Can’t turn on water for inspection on HUD home

[Amanda McAndrews]

I bid on HUD home and the offer was accepted I am scheduled to have an inspector come out this Thursday but I just received and email that we can’t turn on the water. On the PCR it says plumbing is damaged and sites a missing component the house will be insured escrow of 600. Does that mean whatever is wrong with plumbing will only cost 600? Does anyone know what that could be? The electric company said that the meter is there so they can test it through that, should I even get an inspection if I can’t turn on water or electric it just seems like a waste of money.

[Marcus Auerbach]

@Amanda McAndrews no, it will probably cost more. If the plumbing is 50 years or older and you plan on keeping the property for a long time (30 years or so) you should replace the plumbing with pex anyway. Talk to your local plumber, but around here plumbing lives for about 50 years, both water and waste pipes. After that you start seeing low pressure and more and more leaks. It is more economical to do it all at once.

Winterizing often leaves you with some cracked fittings or faucets in the basement, which are easy to replace, but the main goal is to preserve the water heater, toilets and the in wall plumbing from frost damage.