I’m having a hell of a time with a past customer ( lawyer and a broker) who says he expects a good home inspector to run a hose to the gutters to test them for water tightness. We do not do that nor will we ever. I’m looking to get responses from inspectors if this is something they do or do not do on a normal home inspection?
Not on my check list either.
Tell him you will only do inspections for him when it is raining!
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If a gutter has a leak there will be evidence of the leak in the form of a stain.
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You are not a maintenance man. does he want you to wash the windows too?
Welcome to the forum Steven.
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Thank you sir, Glad to be here
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So you would notate leaking gutters because you saw a stain? whats to say it did leak but was repaired prior to your inspection and stain not removed?
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Report what you see. There is evidence of a prior leak. Doesn’t get much more simple than that.
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Happy endings are extra!
The PIA outlines what service is offered and performed, checking for leaks with a water test is beyond a non-invasive, visual, home inspection.
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I didn’t know you were the giving kind🙂
Money is money! 
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no i dont.
Ask him if he read the SOP before signing the agreement? 
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Not only NO, but HELL NO!!
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I expect a good lawyer to read contracts before they sign it, so there’s that.
Tell them, client and real estate agents/brokers, its not SOP! Want me to clean the gutters as well?
Don’t let it get you upset. Real estate agent that like your personality and interaction with well will evenly refer you. No worries.
Inspecting gutters and downspouts.
Gutters. One piece gutters are professional. 10’ foot sections with unions are typically amatuer. Leak at unions.
Take a close up image of unions.
Besure the back of the gutter pan is flash with the fascia. Look for daylight between the gutter and fascia.
Look for protruding gutter spikes.
Look close for swelling in cold climates. This typically means expanded pans or gutter with in turn could be blockage.
Downspouts should be 6’ to 8’ feet away from the foundation.
Downspout extension.
I could go on and on but read the link below.
Inspecting Gutters & Downspouts InterNACHI
Hey Steven,
That same type of thinking could be applied to a countless number of things.
Sink and bathtub overflows come to mind. There’s an inspector in my area who uses the fact that he tests overflows as a unique selling point. I personally roll my eyes because it’s unnecessary IMHO.
On that same note, why not take a hose and spray down the whole house and roof and give it a water test right?
Good luck man.
If it wasn’t enough. Lol! Hahaha!
Why does the bar association code of ethics prevent sex between lawyers and their clients? To prevent clients from being billed twice for essentially the same service.
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Worth a look to see if the reason is obvious and state it if it is.