Should I get a sewer inspection on a new build?
Yes. New does not mean problem-free. The pipe is new, but it has been through a construction site, and a scope is the only way to see how it came out the other side.
What happens to new lines during a build
Sewer lines go in early, and then months of construction happen on top of them. The problems I see on new builds are consistent:
Construction debris washed or knocked into open lines: grout, concrete chunks, wood, and trash
Poor or misaligned connections at couplings
Pipe sections cracked or crushed by heavy equipment and backfill
Bellies where the line was bedded poorly and sags, holding water
Test caps or plugs left in the line and forgotten
None of these show up from above ground. Everything flushes fine on a walkthrough, right up until it does not.
The warranty angle
This is the part buyers miss. Most builders warranty their work for the first year, and that coverage has a clock on it. A scope inside the warranty window turns a problem into the builder's repair, not yours. The same scope after the warranty expires turns it into your bill. Many owners schedule warranty punch-list work around the 11-month mark, and that is a smart time to scope the line too.
One practical note: before closing, the builder still owns the home, so the scope needs their OK. Your agent can usually arrange that, and a builder who has nothing to hide rarely objects. Builders do occasionally push back, which is itself worth knowing.
If you are buying a new build, scope before closing if you can. If you already own one, scope before the builder's warranty runs out.
The math
A scope typically runs $100 to $300. A repair on a new home means digging up a brand new yard, and sewer replacement in the Denver area typically runs $5,000 to $15,000 or more. On a new build the line itself is rarely the problem. What construction did to it is.
And plenty of scopes on new builds find nothing but debris. Even then, getting the line cleaned and documented inside the warranty window is worth the cost, because you start ownership with a known-clean line on video. The sewer scope video is always included with the report.
If you are in the Denver metro
I am Bard Nielsen, owner of Golden Peak Inspection in Golden, CO. I scope sewer lines on new builds and older homes across the Denver metro, on their own or alongside the home inspection. Call or text 303-803-5412.