Clean the gutters after the last heavy leaf drop and before the buyer's inspection, and keep the completion record. A cleaning removes debris. It does not fix damage, and it should not be used to hide it. If a run sags or leaks, get a separate repair quote, or tell your agent and let the buyer price it.
What does a home inspector check on gutters?
Two national home inspection standards both include the gutters:
- The InterNACHI Standards of Practice say the inspector shall inspect "the gutters" and "the downspouts" from ground level or the eaves. The inspector is not required to walk on the roof, or to inspect "underground downspout diverter drainage pipes." The exterior section adds surface drainage and grading where they may affect the structure through moisture.
- The ASHI Standard of Practice lists "roof drainage systems" among the items the inspector shall inspect. It defines them as the components "used to carry water off a roof and away from a building." Changes to the ASHI standard were approved in a vote that closed in January 2026. Until a start date is announced, the current version applies.
Because the inspection happens from the ground or the eaves, the findings are the ones you can see from the yard: plants growing in a gutter, overflow stains, a run pulled off its brackets, or a downspout that empties against the wall. You can check the same things before the inspector arrives.
When should you schedule the cleaning?
Fill in the dates you know. The cleaning goes after the leaves come down and before the first date a buyer's inspector could visit.
| Date | Why it matters for the gutters |
|---|---|
| Listing photos | Gutters full of leaves or plants show in exterior photos |
| Last heavy leaf or seed drop near the house | A cleaning before it may have to be repeated |
| Earliest likely buyer inspection | The inspector checks gutters, downspouts and drainage |
| Cleaning date | After the leaf drop, before the inspection, with a few spare days for weather |
| Closing | Hand the cleaning record to the buyer |
A hypothetical example: photos are booked for the 3rd of the month, and the big oak by the driveway is still dropping leaves. The owner books the cleaning for the 10th with a flexible window. Then the photos still show the house as it is, and the gutters are clean before any inspector can come.
What should a seller clean, fix, or only record?
| What you find | Does cleaning solve it? | Seller's options |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves, seed pods or plants in the gutters | Yes | Clean and keep the record |
| An above-ground downspout blocked | Yes | Include it in the cleaning; see downspout cleaning |
| Water empties next to the foundation | No | An extension or grading fix, or record it |
| A sagging, leaking or loose run | No | A repair quote, or tell your agent |
| Water backs up into a buried pipe | No | A drainage specialist |
| Guards packed with debris | Partly | Ask who lifts and resets them; see gutters with guards |
Ask your agent what you must disclose about known water or drainage problems where you live. A cleaning record does not change what you know about the house.
What record should you keep for the buyer?
Ask the provider for the date, the gutter runs cleaned, the downspouts that flowed, any section that could not be reached, and any damage seen. The completion checklist lists what a useful record contains. The buyer can use it with their own new homeowner checklist after closing.
Scope and limits
This is not legal or real-estate advice. A cleaning record is not an inspection report and does not certify the gutters. We clean gutters and above-ground downspouts. We do not repair, regrade, or clear buried pipes.
Get my price
Start the gutter cleaning request and put your inspection date in the notes. We confirm the provider, the scope, the price, and a proposed window in writing before payment.
Any US ZIP. No contact details until you have seen the estimate.
Sources
- InterNACHI, Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection, sections 3.1 (roof) and 3.2 (exterior), https://www.nachi.org/sop.htm, verified 2026-11-06.
- American Society of Home Inspectors, Standard of Practice, section 5 (roofing) and definitions, https://www.homeinspector.org/resources/standard-of-practice/, verified 2026-11-06.