Massachusetts/Rhode Island Resources

Articles
Home Inspection Price vs. Cost
Inspection 101
The Buyer Agent vs. the Seller Agent
Home Inspection Kit
Interview Questions for Prospective Home Inspection Companies
Sellers Disclosure Questionnaire
Benefits of The Pre-Listing Inspection
Reduce Liability With Pre-Listing Inspection
The Truth About Radon
Removing Your Underground Oil Tank
Septic System Top 10
Why House Paint Fails
Chimney Safety Tips
Buyer Broker Representation
Buyers Choose Their Own Agents
Log Construction
Definition of Manufactured Homes
New Homes and Inspections
Your Oil-Fired Heating System
Oil Heat Consumer Guide
Protecting Oil Heating System Delivery Lines

Consumer Extras
Consumer Guide: Carbon Monoxide Brochure
Consumer Guide to Energy Savings
Consumer Home Inspection Kit from Freddie Mac
Massachusetts Moments- Some Fun Massachusetts History
Massachusetts Licensure Information
American Home Technology Timeline
Facts for Consumers- Information about 
home inspections from the the Massachusetts
office of Consumer affairs
Conventional Mortgage Qualification Worksheet
Home Inspection Checklist- Use Before You Make An Offer!
Consumer Information About Direct Vent Gas Appliances
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Links
U.S. Inspect National Resource Center
Before you replace your old house windows, consider the following...
Wood Stove Safety in MA
Preservation Briefs

Energy Conservation:
Consumer Guide to Energy Savings
Energy Savings Calculator
www.energystar.com 
www.ase.org

Historical Homes:
Historic Building Inspectors Association
The National Park Service
The Old House Web

Restoration & Renovation
National Preservation Institute
National Trust for Historic Preservation

City Information:
Cities in Massachusetts
Cities in Rhode Island
Cities in Connecticut

Lender Links:
Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange Fact Sheet

Environmental Links:
ASBESTOS IN VERMICULITE (EPA) 
ASBESTOS IN THE HOME  (EPA) 
ASBESTOS CONTROL 
CHIMNEY SAFETY INSTITUTE  
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 
EMF (WHO) 
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD RADIATION  
FURNACE FILTER (TIPS)  
INDOOR AIR QUALITY  
LEAD PAINT MA  
LEAD PAINT RI (FAQ)  
LEAD PAINT RI   (MITIGATION) 
LEAD PAINT RI (RESOURCE SHEET)  
MOLD (WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT)  
MOLD IN YOUR HOME (EPA)  
MOLD INFO (FRIEDMAN)
MOLD ISSUES 
NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD  
PEST IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL  
PEST INSPECTIONS  
PESTICIDES (EPA)    
PRIVATE WELLS  
WATER QUALITY  
WELL FACTS  
RADON (EPA)  
RADON CONTROL (RI) 
SEPTIC TITLE 5 (MA)  
SEPTIC FACTS  (RI) 
SICK BUILDINGS  
UST (EPA) OVERVIEW 
UST  (EPA) FAQ  
UST CLOSURE (RI)  
UFFI 

Consumer News



Effective July 1, 2005 Massachusetts joins the majority of states who enjoy clear guidelines on how to practice agency in real estate transactions.  The law clarifies four areas of practice:  a) the practice of sub-agency; b) facilitation (non-agency); c) designated agency; and d) dual agency.  These new guidelines require the usage of a new mandatory disclosure form, known as the Mandatory Licensee-Consumer Relationship Disclosure.  Further, the new 
statute and regulations require written consent before a REALTOR® offers compensation to subagents, practices 
dual agency, or practices designated agency. (The practice 
of facilitation requires prior disclosure via the new 
disclosure form.)

Consumer Guide to REALTOR  Representation

---