Before closing on the sale of your home, a smoke inspection will need to be accomplished. Passing a smoke inspection is very simple and important. Ideally, your home could pass smoke inspection while you are living in it for your own safety and those around you.
- Schedule your smoke inspection.
Depending on the town you live in a smoke inspection can be scheduled online or by calling the fire department. This can be done after you have a closing date. If you are working with a real estate agent, they will most likely help you with this process.
For example, in Framingham you would go to their website (https://www.framinghamma.gov/1669/Permits-Plan-Review) to apply for the inspection. You would fill out all the information required and then call the fire department to schedule your inspection. Conversely, in Haverhill you would fill out all your information on their website but then the fire department calls you when they scheduled your inspection. - Review the Guidelines for Your Home
Depending on when you home was built, you will have different requirements. You can view them all here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/consumer-guide-to-smoke-detectors-when-selling-home/download
For example, if your home was built before January 1st, 1975 you would need:
– A smoke alarm on each level
– On the ceiling outside each sleeping area
– In the basement
– At the base of each stairway
– Must be photoelectric
– Smoke alarms cannot be more than 10 years old/cannot exceed the manufacturers warranty
– Replacement alarms must have a hush feature to silence nuisance alarms
– CO2 detectors must be on each level including habitable portions of the basement
– CO2 detector must be within 10 feet of each bedroom door - Pass Your Inspection
If you follow all the guidelines on the mass.gov website you should pass your inspection! The inspection will cost you around $50 in most cases. If you fail the inspection additional fees will apply to get in reinspect so do yourself a favor and review the information with your real estate agent!
theLenLen 