This is an old post from Boston.com (I think it was in the Boston Globe Magazine about a year or so ago). I came across it this weekend when I was searching for something unrelated on Boston.com. It’s a good, humorous look at what happens when real estate transactions go online (a truly “public record”).
One of the responsibilities of the seller (or the seller’s broker, if there is one) in a real estate transaction is to obtain a certificate from the town’s fire department stating that there are working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the property. This is true regardless of whether it’s a single-family residence, a multi-family dwelling (duplex, etc), or a condo unit, so long as it is a residential property. The fire department sends an inspector to the property and he or she signs the certificate which is then brought to the closing.
Note that the certificate is brought to closing and should be presented to the bank attorney (or attorney for the buyer, if it’s a cash deal).
The charge for a smoke certificate is typically around $50, and is a cost paid by the seller.
Going on record. You hear that a lot if you work in a real estate law firm in Massachusetts. But it is an important concept, and should be something you should keep in mind when scheduling your closing. I’m posting this now because people read my prior post on Closing Dates and naturally asked the question, “What about picking a time of day to close?”