🚩 Red Flag Friday: Polybutylene Pipes!

This week's red flag: Polybutylene Pipes — the plumbing time bomb in homes built between 1978 and 1995.

Why it matters

This is one of the issues we flag most frequently in property analyses. From our data, 100.0% of properties have at least one deal-breaker finding, and polybutylene pipes is a common contributor.

What to look for

During your inspection, pay close attention to signs related to polybutylene pipes. Ask your inspector to document everything with photos and specific location notes.

In the disclosure

Check whether the seller disclosed anything related to polybutylene pipes. If the disclosure says "no known issues" but the inspection reveals problems, that discrepancy strengthens your negotiation position significantly.

The bottom line

Not every instance of polybutylene pipes is a deal-breaker. The key factors are severity, scope, and cost to repair. Get a specialist estimate before making your decision.

Have you encountered polybutylene pipes in your home search? What happened? 👇

🏠 Analyze your next property for free — Upload a seller disclosure and inspection report to OfferWise and get a personalized risk score, offer recommendation, and repair cost breakdown in 60 seconds. Your first analysis is free.

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