If you are a resident of Murrysville, PA, own an older home, and are looking to take advantage of the great rates currently available to refinance your home, be aware that the Municipality of Murrysville requires all residents who are connected to the public sewer to have a dye test and camera inspection of their sanitary sewer lateral for illegal storm or surface water connections to the public sewer system. This inspection is performed by the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority (FTMSA) at a cost of $350.
While dye tests have been common for the sale of homes, this ordinance passed in September 2010 also requires homeowners to have the test done prior to a refinance. The catch is that many of the older homes in our area have terracotta lines that are susceptible to tree root infiltrations or cracks over time. If the dye test or camera picks up problems, you will be responsible for having your sewer line replaced, at your cost, prior to being able to refinance. Since this can be many thousands of dollars you may need to consider if the payback on the refinance will justify the cost of replacing your sewer line. In an added problem, it appears that if you have the test done and discover a problem, even if you change your mind on the refinance you may still be required to make the repair within 60 days. Click here to read more about the requirements.
In one neighborhood in Murrysville, three recent sales required replacement lines. One seller had to spend over $10K on the replacement of the line. And you can be sure as a seller, that your buyer will expect you to pick up this cost.
With many homes in Murrysville 20, 30 or 40+ years old you can expect that this will become a problem should you decide to refinance or sell, be sure to consider the cost as part of your calculation when planning either change.
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