Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from J May Home Inspections Inc. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Firms price in size tiers, not per foot — pick the bracket.
Estimated range
$530 – $760
Typical inspection around $650
J May Home Inspections is a one-person shop run by Mike Atwell out of Newton, and the company says it's been doing this since 1997 — over 5,000 inspections by its own count. That lines up with something Tavlee did verify: Massachusetts home inspector license #140 is active on the state registry, the same number the company lists for itself. The reviews back it up. On Google it's 5 stars from 11 ratings; on Angi, 5.0 from 218, with a 15-year Super Service Award streak according to Angi's own listing (the company's site says 12 years — the two don't quite agree, though both point to the same long run of top ratings). What comes up again and again, across both platforms and across years, is that Mike doesn't just hand over a report — he walks buyers through what he's finding as he finds it. In a 2025 review, one Angi reviewer described him going section by section through the house, explaining not just the issues but the reasoning behind them and what to do about each one. The specifics get real. In a 2024 review, one repeat client — who says Mike has inspected four different houses for them over time — described him catching a structural issue that multiple other people had missed, one that reportedly led to $100,000 in repairs for the eventual buyer. In another 2024 review, a buyer described Mike smelling gas on-site and, after a re-inspection, finding seven leaks the seller then had fixed. Reports typically follow within 24 hours, and more than one reviewer mentioned inspections running three to five hours rather than a quick walk-through. There's nothing in the reviews to flag about the actual work — five years of ratings across five different platforms, and not one complaint turns up. The one thing worth confirming before booking: as a one-person operation, scheduling depends on Mike's own calendar — though in a 2025 review, one client needed a fast turnaround, a Friday call for a Monday inspection, and got it. For a buyer who wants a slow, explained walkthrough rather than a rushed checklist — and values a verified license and a long, consistent record over a lower price — this is a strong match.
I would highly recommend Mike Atwell of J. May Home Inspections to anyone looking for a high-quality, thorough, and trustworthy home inspector in the Greater Boston area. Mike was incredibly accommodating around our tight schedule and was a true pleasure to work with. Mike is deeply knowledgeable and passionate about home inspections and helped us find major structural deficiencies with a single-family home we were looking to purchase. Mike also took the time to explain each piece of the inspection to us as first time home buyers and sent us a full report via email within 24 hours of the inspection along with a mailed booklet of the inspection findings.
I cannot recommend Michael Atwell and J May Home Inspections Inc highly enough! Michael was professional, punctual (he arrived early just to get a jump on the exterior inspection), and is clearly passionate about doing the job right. What truly set him apart was his incredible thoroughness and attention to detail. He examined every inch of the property — from the roof to the foundation — and didn't miss a single thing. He took his time and was incredibly meticulous, which gave us complete confidence that we had a full and honest picture of the home. Michael also has a real gift for communication. He walked us through every finding in plain language, making sure we understood exactly what we were looking at and what it meant for us as buyers. He never made us feel rushed and was happy to answer every question we had. If you're buying a home and want an inspector you can truly trust, look no further than Michael Atwell at J May Home Inspections Inc. He made a stressful process feel manageable and gave us total peace of mind. Worth every penny!
Mike was already there before our agreed time, and he already walked the property for the outside inspection. He did a very diligent one floor at the time and walked my and my broker through everything he found. His entire inspection took 3.5h for a 2-bedroom single family house. Mike is old school with paper notes and no iPad, but he takes pictures, and I received a comprehensive 8-page report + valuable resources within 24h.
Mike was so helpful and easy to ask questions to! Very thorough which we appreciated during our first home purchase. Would definitely use him again and recommend him to anyone needing a home inspection.
Mike was fantastic, from the time we spoke to him on the phone to the completion of the inspection. He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced and offered us a balanced view of things that came up. He is also a great educator and will take the time to explain things to you.
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Established 4.4 rating
Architect's eye4.7
Caught real issues4.5