Guides

• Sewer lateral inspections before you sell in CaliforniaWhich Bay Area and Santa Cruz cities require a sewer lateral certificate before a home sale, what the test involves, what repairs cost, and how time extensions work.
• Point-of-sale inspections in Northeast OhioWhich Cleveland-area cities require a point-of-sale inspection, what the fees and escrow rules are, and what happens when violations are not fixed before closing.
• Truth in Sale of Housing and Time-of-Sale rules in MinnesotaWhich Minnesota cities require a Truth-in-Sale of Housing, Time-of-Sale or point-of-sale sewer inspection, who does it, how long it lasts, and what must be repaired.
• Sewer dye tests before selling in Allegheny CountyWhich Allegheny County municipalities require a sewer dye test or lateral camera inspection before a home sale, what the fees are, and why a failed test matters.
• Resale use and occupancy certificates in PennsylvaniaHow resale use and occupancy certificates work in Philadelphia suburbs, what MCOCA means for sellers with violations, and which towns require nothing at all.
• California city presale reportsWhich California cities require a presale building records report, what it costs, and what the Los Angeles 9A and San Francisco 3R reports show buyers.
• Your options when a point-of-sale inspection finds expensive repairsWhat to do when a city point-of-sale inspection, sewer lateral test or dye test turns up expensive repairs: fix it, escrow it, pass it to the buyer, or sell as-is.
• What is a point-of-sale inspection?A point-of-sale inspection is a city-required check before a home changes hands. Learn which states and cities require one, what is inspected, and who pays.
• Point-of-sale inspection checklist: what inspectors flag mostThe items city inspectors flag most often at point-of-sale, occupancy and Truth-in-Housing inspections, and how to fix them before the inspector arrives.
• Sewer lateral repair and replacement costWhat sewer lateral inspection, repair, lining and full replacement typically cost, what drives the price, and how sellers handle it under point-of-sale rules.
• Who pays for point-of-sale inspections and repairs?Buyer or seller: who pays for point-of-sale inspections, sewer lateral repairs and code violations, and how escrows, credits and buyer assumption agreements work.
• The New Jersey smoke and CO certificate, and town resale COsHow the New Jersey smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate works at resale, the state fee tiers, and which South and Central Jersey towns add a resale CO.
• Occupancy inspections when selling in St. Louis CountyWhich St. Louis County municipalities require an occupancy inspection before a home sale, what inspectors check, and how to avoid a closing delay.
• Transfer stamps and village inspections in the Chicago areaWhich Chicago suburbs require a village inspection before issuing transfer stamps, what the inspections cost, and how municipal transfer taxes work.
• Massachusetts: the smoke and CO certificate and Title 5 septic inspectionMassachusetts sellers need a fire department smoke and carbon monoxide certificate, and homes on septic need a Title 5 inspection. How both work.
• Point-of-sale rule changes in 2025 and 2026New, repealed and changed point-of-sale requirements in 2025 and 2026, from the new Oro Loma sewer lateral rule to the Chester City repeal and New Jersey fee changes.
• Michigan Time of Transfer septic and well inspectionsWhich Michigan counties and townships require a septic and well evaluation before a home sale, what the rules say, and how long an evaluation stays valid.