Pro Services Boston · Sellers
Every sale in Boston runs through a home inspection — the only question is whether you find out what it'll flag before you list, or after you're already under contract. Here's what actually comes up most.
The usual suspects
- Roof & flashing. Age, wear, and improperly sealed flashing around chimneys and vents are near-universal findings on Boston's older housing stock.
- Electrical. Aging panels, knob-and-tube remnants, missing GFCI protection near water sources — common in triple-deckers and pre-war multi-families.
- Plumbing. Corroded supply lines, slow leaks under sinks, and water heaters nearing the end of their service life.
- HVAC. Furnaces or boilers past their expected lifespan, or systems that haven't been serviced in years.
- Moisture & grading. Basement dampness, poor drainage away from the foundation, and gutter/downspout issues that feed it.
None of these findings are usually deal-breakers on their own. What kills deals is timing — finding out about a $6,000 roof repair from the buyer's inspector, mid-negotiation, instead of from your own contractor a month before you list.
Fix it, or negotiate it?
- Fix before listing: safety issues (electrical, gas, structural), anything that could jeopardize the buyer's financing, and active leaks. These are the items most likely to blow up a deal late.
- Price into the negotiation: older-but-functional systems, cosmetic wear, and items with a well-understood remaining lifespan. Buyers largely expect to negotiate these rather than see them pre-fixed.
For a full breakdown of what pre-sale repair work typically costs, see our guide on pre-listing repair costs in Boston. If you're selling a condo unit, also check who's responsible for condo repairs in Massachusetts before you spend on anything that might actually be the association's.
Get ahead of it
A pre-listing walkthrough with a licensed contractor gives you the same findings a buyer's inspector will surface — on your timeline, not theirs. That's the difference between deciding what to fix and being forced to react.
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