Condition report
Pre-Purchase Gutter & Roof Inspection Report
A plain-English, photo-documented report on gutter, downpipe and roof drainage condition, for buying, selling or managing a property across the Inner West. Not a substitute for a full building inspection, a focused second opinion on the part of the roof most buyers never get a proper look at.
The part of the roof nobody checks properly.
A standard building inspection covers a lot of ground in a short visit, and gutters are usually a glance from the ground rather than a proper look. That’s a gap, because gutter and downpipe condition is one of the more common sources of hidden water damage in older Inner West housing stock, box gutters buried between party walls on a Marrickville or Balmain terrace, rusted-through sections on original iron guttering, downpipes discharging too close to a foundation.
None of that shows up in a five-minute walk-around. It shows up months later as a damp patch two rooms away from where the actual problem sits, exactly the kind of surprise nobody wants to discover after settlement. A dedicated gutter and roof drainage report, done properly with photos, closes that gap before you’re committed either way.
We’re not building inspectors and we don’t pretend to be. We’re the people who spend all day on Inner West roofs, and this report is us putting that specific knowledge on paper for you.
What’s covered in the report.
Full visual gutter & downpipe check
Every accessible gutter run, valley and downpipe assessed for condition, rust, sagging, cracked joins and blockage signs.
Box gutter & party-wall assessment
Specific attention to box gutters on terraces and semis, where hidden faults are most common and most expensive to leave unnoticed.
Downpipe discharge check
Where water actually exits the system, and whether it’s discharging safely away from foundations, party walls or neighbouring boundaries.
Photo evidence of every finding
Every issue documented with a clear photo, not just a written note, so you can see exactly what we saw.
Plain-English written report
A short, jargon-free summary rating overall condition and flagging anything that needs attention now versus later.
Honest next-step guidance
If something needs a repair, a clean, or licensed roof plumbing work beyond our scope, we’ll tell you plainly which and point you the right way.
Who books this report.
A few common situations where a focused gutter and drainage report earns its keep.
Home buyers
An independent second opinion on drainage condition before you commit, especially for older terraces and semis.
Sellers
Fix cheap issues before they become a negotiating point, or have a clean report ready to show a buyer’s inspector.
Landlords & property managers
A dated condition baseline for the record, useful alongside our landlord gutter maintenance guide.
Strata committees
An independent read to support a maintenance case or budget discussion, see our strata responsibility guide too.
Owners deciding what’s next
Not buying or selling, just want an honest read on whether it’s time for a clean, a repair, or a longer-term maintenance plan.
Renovators
A baseline before work starts, especially useful alongside our renovation gutter guide.
This report covers…
- Gutters, valleys, downpipes and visible roof drainage condition
- Box gutter and party-wall specific detail on terraces and semis
- Photo evidence and a plain-English written summary
- Honest guidance on what needs attention and roughly when
It’s not…
- A full building or structural inspection (framing, pest activity, structural movement are outside our scope)
- A licensed roof plumbing assessment for insurance or legal purposes
- A guarantee against future issues, it’s a condition snapshot on the day
Questions about the inspection report.
Is this the same as a pre-purchase building inspection?
No, and it’s not a substitute for one. A licensed building inspector covers the whole structure, including things we’re not qualified to assess like framing, pest activity or structural movement. Our report is scoped specifically to gutters, downpipes, valleys and visible roof drainage condition, useful on its own or alongside a full building inspection.
Do I need a licence-holder to do this kind of inspection?
No. This is a visual condition report, not repair, alteration or installation work, so it doesn’t fall under licensed roof plumbing work in NSW. If the report identifies something that does need licensed work, we’ll say so clearly and point you to the right next step.
Can I use this report during price negotiations?
That’s a common reason buyers request one. We report what we see, plainly and honestly, with photos, so you have something concrete to work from. We can’t comment on cost of repairs beyond our own gutter and downpipe work, and we won’t inflate or downplay findings either way.
How long does an inspection take and how fast do I get the report?
Most standalone homes take 30 to 60 minutes on site. You’ll usually have the written report and photos within one to two business days, faster if you’re working to a settlement deadline, just let us know when you book.
Do you do this for strata buildings, not just houses?
Yes. It’s useful for a strata committee building a maintenance case, or a buyer wanting an independent read on a specific unit’s roof drainage exposure before purchase. We scope strata inspections separately since access and roof area vary a lot by building.
Can I book this even if I’m not buying or selling?
Yes. Landlords use it to set a dated condition baseline, and some owners just want an honest read on where their gutters stand before deciding between a clean, a repair or a longer-term plan.
If the report finds something.
Buying, selling or just want to know?
Get an honest, photo-documented read on gutter and roof drainage condition.