What the free flag count means, and what it deliberately does not tell you
Type an address, get three numbers: red, yellow, green. This page explains what stands behind those numbers, why they are counts and never scores, and exactly what the paid report adds to them.
What the flag count shows
The same sweep the paid report runs for the address’s state: hazard mapping, planning controls, contamination records, defect orders where published, development activity, noise exposure, connectivity and area statistics, each queried from its official source. Every check lands in exactly one colour. The numbers below are the NSW sample address’s real count.
A source that fails to respond is shown as unavailable, never counted as green. 24 checks ran for the sample address.
What it does not show
The free count is a tally, not an assessment. It deliberately does not show:
Two properties, the same flag count
Both might show four yellow flags. One could sit in a mapped flood planning area with a heritage listing; the other might carry minor planning notes and a nearby infrastructure project. The count is the same, the implications are very different. The colours set your reading order; only the findings tell you what to read.
When to use the free flag count
The free count is built for speed. It helps you:
- Compare several properties quickly, on the same official basis.
- Decide which ones deserve a closer look before you spend time or money.
- See whether the record holds anything worth reading before an inspection, an offer or a lease.
The full report names every finding with its register and snapshot date, the plain English reading, the question to ask, the lot diagram and the winter sun geometry. From A$19 for the renter edition and A$29 for the buyer edition.
Common questions
Is the free check really free?
Yes: type an address, get the flag counts, no signup and no card. It exists so you can see whether the official record holds anything worth reading about an address before deciding whether the full report is worth A$29.
What gets checked in the free count?
The same registers the paid report reads for the state: hazard mapping, planning controls, contamination records, defect orders where the state publishes them, development activity, noise exposure, connectivity and area statistics. The free result shows how many findings landed in each colour, not what they are.
Why show counts instead of the findings?
Because the findings are the product, and because a count is already honest information: three red flags on one address and zero on another is a real difference you learn for free. The full report names each finding, its register, its date and the question to ask about it.
Is a higher count a worse property?
Not automatically, and this matters: flags are counted, never scored. A red flag means an official register has an entry worth reading before you commit; it can be broad, provisional or apply to part of a lot. Two red flags on paper can matter less than one, depending entirely on what they are. The count tells you how much reading awaits, not what to decide.
Run the free flag count now → · The full due diligence checklist