Condo & Townhouse Inspection in Massachusetts Your Unit and the Building — Both Inspected, Both Documented
You're Not Just Buying a Unit You're Buying Into the Building
Condo and townhouse buyers often assume the inspection is simpler — smaller scope, shorter time, fewer concerns. That assumption is exactly backwards. When you buy a condo, you're inheriting a proportional share of the building's common systems: the roof, the exterior envelope, the mechanicals, the parking structures. A failing roof in a five-unit complex is just as much your problem as the seller's. You need to know about it before closing.
Ken Arnold has inspected condos and townhouses across Western Massachusetts since 2004 — mill conversions, downtown buildings, suburban complexes, and stacked-duplex conversions throughout the Pioneer Valley. He evaluates both what you're buying (the unit) and what you're buying into (the building), and delivers a clear photo-documented report organized so you and your agent can act inside your due-diligence window. Radon testing and mold inspection can be added to the same appointment.
From Offer Acceptance To Closing Without Surprises
A condo or townhouse inspection with Ken Arnold covers two layers: what's inside your unit, and what's shared with the building. Here's what the process looks like.
01
Book Inside Your Due-Diligence Window
Call or schedule online as soon as your offer is accepted. Ken schedules every appointment personally — you'll get a confirmed date, a realistic time estimate, and a direct number. Condo inspections typically run 1.5–2 hours on-site, depending on the unit size and building complexity.
02
Unit Inspection + Common-Element Review
Ken inspects the full unit interior — all systems, finishes, and fixtures — then evaluates accessible common areas: roof, exterior envelope, shared mechanicals, common stairs and entry, parking, and drainage. Mill conversions and historic buildings get additional attention on their shared envelope.
03
Building Findings Briefing
Before Ken leaves, he walks you through what he found in both the unit and the common areas — distinguishing items that are your direct responsibility from issues that belong to the association. He'll also discuss what to look for in the condo documents: reserve study, board minutes, and capital project history.
04
Clear Report Organized by Scope
Your report is organized by unit scope and building/common-element scope — each section fully photo-documented. You and your agent have clear, prioritized findings to bring into your due-diligence conversation before the window closes. Delivered promptly after the inspection.
Every Property Is Different. So Is Every Inspection.
Ken Arnold Home Inspection LLC offers a full range of residential inspection services across Massachusetts — each scoped to the property type, your role in the transaction, and what's at stake.
Buyer Home Inspection
A thorough, independent inspection of every major system before you close — 22 years of Pioneer Valley experience documented in a detailed photo report.
Learn more about Buyer Home Inspection — Learn MorePre-Listing Home Inspection
Find out what a buyer's inspector will find — before you list. Get ahead of objections, price the home accurately, and shorten your time on market.
Learn more about Pre-Listing Home Inspection — Learn MoreNew Construction Home Inspection
An independent inspection before your warranty closes. Phase, pre-drywall, or final-walk inspections — finding what the builder's punch list misses.
Learn more about New Construction Home Inspection — Learn MoreMulti-Family Home Inspection
Triple-deckers, two-families, and four-unit investment properties — each unit and shared system documented separately for buyers and investors.
Learn more about Multi-Family Home Inspection — Learn MoreAnnual & Preventative Home Inspection
Full-scope inspection for current owners — oriented to maintenance planning, not closing pressure. Worth doing every 3–5 years on older Pioneer Valley homes.
Learn more about Annual & Preventative Home Inspection — Learn More
Two Layers of Inspection One Independent Inspector
Most condo inspectors focus only on the unit interior. Ken Arnold evaluates both — because the association's systems are part of what you're buying. He has no relationship with sellers, listing agents, or association management. His job is to give you a complete picture of the unit and the building before you're legally committed to both.
- Massachusetts License #587 — 22 years of condo and townhouse inspections
- Unit inspection + accessible common-element review — both documented
- Mill conversion and historic building experience across Western Massachusetts
- Guidance on condo documents: what to request, what to look for
- Photo report with unit scope and building scope organized separately
Specialty Testing Added to the Same Visit
The most consequential risks — radon, water quality, wood-destroying insects, hidden moisture — aren't visible on a standard inspection. Add specialty testing to your appointment and address everything in one visit.
Radon Testing
48-hour continuous-monitor radon testing in the Pioneer Valley. Add to any home inspection or schedule standalone.
Learn MoreThermal Imaging Inspection
Infrared scanning surfaces issues invisible to the naked eye — water intrusion, missing insulation, electrical hot spots, and HVAC performance problems.
Learn MoreMold Inspection
Visual mold evaluation with moisture-source identification, optional air sampling. Common in older Pioneer Valley basements and mill-conversion units.
Learn MoreWhat Clients Say
First-time condo buyers, investors, and their agents in Northampton, Holyoke, Easthampton, and across the Pioneer Valley.
"I almost skipped the inspection because it was a newer building. Ken found a chronic leak in the unit above mine that had been rotting the wall cavity for two years. The association had known about it. I negotiated a credit and got it repaired before moving in."
Angela M.
Condo Buyer, Northampton
"We bought a unit in an Easthampton mill conversion. Ken's review of the shared systems — especially the roof and HVAC distribution — gave us a real picture of what the association was going to face in the next five years. We asked the right questions before closing."
Tom & Priya S.
Condo Buyers, Easthampton
"Ken is the only inspector I recommend to my condo clients. He understands the unique dynamics of shared-system ownership and explains it clearly. His reports hold up."
Carla D.
Real Estate Agent, Northampton
Frequently Asked Questions About This Inspection
Know the Unit and the Building Before You Close Schedule Your Condo Inspection Today
Don't let the smaller scope fool you — a condo or townhouse inspection in Massachusetts is a two-layer evaluation. Ken Arnold inspects both the unit and the shared building systems, with clear photo-documented reporting across the Pioneer Valley.
Licensed Home Inspector MA #587 · 35 Keets Rd, Deerfield, MA 01342 · Serving Franklin County, Hampshire County & the Pioneer Valley