Selling Your Home? Here’s How To Prevent a Deal From Falling Through
1. Central Valley Real‑Estate Snapshot & Rising Cancellations
Recent Redfin data shows that 14.9% of pending home sales fell through in June 2025, the highest June level on record—up from 13.9% in June 2024 (Redfin). This spike reflects a tougher environment for sellers, driven by heightened buyer scrutiny during inspection periods.
Meanwhile, the Central Valley continues to experience mild pullbacks in both home sales and prices:
- July 2025 home sales in the Central Valley dropped around 1.5% year-over-year, while prices held steady at $500,000 (Redfin, PR Newswire).
- In May 2025, the Central Valley saw slight improvements—sales up 0.6%, median prices rising 0.6% to $510,000 (California Association of Realtors).
With market conditions tightening and buyers exercising more leverage, sellers need strategic tools to protect their deals.
2. Why Deals Fall Apart: Inspections Are the Main Trigger
The primary culprit for canceled contracts? Issues discovered during the buyer’s inspection contingency period. With limited budgets and more listings to choose from, buyers are quick to walk away if significant repairs emerge (Redfin, thomashenthorne.com).
The solution: pre‑listing home inspections—a proactive step that helps sellers anticipate and address potential deal-breakers before going to market.
3. Pre‑Listing Home Inspections: Central Valley Advantages & Drawbacks
Benefits for Central Valley Sellers
- Provides pricing accuracy and helps avoid renegotiation or cancellations later (allcityhomes.com).
- Builds buyer confidence, especially for first-time buyers common in the region (YouTube).
- Reveals issues unique to the area—like well systems, septic tanks, or older structures—early in the process (allcityhomes.com).
Possible Concerns
- Upfront inspection cost, typically a few hundred dollars (allcityhomes.com).
- Must disclose any identified issues, which may deter some sellers (allcityhomes.com).
- Buyers may still conduct their own inspections, meaning you may not eliminate inspection contingencies entirely (allcityhomes.com).
4. How to Make It Work for You
Consult Your Agent:
- Get expert guidance on whether your property—especially if older, rural, or with unique systems—would benefit from inspection.
Plan Your Strategy:
- Decide which repairs are worth addressing and which issues may be better handled with credits or disclosures.
Stay Transparent:
- Provide inspection findings upfront to build trust and comply with California disclosure laws.
5. Final Takeaway for Central Valley Sellers
A pre‑listing home inspection can give you critical control and confidence—helping you protect your sale from cancelations and renegotiations.
Would you rather uncover issues on your terms—or face contract surprises when the pressure is on?
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