How to Find Professionals in Real Estate Related Fields in Massachusetts

Attorneys: Attorneys must be admitted to the bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to practice law. Information concerning licensing of a particular  person may be found by conducting a search, by name, at the web site of the Board of Bar Overseers at: http://www.massbbo.org/bbolookup.php

Brokers And Lenders:  Mortgage brokers and lenders in Massachusetts are required to be licensed by the Massachusetts Division of Banks. To verify the license of a Mortgage Company, Mortgage Broker, Mortgage Lender, Mortgage Loan Originator or Third Party Loan Servicer, a search may be  made by name for the person at the web site of the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS): http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/

Inspectors: Home Inspectors are required to be licensed in Massachusetts. Real estate brokers and salespersons are prohibited from directly recommending a home inspection company or home inspector to a buyer, except where the licensee has a written agreement to represent the buyer exclusively. Find more information about Home Inspectors and Home Inpsections at: http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agencies/dpl-lp/consumer-fact-sheets/home-inspectors-consumer-fact-sheet.html

Paint Inspectors: Lead inspectors are required to be licensed. A search for licensed private inspectors and risk assessors (interim control) may be conducted at the web site of the Office of the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/environmental-health/exposure-topics/lead/delead/

Contractors: Deleading contractors are required to be licensed. A list of licensed deleading contractors may be found at the web site of the Office of the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/environmental-health/exposure-topics/lead/delead/

Septic Inspectors (Title 5) And Soil Evaluators: Septic Inspectors (Title 5) and Soil Evaluators are required to be licensed by the Commonwealth of  Massachusetts. Lists of persons who are licensed may be found at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection web site: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/wastewater/septic-systems-title-5.html

Mold Inspectors And Remediators: Mold inspectors and remediators are not required to be licensed or certified in Massachusetts. 

Construction Supervisors: The Massachusetts building code requires that a licensed Construction Supervisor must supervise construction of all one and two  family dwellings and all other buildings containing less than 35,000 cubic feet of enclosed space. Construction Supervisors are licensed by the State Board of  Building Regulations and Standards.  To check the license of a business or individual, a search by name may be conducted at the Department of Public Safety web site:  http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dps/dps-license-lookup.html

Home Improvement Contractors: The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation regulates the registration of contractors performing improvements or renovations on detached one and two family homes, except where the total price to the owner is less than $500. Prior to performing work on such homes, a contractor must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor. Exempt from registration are electricians, plumbers, architects or any other persons who are required by law to attain standards of competency or experience as a prerequisite to licensure for and engaging in such trade or profession and who are acting exclusively within the scope of the profession, excepting construction supervisors. To check the registration of a home improvement contractor, a search by name may be conducted at: http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/consumer-rights-and-resources/housing/home-smart/maintaining-a-home/home-improvement/home-improvement-contractor-law/look-up-a-home-improvement-contractor.html

Carpenters: There is no separate license for carpenters. See, however, the description of Construction Supervisors and Home Improvement Contractors. 

Plumbers And Gas Fitters: The Board of Registration of Plumbers and Gas Fitters regulates these occupations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in accordance with state laws and Board regulations. A search by name of the license of an individual or business may be made at the Division of Professional Licensure of the Massachusetts Office Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: https://elicensing.state.ma.us/CitizenAccess/

Electricians: Electricians in Massachusetts are required to be licensed. A license search by name of an individual or business may be made at the Division of Professional Licensure of the Massachusetts Office Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: https://elicensing.state.ma.us/CitizenAccess/

Painters: Neither interior nor exterior painters are required to be licensed in Massachusetts. Care should be taken that work on properties built before 1978 does not require sanding, removing or disturbing areas containing lead paint, since doing so may require retaining a licensed deleading contractor. 

Asbestos: Abatement Contractors Asbestos abatement contractors are required to be licensed. A list of licensed contractors maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards may be found at: http://www.mass.gov/lwd/labor-standards/asbestos-safety/license-lists/

"How to find professionals in real estate related fields" was provided through the Massachusetts Association of Realtors®