Pre-listing inspections are trending back up. REALTOR® Magazine reports increasing use among agents aiming to stabilize listings before buyers enter the picture.
The timing isn’t coincidental. Redfin analysis shows nearly 15% of pending home sales fell through in June 2025, the highest June cancellation rate since at least 2017. Buyers are backing out when conditions don’t feel rock-solid.
In response, more agents are scheduling inspections before listing and including clean inspection summaries in the marketing packets, creating a listing that reads transparent and confident above the noise.
Inspector Insights
Jim Fletcher, owner of Square One Home Inspections, located in Virginia, told us:
The advantages of pre-listing inspections are greater than I believe the industry currently understands. A pre-inspection can be used as a positive selling point in a listing. Not only can you advertise that the home has been pre-inspected, but the seller also gains an opportunity to correct any issues that might scare off a potential buyer.
If you're a home inspector, you've likely been called a "deal killer" or have heard that “so-and-so inspector killed my deal.”
Wouldn’t it make sense to eliminate this hurdle entirely by pre-inspecting and repairing the home before listing? Especially now, when repairs can be completed with payment deferred until closing. The solution is right in front of us.
I have been a firm believer in pre-inspections and repairs for many years. My hope is to change the culture of the real estate community—one pre-listing inspection at a time.
Bluetape Insights
At Bluetape, we've seen a notable uptick in pre-listing updates. This reinforces what Jim said. Pre-listing updates are an early investment that protects the deal when, near the end, buyers are skittish and stakes are high.
