The sewer line is easy to forget because it is underground, out of sight and usually working normally during a showing. A standard home inspection can evaluate visible plumbing fixtures and drainage behavior, but it cannot tell a buyer what the buried line looks like from the house toward the public connection or septic system.
A sewer scope answers a different question
A sewer scope uses a camera to inspect the accessible interior of the line. Depending on the property, it may reveal root intrusion, cracks, offsets, deterioration, standing water, blockage, poor slope or sections that deserve further evaluation. The Colorado Division of Real Estate specifically lists sewer scopes as an example of an additional inspection a buyer may need beyond the general home inspection.
Older housing makes the question more important
Denver has large areas of older housing stock, mature trees and properties where the sewer service has been in the ground for decades. Age alone does not mean the line is failing, and a newer home is not immune from installation or settlement problems. But the cost of a significant sewer repair can be large enough that a buyer should decide intentionally whether to inspect rather than discovering the condition only after a backup.
If a problem appears, define it before negotiating
A camera finding is the beginning of the analysis, not always the final diagnosis. The buyer may need the operator to identify the approximate location and severity, obtain a cleaning and re-scope, or get a repair estimate from a qualified sewer contractor. A minor root condition that can be maintained periodically is different from a collapsed or badly offset section requiring excavation or lining.
The best use of the sewer scope is not to make every older home look scary. It is to turn an expensive hidden system into something the buyer can evaluate before the inspection deadlines expire.
Sources: Colorado Division of Real Estate, The Home Buying Process in Colorado; Colorado Real Estate Commission 2026 inspection forms and residential contract.
Related resources
How to Plan a Denver Metro Home Purchase Beyond the List Price
What Should a Colorado Buyer Negotiate After the Home Inspection?