All about Boston condo home inspections

Boston Real Estate for Sale

All about Boston condo home inspections

What do you need to know about Boston condo home inspections in 2026?

In a Boston condo 2026 home inspection, focus on the unit’s interior systems and any common areas that could trigger expensive “special assessments.” Because many Boston condos are in historic buildings, inspectors specifically look for issues common to older structures, such as outdated wiring or winter heating adequacy.

1. Interior Systems (Your Responsibility)

Most condo owners are responsible for everything from the “studs-in”.

Plumbing: Check for leaks under sinks and around toilets, water pressure in showers, and signs of past leaks on ceilings (which may indicate issues from the unit above).
Electrical: Test all outlets and switches. In older Boston buildings, look for outdated panels or unsafe aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring.
HVAC: Verify the condition of the furnace or air handler and the age of the unit. Ensure the heating is operational, as Boston law requires adequate heat from September 15 to June 15.
Windows and Doors: Test every window to ensure it opens, stays open, and locks. Look for drafts or “fogged” glass, which indicates a broken seal.
Appliances: Run basic tests on the stove (check for anti-tip brackets), dishwasher, and refrigerator.

2. Common Areas and Structural Health

Even if the association maintains these, you may pay for their repair through fees or assessments.

Foundation & Roof: Look for large wall cracks, uneven floors, or water stains on the top floor that suggest roof or structural failure.
Common Passages: Check that hallways and staircases are well-lit, free of debris, and have stable handrails (required for four or more steps).
Basements & Attics: Inspect for signs of pests (mice, cockroaches), mold, or dampness, especially in basement-level units which are prone to flooding during heavy Boston rains.

3. Essential Safety Features

Detectors: Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be operational. In Massachusetts, CO detectors are required on every level and within 10 feet of bedrooms.

Lead Paint: For buildings built before 1978, ask about lead paint compliance, especially if you have children under six.

4. Beyond the Physical (Document Review)

A physical inspection only tells half the story. You must also review the Boston Condo Documents:

Meeting Minutes: Request the last year of minutes to see if the board has discussed ongoing leaks, litigation, or planned major repairs.
Financial Reserves: Check if the association has a “reserve study” and enough funds to cover the eventual replacement of expensive items like the roof or elevators.

Do you have the condo association’s meeting minutes or financial reserve study yet to see if any major assessments are pending?

For the most updated information on Boston condo home inspections visit Bostonreb.com or Ford Realty web sites

All about Boston condo home inspections

I recently read an article written by a first-time homebuyer. He writes about all of the unexpected repairs his new home needs.

Every buyer should get a complete home inspection. The seller does not have to make repairs but buyers can always ask. The whole point of inspection is knowing what repairs might be needed before committing to buy the house.

Homeowners do not always know what is broken or what is going to break in the next six months. Even with an inspection something unexpected can and probably will happen.

Some people would rather call the landlord than have to call for repairs and pay for them. Homeownership isn’t for everyone but if it is for you make your offer contingent on a complete home inspection and hire an experienced home inspector. Don’t forget the radon inspection and consider having a sewer line scope.

Keep in mind that repairs that are not needed today may be needed tomorrow and budget accordingly

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When purchasing a Boston Seaport condo for sale, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the entire process. Not only do you have to find a qualified real estate agent to assist with the process, but you will also need to work with a number of other professionals throughout the purchasing process.

One of these experts is the home inspector. In order to ensure you get the most out of your home inspection, it is important to learn more about the process and how it might affect your Boston Beacon Hill condo purchase.

What is a Home Inspection?

As the name implies, a home inspection involves reviewing the condition of the Boston downtown condo in order to determine what types of repairs might be necessary. Items that are typically inspected as part of the process include:

– Basement
– Ceilings
– Central air conditioning system
– Electrical systems
– Doors
– Floors
– Foundation
– Heating system
– Insulation
– Plumbing
– Roof
– Structure
– Walls
– Windows

Many Boston condo home inspectors will also allow additional services to be included in the inspection process. Additional tests that might be added to the inspection include radon testing, mold testing and water testing. Don’t be worried if you’re home doesn’t receive all of these tests as they are often regional in inclusion. For example, homes in downtown Boston may not require the same tests as a Lexington,Ma single-family home , simply because of the prevalence of different problems in different regions.

Why Should I Get a Home Inspection?

While a home inspection does not serve as a guarantee that you won’t encounter problems with your home, it does provide you with an effective bargaining chip when negotiating the purchase. If there are problems with the home, for example, you might insist upon having those problems corrected before you will finalize the deal. Or, you might negotiate a lower price in response to the problems the home inspector found.

In addition to having a bargaining chip, getting your home inspected will also help to protect your safety. While home inspectors do not check whether or not the home and its systems meet local building codes, they will report any safety concerns they find during the inspection. With this information, you can take the steps necessary to make your home safe before you move in.

Do I Have to Attend the Home Inspection?

While you do not have to attend the home inspection, it can be helpful to be present while the inspector does his or her job. This way, the inspector can explain the problems he or she encounters and can answer any questions you might have. Even if no problems are encountered, attending the inspection can help you become more familiar with your future Boston high rise condo

Will the Home Inspector Offer a Warranty?

In some cases, home inspectors offer 90 day warranties that cover certain items. It is important to note that these warranties are less comprehensive than those that are sometimes presented by real estate agents. Therefore, if you are interested in obtaining a warranty, it is important to explore all of your options to ensure you are getting the warranty that best suits your needs.

Newest Boston condos for sale

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There’s one thing almost every real estate agent can agree on: The home inspection can put up some major roadblocks when it comes to closing a deal.

Although there has been a great deal of innovation in the real estate industry over the years, surprisingly, this is one area that hasn’t seen much progress. While new tech has sped up almost every other part of the transaction, home inspections still seem to be holding up the show.

That lack of progress inspired Hippo, a home insurance group, to shake up home inspections and bring the focus back on the homeowner. What they realized was that everyone involved in the transaction was looking for more than just a home inspection—they were looking for peace of mind and a clear pathway to the closing table.

In August of 2020, Hippo* connected with Inspectify, a marketplace for home inspections that streamlines the process and helps agents accelerate transactions. With a common goal of creating a better home inspection experience through innovation, Hippo and Inspectify were perfect partners to launch Hippo’s unique new product: Inspection Protection.

Inspection Protection offers a first-of-its-kind protection plan, covering repairs to qualifying structural systems for issues missed by an inspector during the home inspection. Unlike a standard home warranty, this extra layer of protection covers certain structural systems including foundations, roofs, walls, ceilings, fireplaces, garages, and more for one year and up to $100,000*.

^{*Hippo Warranty Solutions Inc. is Hippo’s service contract provider for Inspection Protection. Inspection Protection is currently available in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont with more states coming soon. Hippo Warranty Solutions Inc. is licensed or authorized to offer service contracts in the aforementioned states. Service contracts are subject to the terms and conditions, exclusions, deductibles, and limitations including but not limited to an aggregate claim limit of $100,000. Contract cost is based on the age and square footage of the home.}