Prior to purchasing a home, am I required by Massachusetts law to have a home inspection done? -- Anonymous
No, but spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a property without having it inspected is not a good idea. Home inspections often cost less than five hundred dollars and provide crucial information to home buyers. Most importantly, an inspection performed by a qualified inspector will help you form a more accurate idea of what the property in question is worth. Obviously, if major repairs are required, that information may reduce the amount you are willing to pay for the property.
Even if the home inspection finds no major flaws with the property, it may offer some protection from huge, unanticipated repair costs, because Massachusetts law requires home inspectors to carry liability insurance that may be tapped to remedy defects that the inspector should have discovered. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 112, Section 222 requires all home inspectors to be licensed and mandates a certain amount of experience and training. Make sure your home inspector is licensed and insured. It is also a good idea to hire an inspector that you locate, not one recommended by a party with an interest in seeing the sale of the property proceed, such as a real estate agent (who represents the seller).
For more information or to post a question, visit our MA Real Estate Law Discussion Forum.