~4 sq feet). Only one inspector found it and he suggested to improve ventilation and install waterproof liner in crawl space. Is this expensive?
Abandoned septic tank in backyard. Both inspectors said that it need to be properly decommissioned & filled.