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You may have seen headlines indicating the number of buyers backing out of contracts is on the rise. That can sound intimidating, but here’s the key thing to understand if you want to sell. There’s a common cause, and it’s something you can actually control.
The Top Dealbreaker: Issues from the Inspection
A Redfin survey shows over 70% of recently cancelled contracts happened because of issues during the home inspection. That makes sense because today’s buyers have something they didn’t have a couple of years ago: options.
In today’s market, skipping essential repairs is one of the fastest ways to lose a deal.
How Your Agent Can Help Give You an Edge
A local agent will be able to walk through your house and offer advice on what to tackle based on your specific home, your market, and what buyers are prioritizing in your area. They’ll also have first-hand knowledge about some of the biggest turnoffs for buyers today. And you can use that expertise to prevent future headaches.
For example, according to Zillow, these are some of the issues buyers will care the most about:
- Roof leaks or damage: sagging, leaking, etc.
- Plumbing problems: standing water, leaks, water damage, etc.
- Electrical concerns: outdated or exposed wiring, missing GFCI outlets, etc.
- HVAC issues: non-functioning units
- Pest or insect damage: termite colonies, etc.
- Hazardous materials: lead, mold, asbestos, etc.
- Safety/code violations: missing smoke detectors, windows stuck closed, etc.
- Structural problems: cracks in the foundation, sagging floors, etc.
The Benefits of a Pre-Listing Inspection
To buyers, these aren’t cosmetic issues. They’re trust issues, and that’s what you need to watch out for today. Once buyers start wondering “what else might be wrong,” it’s hard to recover momentum.
That’s why some agents are even recommending a pre-listing inspection as a sneak peek into what buyers will see on their own inspection. With that insight, you can:
- Fix concerns before you list, or disclose issues upfront
- Avoid having to respond or negotiate under pressure
- Stop scrambling to find contractors with availability before your closing date
But remember, you don’t have to fix everything. You just have to be strategic about what you do tackle, so you and your buyer aren’t caught off guard. That’s why you need an agent who can:
- Decide if a pre-listing inspection is worth it where you live
- Recommend a trusted inspector (if you decide to get one)
- Look at the results with you to identify true dealbreakers in your market
- Help you decide what to fix or what to credit
- Make sure you avoid over-spending or under-preparing
Bottom Line
One of the biggest dealbreakers for buyers today is inspection issues – and that’s something you can control. You just need to be proactive about high-impact repairs before you list. If you want help figuring out where to focus, let’s connect so we can keep your sale on track from day one.
