Simple home checks

Ten minutes to find the small problems before they get big.

Ten safe checks from the ground and inside the house. No ladders, no roof. Start the water meter test first, then do the rest while you wait.

Start the walk-around (10 minutes, free, no sign-up). Get a job done. Read the full guide.

The questions

  1. With every tap off, did the water meter stay still for an hour? Turn off everything that uses water, photo the reading, wait at least an hour and look again. If not: Water is going somewhere. Try the food colouring test in the toilet cistern, then call a licensed plumber.
  2. Are your ceilings and cornices free of stains and bubbling paint? Check every room, the garage and around the manhole. Fine cornice cracks are often just the house moving. If not: Photo the stain so you can tell if it grows. A roofer if it changes after rain, a licensed plumber if not.
  3. Is the house free of damp or musty smells, with dry cupboards under the sinks? A soft or swollen cupboard base usually means a drip that has been going for a while. If not: A licensed plumber for leaks under sinks or behind toilets. A licensed electrician for exhaust fans if ventilation is the problem.
  4. After rain, are the gutters free of streaks, drips, sags and plants? Look from the ground. Washed-out soil or splash marks on the wall below point to overflow. If not: Probably a blockage, a gutter that has lost its fall or a leaking join. Call a gutter cleaner or roof plumber.
  5. Does water come out the bottom of every downpipe, without backing up at the ground? Run a hose into the inlet where a downpipe goes into the ground, for a minute. If not: A gutter cleaner for blockages up top. A licensed plumber for blocked or broken underground stormwater.
  6. Are the walls free of wide cracks, or cracks that are growing? Hairline cracks are common. Mark each end with a pencil and the date, and check again in a few weeks. If not: A builder for an opinion. A structural engineer if a crack is wide or growing.
  7. Do the doors and windows open, close and latch without sticking? Often timber swelling in humid weather, or hinges working loose. If not: A carpenter or handyman for hinges and adjustments. A builder or engineer if it comes with new cracks.
  8. From the ground, is the roof free of rust and tiles sitting out of line? Stand back in the yard or across the street with binoculars. Look for rust streaks from the screws and flaky overlaps. If not: Surface rust can often be treated. Rust right through means new sheets. Call a roofer or roof plumber.
  9. Does the safety switch flick off when you press its Test button? The button marked T or Test in the switchboard. Then switch it back on. Never take the cover off. If not: If it does not flick off, or will not switch back on, it is faulty. Call a licensed electrician.
  10. Does every smoke alarm sound when you press its test button? A broom handle saves standing on a chair. Check the date printed on each one too. If not: No sound means a flat battery or a dead alarm. By 1 January 2027, Queensland homes need interconnected photoelectric alarms. A licensed electrician for hardwired ones.

A self-check, not an inspection or a diagnosis. General information only, not professional advice for your property. If something needs a closer look up high, or inside the switchboard, that is a job for someone with the training, the gear and the licence.

More free checks

Linc Point

Linc Point (sometimes spelt Link Point), ABN 48 535 502 159. Call 0458 381 559 or email linc@lincpoint.com.au. Brisbane and South East Queensland, Bribie Island to Helensvale. Website: lincpoint.com.au. Tools for trade businesses: lincpoint.online.