Because Costco's Backyard Used to Be a Skydiving Strip
Part of the Why Issaquah? series: Because Costco's Backyard Used to Be a Skydiving Strip
Why Issaquah? Because Costco's Backyard Used to Be a Skydiving Strip
Category: Local History (Bonus Post) | Suggested length: 700-800 words | Target reader: history-curious buyers and longtime residents
Here's a piece of local history most newcomers never hear.
From the early 1940s until 1987, a chunk of the Pickering family's dairy farm just north of what's now I-90 operated as a recreational airfield.
A Farm Turned Airfield
The field went through several names over the decades:
The Seattle Sky Ranch
Issaquah Airport
Eventually, the Issaquah Skyport
It became genuinely woven into local identity. Weekly air shows, gliding, ballooning, and one of the region's best-known skydiving centers all operated from this one patch of farmland. Old Issaquah T-shirts showed parachutes floating over the valley, a small detail that tells you how central the Skyport was to how the town saw itself.
The Fight to Save It
The Skyport closed for good in 1987, after a long, emotional battle between residents who wanted to save it and developers who wanted to build on it.
The developers won.
THen and Now
Seven years later, in 1994, Costco moved its corporate headquarters onto land right next door.
Today, the nine-story Costco headquarters tower that's visible from the freeway sits almost exactly where skydivers once floated down onto a grass runway. It's a striking bit of then-and-now for a city whose skyline has changed more than most people realize, and a piece of history that rarely comes up unless someone who's been here long enough tells you about it.
For Buyers & Sellers
This kind of story is exactly what separates a generic relocation pitch from one that actually captures a place. It costs nothing to mention in a conversation with a buyer, and it tends to be the detail people remember.
Want more stories like this one? This is a bonus post in our Why Issaquah? series; the main series continues to cover the neighborhoods, outdoor life, and community that make the city worth choosing today. Reach out to Kelly Azzarello Real Estate any time.
Sewer Scope: Part III
The Sewer Scope Found a Problem.
Costs and Options
What to do first, what it can cost, and how to work through it whether you're selling or buying
The camera came out of the line, and the news isn't good. A crack, roots, a sag, a section that's partly collapsed. It's a stomach-drop moment, but it's also the moment the scope was for. You now know something you couldn't see, and you know it while you still have choices.
What to do first
• Get the video and the written report. You need both. The video shows exactly where the problem is, and a plumber can use it to bid.
• Don't panic and don't rush. A finding doesn't always mean a full replacement. Many problems are local and can be repaired in one section.
• Get a licensed plumber's written estimate. Ask them to watch the video and tell you what they would do and why.
• Get a second bid. Repair methods and prices vary a lot, and a second opinion can tell you whether the first bid is fair.
• Ask who is responsible for the line. In many places the homeowner owns the pipe from the house to the connection at the main, but rules differ. Check with your city or sewer district.
What does it cost to fix a sewer line problem?
This is where the surprises are. Repair prices vary a lot with pipe length and depth, access (driveways, landscaping, retaining walls), the repair method, and local permits and labor rates.
| Type of work | Commonly cited range |
|---|---|
| Spot repair of one damaged section | A few thousand dollars, roughly $1,500 to $7,500 |
| Trenchless lining or pipe bursting | Often $4,000 to $20,000+, depending on length |
| Full line replacement | Roughly $10,000 to $25,000+ in many markets |
National averages you'll see online are often much lower than what homeowners in higher-cost metro areas pay. In the Seattle area, for example, contractors publishing 2026 pricing put a full replacement anywhere from about $10,000 into the low $30,000s, and permits alone can add hundreds to a couple thousand dollars. Always get more than one written bid.
If you're selling
Sellers commonly take one of three paths:
• Repair before closing. You control the contractor and the timeline, and you can hand the buyer paperwork showing the work is done.
• Offer a credit at closing. The buyer takes over the contractor and the timeline. A written bid helps you set a number everyone can agree on.
• Adjust the price. Often used when the buyer would rather handle the repair themselves.
Disclosure rules vary by state and by type of seller, and a known defect generally needs to be disclosed where disclosure is required. "As is" doesn't stop a buyer from inspecting, asking for credits, or walking away. Ask your agent and, if needed, an attorney how the rules apply to you.
If you're buying
You typically have three options, and your inspection contingency is what makes them possible:
• Ask the seller to repair the line before closing
• Ask for a credit at closing
• Ask for a price reduction
If the problem is severe and the seller won't work with you, your contingency may let you walk away. Real bids from licensed plumbers turn an alarming report into a number you can negotiate with.
Why finding out early matters
Problems found early, with real repair estimates in hand, are much easier to work through, whether that means a repair, a credit, or a price adjustment. That's the real value of a sewer scope: not the report itself, but the time and options it gives you.
Earlier in this series
• Post 1: What Is a Sewer Scope Inspection?
• Post 2: Who Can Scope Your Sewer Line, an Inspector or a Plumber?
If something turns up, we can help
Hopefully you'll never need to reline or replace a sewer line. For most homeowners, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event. For us, as agents, it isn't. We see situations like this and have experience helping people through them.
We work with contractors, suppliers, and vendors regularly. We can't recommend specific companies, but we can help you work out what kind of professional you need, what questions to ask, and how to compare bids, so you find the right fit for your situation.
Whether you're selling soon or someday, we're glad to be a resource.
Kelly Azzarello Real Estate | Compass
kelly@kellyazzarello.com | (425) 830-6457 | www.kellyazzarello.com
Note:
Cost ranges are general estimates drawn from published 2026 cost guides and vary by property, region, and contractor. Get written bids from licensed professionals. This post is general information, not legal advice; disclosure rules differ by state.
Sewer Scope: Part II
Who Can Scope Your Sewer Line, an Inspector or a Plumber?
Booking a sewer scope sounds simple until you start making calls. Some inspectors say yes, some say no, and some say they can do it only if there's a cleanout. And the person who does it may or may not be the one you'd want to hire if the news is bad.
Here's how it works, who can do it, and what to ask before you book.
Not every inspector offers sewer scope Services
A sewer scope takes specialized camera equipment and training, so some inspectors offer it as an optional add-on and others don't. Those who don't will usually refer you to a plumber or a company that only does sewer cameras. When you book, ask:
• Do you perform sewer scopes?
• Will I get the video and a written report?
• What happens if there's no accessible cleanout?
How does the camera get into the line?
The scope is more hands-on than the rest of an inspection, because the technician needs a way into the main sewer line. In order of how disruptive they are:
• An accessible cleanout. Outside the house, in a garage, or in a basement. This is the easiest route: the cap comes off, the camera goes in, and nothing else is disturbed.
• A roof vent. Some inspectors can feed the camera down a plumbing vent pipe. This only works if the roof is safe to access, and bends in the pipe can keep the camera from reaching the main line.
• Pulling a toilet. When there's no cleanout, the toilet may need to be removed to reach the drain, then reset. It works, but it's more invasive, and in some places only a licensed plumber is allowed to do it.
• Installing a cleanout. A plumber can add a permanent cleanout, often roughly $500 to $2,000. It's an added cost, but it makes this scope and future maintenance easier, and it can be a smart upgrade before you sell.
Should You Hire An Inspector or A plumber?
Plumbers can do sewer scopes too, and of course there are trade-offs:
| Home inspector | Plumber | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Cost | Usually lower, especially as an add-on to the home inspection | Often higher than an add-on |
| Focus | Doesn't sell repairs, so there's no stake in the result | May also be the one who bids the repair |
| You Get | Video and a written report, then a recommendation to see a plumber | Video, a diagnosis, and often a repair price on the spot |
| Simple Fixes | Generally not done at the visit | Sometimes, such as a clog or minor root intrusion |
| Best When | You want the lowest-cost look, bundled with the inspection | You suspect a problem or want a price right away |
Does the person scoping need to be licensed?
It depends on where you live. In many places, a camera-only inspection doesn't require a plumber's license, but pulling toilets, installing cleanouts, and making repairs often do. Check with your state or local licensing board, and use a licensed contractor for any repair work.
Licensed, bonded, and insured mean three different things:
• Licensed: the state or local authority has approved the contractor to do the work.
• Bonded: the contractor has bought a surety bond that can compensate you if they fail to meet their obligations.
• Insured: the contractor carries liability and workers' comp insurance that covers accidents and property damage.
Ask for proof of all three, and verify the license through your state's database.
Next in this series
• Post 3: The Sewer Scope Found a Problem. Costs and Your Options
If something turns up, we can help
Hopefully you'll never need to reline or replace a sewer line. For most homeowners, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event. For us, as agents, it isn't. We see situations like this and have experience helping people through them.
We work with contractors, suppliers, and vendors regularly. We can't recommend specific companies, but we can help you work out what kind of professional you need, what questions to ask, and how to compare bids, so you find the right fit for your situation.
Whether you're selling soon or someday, we're glad to be a resource.
Kelly Azzarello Real Estate | Compass
kelly@kellyazzarello.com | (425) 830-6457 | www.kellyazzarello.com
This post is general information, not legal advice. Cost ranges are general estimates drawn from published 2026 cost guides and vary by property, region, and contractor. Licensing rules differ by state.
What Is a Sewer Scope?
Part 1: What Is a Sewer Scope Inspection?
And why a flushing toilet isn't proof your sewer line is fine
We once encountered an issue in a transaction that perfectly illustrates this. An offer came in contingent on an inspection and a sewer scope, and the scope uncovered a break in the main sewer line running out to the street. Because the pipe was buried, nobody involved had any idea it was there.
That's the thing about sewer lines. They're out of sight, and they can be failing long before you notice anything.
A working toilet doesn't mean a healthy sewer line
A toilet that flushes only tells you that waste leaves the bathroom. A sewer line can be cracked, offset, invaded by roots, or partly collapsed and still drain most of the time. Symptoms tend to show up slowly, or not at all until the day it fails.
What a sewer scope is
A sewer scope (also called a sewer camera inspection or sewer line video inspection) is a video check of the pipe that carries wastewater from your house to the city sewer main or septic system. A technician feeds a waterproof camera on a flexible cable through a cleanout and records what it sees.
Side view of a home illustrating the sewer line connections.
It can reveal:
• Cracked, broken, or separated pipe
• Tree roots growing into joints
• Bellies, which are sags where waste and water collect
• Crushed or collapsed sections
• Deteriorating clay, cast iron, or Orangeburg (tar paper) pipe
• Heavy buildup or blockages
Is it part of a home inspection?
Usually not. Industry standards treat the buried sewer line as outside the scope of a typical home inspection, so it's a separate service you have to request. Not every inspector offers it, which we'll cover in the next post.
What does it cost?
Most published 2026 guides put a sewer scope at roughly $125 to $500 when there's an accessible cleanout, and often $100 to $250 when it's added to a home inspection. That's a small line item compared to what it can uncover.
Who should consider one?
• Homes more than about 20 to 30 years old
• Properties with mature trees near the sewer line
• Homes with older clay, cast iron, or Orangeburg pipe
• Homes with slow drains, gurgling, odors, or unusually wet or green patches in the yard
• Any home without a record of a recent scope, especially when nobody can vouch for its history
• Anyone who may sell someday. Knowing early gives you choices, instead of a surprise in the middle of a sale
Quick facts
What it is
A camera inspection of the main sewer line from your house to the street or septic system
How long it takes
Usually under an hour
Typical cost
About $125 to $500, or $100 to $250 as an add-on to a home inspection
In a standard home inspection?
Usually not. It is a separate service you request
Ask for
The video and a written report
Next in this series
• Post 2: Who Can Scope Your Sewer Line, an Inspector or a Plumber?
• Post 3: The Sewer Scope Found a Problem. Costs and Your Options
If something turns up, we can help
Hopefully you'll never need to reline or replace a sewer line. For most homeowners, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event. For us, as agents, it isn't. We see situations like this and have experience helping people through them.
We work with contractors, suppliers, and vendors regularly. We can't recommend specific companies, but we can help you work out what kind of professional you need, what questions to ask, and how to compare bids, so you find the right fit for your situation.
Whether you're selling soon or someday, we're glad to be a resource.
Kelly Azzarello Real Estate | Compass
kelly@kellyazzarello.com | (425) 830-6457 | www.kellyazzarello.com
[YouTube placeholder: link to video]
Cost ranges are general estimates drawn from published 2026 cost guides and vary by property, region, and contractor. This post is general information, not legal advice.