Home Buying Guide: Massachusetts
A home inspection is typically performed within 10 days of the acceptance of the offer as agreed upon, or not, in the offer. Ideally, you will want to get a home inspection done on the property to be sure that your investment is sound. However, there are real estate markets which occur from time to time that make a home inspection not only impractical, but nearly impossible if the buyer wishes for the offer to be considered. When demand for homes is high and supply is low you have what is known as a seller’s market. Oftentimes in a seller’s market there is simply no way for a buyer to conduct a home inspection because competition is so high that the seller will accept the highest bid which does not contain a contingency based on an acceptable inspection.
If you find yourself in a seller’s market with very high competition among buyer’s, at the very minimum bring a friend with experience in construction. At least with an experienced friend you may avoid the nightmare of purchasing a house which has some defect which would otherwise go unseen and be expensive to remedy.
In the ideal world, though, you will have time to perform a thorough inspection with a quality home inspector. Finding a home inspector can be accomplished by asking your real estate broker or seeking one out online. You will want the inspection to cover the condition of the following systems: heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, attic (if present), insulation, roof, interior and exterior walls, basement (if applicable), foundation, windows, doors, and floors.
What Doesn’t a Home Inspection Cover?
Under 266 CMR 6.04, a regulation which provides standards for home inspections in Massachusetts, a home inspection need not cover the following items:
- how long a system will last (for example, how long a gas heater will last)
- how to fix a problem in a system
- why a problem in a system occurred
- condition of a matter that is purely cosmetic
- the condition of a system or device that cannot be viewed or observed reasonably (for example, the home inspector is not expected to pull apart a wall to view an electrical issue)
- the moving or removal of any equipment, personal items, or debris (natural or otherwise) to view a system or device
- radon testing
- mold testing
- indicate the presence or absence of mice, rats, termites, or other insects
Keep in mind that it is possible to contract with a home inspector to inspect a home for these items not required under Massachusetts regulations to be conducted in an average home inspection. While it is possible to hire an inspection for mold, for example, you will need to locate a specialist to do so for mold and many other types of testing that are typically not included in the average home inspection.
Now that you’ve had your dream home inspected it is time to move on to Step 7 in the home buying process – Closing on a Home in Massachusetts.
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The information provided in the pages and posts of this website are for general informational purposes only. The information presented on this site is not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by the use of this site.
