It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that change is in the air for the home inspection industry.
The forces that shape the trade, from real estate market trends and consumer expectations to inspection technology, are in constant flux. As these dynamics evolve, they can fundamentally alter how inspectors operate their businesses and connect with their clients.
What could the future of home inspections look like in 2026 and beyond? What market trends do inspectors expect to see? And what skills, habits, or services will be most important?
To find out, we interviewed and surveyed inspectors like you. Here are their predictions for the future of the home inspection industry.
Over the past few years, housing market slumps have put home buyers and the home inspection industry in a challenging position.
Combine skyrocketing mortgage rates with high demand for real estate and scarce inventories, and you get record-high prices that put buyers at a real disadvantage, Alex Veiga wrote for Associated Press. These market pressures have driven many buyers to price-shop for home inspectors to stay competitive. Even worse, many have chosen to skip their home inspections altogether.
“The home inspection business has been heavily subdued since the pandemic due to both a lack of sellers and high interest rates. Most buyers are opting not to get inspections as the competition for houses is so fierce,” David Burrows of Home Inspection Specialists, LLC in Virginia said. “Why would a seller complicate the sale by allowing a buyer to get an inspection when others will take the house as-is?”
But as many surveyed inspectors attested, the tides of the home inspection industry could be changing.
Some experts anticipate the home inspection market picking up as real estate trends stabilize, while others don’t see either market changing anytime soon. In any case, many inspectors believe value will continue to set the most successful inspectors apart.
Let’s explore inspectors’ hypotheses in more detail.
More balanced mortgage rates and housing inventory could restore buyers’ ability to prioritize inspections.
Forecasts for 2026 anticipate a modest decline in mortgage rates. Though we won’t see pre-2022 rates, they could stabilize at low six-percent levels or even dip below six percent later in 2026, Aloun Khountham wrote for The Close. Other sources, like the Home Builders Association of Washington County, expect rates below six percent closer to 2028 or 2029.
As Khountham explains, these stabilized interest rates may motivate more homeowners to sell, thus boosting inventory. While supply won’t match buyers’ pent-up demand just yet, calmer interest rates and more inventory could cause house prices to rise more moderately than before, Khountham wrote.
Khountham theorizes that, with buyers facing less competition over inventory, they’ll have better buying power. In turn, inspectors hope buyers will have more incentive to get home inspections, rather than skipping out to win intense bidding wars.
“Assuming reduced interest rates, the housing market should improve, and the number of inspections should increase,” said Bruce Barker of Dream Home Consultants, LLC in Florida.
“As my market continues to grow into a buyer’s market, the number of inspections will rise as the buyer will utilize the report to negotiate more favorable terms or repairs in their contracts,” said John Womack of Legacy Inspection Services, LLC in South Carolina.
“In the seller’s market, I saw many agents and sellers refuse to even look at offers if they were contingent on an inspection. Because of the shift in the market, this is no longer the case, and I’ve been much busier lately than in the past two years. I hope it continues,” said Ken Rowe of Minnesota Home Inspectors LLC.
Along with the hope of modest interest rates, new construction could be another key player in relieving today’s restricted inventory.
As Rich Fettke explains in a RealWealth article, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) expects new home constructions to reach an annual average of 1.68 million units between 2025-2029. By comparison, the average was 1.3 million units the previous decade, Fettke said.
Consequently, inspectors like 2025 ASHI President Scott Johnson of BPG Inspection, LLC in Georgia believe there will be more demand for new construction inspections.
“I believe 2026 will be markedly better. As real estate inventory improves, so will sales. There has been a national focus on new construction. The prudent inspector will learn what is required for new construction inspections in their market and add that to their toolbox,” Johnson said.
To stay competitive, Todd Gourley of Reveal360 Inspection Services LLC in Colorado says it will be advantageous to get ICC certifications and relevant trade experience.
Still, there’s a growing sense of caution within the home inspection industry. Many experts speculate that the home inspection industry will face more setbacks before conditions improve.
“It is going to continue to get worse,” said Daniel Gurany of Blue Mountain Star Home Inspection Services in Texas. “The economic instability of our nation directly affects our housing markets.”
Danny Stevens of Millennium Termite and Pest in California expects a slight APR dip to cause a temporary drop in sales by 2027. That could turn into a burst of sales shortly after, he explained in his podcast The Home Inspectors Network.
Matt Lottes of HomeBase Inspection in Indiana also anticipates tougher days on the horizon at first. Inspection demand isn’t rebounding as fast as he’d hoped, in part because interest rates have remained “stubbornly high,” he said. But he wouldn’t be surprised if that changes soon.
“People got so used to rates being so unnaturally low for so long, that they see a six, a seven, or an eight percent right now, and it kind of freaks them out. Even though that’s naturally kind of where mortgage rates have been for a long time,” Lottes said. “There is still a lot of price pressure in my market. And I think prices are still a little bit more inflated than they probably should be.”
“I think sometime in the next six months to a year, that’s going to start to clear itself out,” he said.
In the meantime, some inspectors worry that a continuously urgent, highly competitive market could increase the risk of misunderstandings and claims across the home inspection industry.
If housing market pressures don’t ease up, buyers across the country will stay desperate for homes, Daniel Nowicki of Zen Home Inspections LLC in New Jersey said. This desperation could spell more rushed purchases, unread inspection reports, and therefore liability for home inspectors.
“If they close their eyes and don’t read the report, they think the problems will go away,” Nowicki said. “I’m hearing a lot of buyer’s remorse, and one of the first stops on that journey is the home inspector.”
As purchase and repair costs climb, buyers will likely continue to blame inspectors, driving up inspection claims even more, Lottes and Frank Pino of On Target Home Inspections, LLC in Rhode Island said.
“At the height of the real estate craze when interest rates were so low and market supply of houses was so constrained and people were paying top dollar for houses that hadn’t been well maintained, [buyers] were just tapped out. Once they got into that house, if something would go wrong, if a dishwasher would break or a leak would develop in a faucet, that had to have been something the inspector missed, right? Because somebody has to pay for this,” Lottes said.
“I think all claims will increase as people struggle to keep up with rising costs. Economic desperation will encourage more people to initiate disputes and claims,” Pino said.
That’s why it matters more than ever that inspectors take time to set realistic expectations for their services.
Whether you’re seeing a buyer’s market or not, many of our survey participants agreed: Thorough, quality inspection services are becoming increasingly more important to clients.
As William Seth-Ward of Hope Home Inspections in Florida said, home inspection companies in a price-shopping market will need to demonstrate and communicate their value over those who only offer standard service experiences. Alternatively, those who only tow the mark may fall behind, Gourley said.
“Florida has moved into a buyer’s market, big time. We are seeing steady price reductions across the board, houses remaining on the market longer, and, unfortunately, foreclosure numbers are on the rise,” Seth-Ward said. “You will likely start to experience more price shopping, potential customers asking you to prove your value or why [they should] use you over the next guy.”
“My one prediction for 2026 is that those home inspection companies that provide blow and go, check the box, barely meeting the Standards of Practice [services] will have difficulty staying busy,” Gourley said. “Clients are continuously being disappointed with the general lack of a complete and thorough inspection. It appears from what I’ve been told by customers/agents that some inspectors are relying on ‘warranties’ instead of providing a thorough inspection.”
What if clients and agents in your area still prioritize low prices over quality inspections?
Take the time to teach them why quality matters over price, said Joe Richmond of SK8 Home Inspection Services, Inc in Illinois. Inspectors who educate their clients will notice the highest reward—a common message among home inspection industry experts.
“[With] the expectation of speed and the lack of valuing the report, it is appearing to become more important that we educate the client as much as possible,” Richmond said. “Price, service, and perceived value of inspections will be one of the more challenging things to improve.”
Teach them about inspections in general, about your processes, and about the value behind your prices. If they understand the extra time, thoroughness, expertise, and customer service they get compared to underpriced competitors, you’ll earn their trust. Plus, they’ll be more likely to see your services as an investment, not just a box to check.
“I tell clients, if they’re price shopping, ‘You get what you pay for,’” Michael Ashburn of Ashburn Inspections, LLC in Pennsylvania said in our guide to pricing your inspections. “When [clients] understand that a quality home inspection is not all about price, they respond to it.”
“The biggest challenge for inspectors, and any business for that matter, is to offer better perceived value compared to the competition. Perceived value is about more than just price,” Barker said.
To stay busy and valuable in an ever-changing market, many experts suggest diversifying your services.
Research the ancillary inspection services that are in high demand, and pursue training to differentiate yourself from the competition. As WIN Home Inspection explains in their article about the future of the home inspection industry, diverse expertise can increase your revenue streams and make your business more resistant to recessions. Moreover, it encourages clients and agents to see you as their go-to expert, Nowicki said.
“People like a One-Stop shop. The more services you can provide, the more likely you are to get the inspection,” he said. “There’s more of a sales and public relations aspect to it as opposed to years’ past.”
Along with variety, remember that your years of experience can earn buyers’ confidence, too, Rowe said.
“I think more and more buyers are looking for experienced inspectors. Those without at least 10 years of experience should look at joining multi-inspector firms in order to stay working,” he said.
Along with the quality of your inspections, don’t overlook the quality of your customer service. In their survey responses, many inspectors reported that customer service will be one of the biggest considerations for staying competitive in 2026 and beyond.
As Dwight Griffie of Semper Fi Home Inspections in Kentucky said, what you give will come back to you. If you aren’t in the business of helping people, you won’t go far. This could mean welcoming more opportunities to engage with clients—even if it takes longer.
As Chad Fabry of StructureSmart, LLC in New York said, quality takes time. Johnson and Tom Buckhardt of BNA Home Inspection in Arizona offer similar sentiments.
“I’m seeing clients attending the inspection more often than in recent history,” Johnson explained in his survey submission. “Yes, it’s true the field part of the inspection takes longer when the client attends. [But] I am a seller of information. When my client attends, especially a first-time home buyer, I can relay the information both verbally and in the written report. I’m personally very happy to see the clients attending the inspections again.”
“Considering the liability associated with our work and the current price of homes, we should be raising our prices to reflect the current market conditions. We will need to offer more services and thus spend more time at each appointment,” Buckhardt said.
As the real estate and home inspection markets change, so too has demand for specific inspection services—particularly those tied to environmental, accessibility, maintenance, and smart home concerns.
To become a valuable resource for clients, it’s essential that inspectors train to meet this evolving demand, Johnson said.
“Protection of our clients is paramount. Constant training of ourselves to broaden our toolbox will help keep our schedules full in slowing markets. Many of our resumes are now including commercial inspections, Phase One environmental surveys, and many more specialized assessments,” he said. “Home inspections mean so much more than they did even a decade ago.”
Which services could see higher demand in the home inspection industry’s future? Based on our research and survey responses, inspectors anticipate more demand for environmental, aging-in-place, routine maintenance, and smart tech inspection services.
Americans are increasingly concerned about making their home environments healthier and more efficient.
Research from The Farnsworth Group and Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) has identified indoor air quality as a leading cause of concern, followed by water quality, moisture or mold prevention, and pest control in 2025.
The same 2025 study found that homeowners who are college graduates, under 55, and families with children are most likely to prioritize health and safety, as well as environmental and energy performance. More homeowners are investing in projects that improve indoor air quality and cut energy costs. And as younger buyers enter the market, inspectors like James Jones III of Home & Commercial Inspections LLC in Ohio and Richmond anticipate increasing demand for environmental inspection services.
“[Younger buyers have] grown up hearing about the dangers of indoor air quality from byproducts of environmental hazards in the air, as well as chronic health conditions caused by toxic materials in everyday environments,” Jones III wrote in his Inspection Insider. “They want to know what’s in the air they’ll breathe, the materials in the walls, and the long-term health risks that may be hiding in plain sight.”
“As homes get tighter and more energy efficient, it appears that indoor air quality [and] energy efficiencies will be something that inspectors will need to become more educated in being able to discuss with buyers,” Richmond said. “Radon seems to be picking up as more people are becoming more aware of the value and not so afraid of the cost.”
We asked inspectors which services they expect to see more demand for. As Lottes explained, many of these environmental services have been increasingly popular for several years. More recent concerns, however, may change the landscape of the home inspection industry.
“ We still see quite a bit of demand for the old basics: mold, well water quality, things of that nature. But people ask us more and more about testing for VOCs, and they worry more and more about the materials…they’re putting into their houses,” Lottes said. “So I think environmental testing is still going to stay at the top of people’s minds for quite a while. There will probably be considerably more demand for that in the future than there is now.”
In their survey responses, the most common services inspectors reported were:
Physical safety, accessibility, and multigenerational living trends are creating opportunities for specialized home inspections, too.
Farnsworth and JCHS’s 2025 joint study reported that Americans are concerned about safety and accessibility issues throughout their homes. Meanwhile, more contractors are taking on projects like reconfiguring homes for multigenerational living and adding universal design features.
Knowing this, inspectors like Gourley are considering services that address “aging-in-place” projects.
“With an aging population, I’m surprised ‘aging-in-place’ inspections are not more common,” Gourley said. “ASHI and other national organizations do not promote this more and I believe, for the home inspection industry to expand, those national organizations should allow inspectors with proven skills to be able to inspect a home for ‘aging in place’ and also provide the service to implement those findings: grab bars, ramps, etc.”
“Reveal360 has a contract with a large HOA to provide guidance before and during capital improvements. This is another way to expand the home inspection industry,” he said.
More inspectors are emphasizing the value of routine inspections, both to protect buyers’ investments and demonstrate recurring value.
Matthew Skiba of Seahawk Inspection Services and Kurvin Gordon of Ugly Duckling Inspections both recommended annual inspections for waterfront and beachfront homes. But what about standard homes? Could regularly scheduled inspections play a more prominent role in the future of the home inspection industry?
According to Lottes, today’s homeowners are less proactive about maintaining their homes. If inspectors returned periodically throughout the span of a client’s homeownership, and not just for pre-sale, they could provide a dual benefit:
“The biggest problem with houses that we’ve always faced is deferred maintenance. People just don’t know what to look for anymore. We’re almost having to become people’s eyes and ears,” Lottes said. “I do see that as being a potential new business coming our way, those kinds of maintenance inspections and helping people keep up with their properties, versus just coming in one time, telling them what’s wrong with it at this moment in time, and then being out of the picture.”
“The home inspection industry must expand to stay relevant when the real estate economy is slow. Home inspections should not rely on real estate transactions only. Every home should be inspected every five years and/or when major changes occur in the home, such as a remodel and even furnace and water heater replacements,” Gourley said.
A quick risk management caveat: This concept is different from most re-inspections, where little time has passed and you have limited parameters, like re-inspecting a system or area that wasn’t accessible before.
In this scenario, inspectors perform a complete re-inspection of the entire property after significant time has passed. We suggest approaching this like it’s an entirely new inspection—because it is.
Cover yourself by getting a new pre-inspection agreement signed. In fact, if it’s been six months or more, consider treating it like an inspection for the same property, but new clients.
Try not to review previous reports so you can inspect like it’s your first time there. Tread cautiously about how you address repairs, and stay consistent with your standards of practice, like you would with any other inspection.
Smart homes are no longer exclusive to 90s sci-fi movies or luxury mansions. In 2026 and beyond, they could play an increasingly prominent role in how clients protect and enjoy their homes.
In a 2025 press release, industry analyst and consulting firm Berg Insight announced that more than 190 million European and North American homes will use smart technology by 2029. (That’s compared to 139.4 million homes in 2024.) From thermostats and light bulbs to security systems and vacuums, more homeowners are adopting “smart” products with the hopes of saving time and money. And with AI in the picture, market demand is only expected to rise, Berg Insight wrote.
What does this mean for the home inspection industry? Will there be higher demand for home inspectors who are familiar with pre-installed smart home gadgets? Could “smart home inspections” become a separate service entirely?
The changing landscape of the real estate housing market may continue to favor smart tech. Sources like the Inspection Support Network encourage buyers to find inspectors who can “ensure that smart features function correctly and, possibly, even guide buyers about the use and maintenance.”
And yet, many standards of practice (like ASHI’s and InterNACHI’s) do not require inspectors to test the adequacy of security systems or heating and cooling systems like thermostats. Insurance policies often do not cover claims related to the testing of security systems, either.
To help manage your risk, for now we recommend referring your clients to a smart home automation specialist who’s equipped to take on the added liability. Keep in mind, however, that as the future home inspection industry takes shape, standards and training may change to reflect increased demand for smart home tech.
Several of our survey participants said advances in home inspection technology like cameras, bots, and AI could streamline inspections and report writing. But human expertise remains essential.
Cameras are essential to every inspector’s toolbelt.
As technology advances, home inspection companies are seeing cameras take on exciting, new forms. They’re using phones for better mobility and operating crawlspace inspection robots, drones for home inspections, or pole cams for otherwise-inaccessible spaces. Some are even wearing body cameras to disprove frivolous claims.
These robotic cameras can be powerful inspection and risk management tools; though nothing can beat getting your boots on the roof.
And yet, as younger buyers show less interest in attending their inspections, more agents and tech companies are asking inspectors about remote or robotically assisted home inspections. This could someday spell greater interest in advanced drones and inspection cameras, some inspectors predict.
“Most likely drones will have an impact,” Burrows said. “Also, actual ‘Go-Pro-type’ cameras will be needed as buyers and agents want to know all about an inspection, but do not want to take the time to attend.”
“Robotic assistance that specializes in inspections [will be important],” said InterNACHI Founder Nick Gromicko. “We’re actually working with a robotic company on modifying one specifically for the inspection industry. … InterNACHI’s robot is going to eventually do more than just assist on inspections. We’ll offer them to sellers to drum up visitors to their open houses.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) has skyrocketed to one of the biggest buzzwords in home inspection industry technology. If home inspectors aren’t talking about AI home inspection tools, virtual home inspections, automated reporting, or AI-powered image analysis, then clients and real estate agents are.
At first, many inspectors were dubious. (And many still are.) How reliable is AI? What if an AI home inspection tool makes a mistake? Could AI skew clients’ expectations of what home inspection companies are capable of?
But with more inspection and software companies adopting it, AI may play an inevitable role in the industry’s future, Seth-Ward said.
“AI is coming. Start using it, even if you don’t like it. Start playing with it so you at least know something about it,” he said. “Inspection software companies are already in Beta testing for AI inspections and report writing. (I know, I have done the Beta testing). It makes responding to complaint emails a breeze. The possibilities are practically endless.”
How might AI help streamline inspector workflows and reporting? Some popular ideas include:
According to Angelo Menezes of Certified Inspectors, AI can analyze hundreds of photos in a fraction of the time.
As Spectora and Inspect Montana explain, AI-powered image analysis tools could act as an additional checkpoint for catching defects and trends the inspector might overlook. AI might also improve 3D and VR imaging technology, which is already being used to revisit inspections for client, report-writing, and even training purposes, Inspect Montana said.
AI for home inspections is far from perfect. For example, if inspectors upload blurry or poorly lit images, algorithms are more likely to misidentify or skip over defects, Menezes wrote. But with time, AI-powered image analysis could become a valuable tool for the home inspection industry, Nowicki said.
“The ability for AI to analyze a photograph for defects is impressive and only getting better. It can cut a significant amount of time out of the report writing process,” Nowicki said.
Communication is key to running a successful home inspection business.
Write a report full of technical language clients aren’t familiar with? They might not read the whole report. Send a heated email or text to an already-upset buyer? You could strain the professional relationship, or worse, escalate the conflict into a claim. Forget to follow up about getting their pre-inspection agreement signed? You might have to cancel or reschedule their appointment.
That’s where AI home inspection tools could prove useful. By helping inspectors adjust the tones of their emails or text messages before sending them, send automated reminders, or rephrase complex technical concepts, AI is expediting communication across the home inspection industry, inspectors explained in the ASHI Edge webinar “AI and the Future of Home Inspection.” This could be particularly beneficial for newer inspectors, who might otherwise spend hours finding popular report narratives online or learning to diffuse stressful interactions.
Additionally, Barker believes AI could help inspectors stay consistently compliant with state or association standards.
“Artificial intelligence may make report writing more efficient and effective, especially if it can make reports more compliant with standards of practice,” he said.
Home inspectors are constantly learning. Whether you’re adopting a new ancillary service or researching evolving trends or SOPs, an inspector’s education is never done.
That’s another reason why some inspectors are excited about AI. Along with the possibilities of AI-powered image analysis and report-writing tools, many hope it will open doors for easier research.
Nonetheless, inspectors should always research responsibly. Do your due diligence to fact-check with reliable sources, warned John Howard of Breakwater Inspections in Maine. But as a first line of research, or even as a market analysis tool, it could be a helpful launching point.
In the aforementioned ASHI Edge webinar, James Jones III described using AI to streamline clerical and administrative tasks.
Like having a virtual executive assistant, AI can help inspectors automate customer engagement funnels, convert leads, onboard new hires, and manage employees’ schedules, they said.
So, how is inspection technology reshaping the home inspection process?
Emerging home inspection technology might save you time and enhance your existing skills, systems, and professionalism.
But across our sources, inspectors made one thing clear: They’re just tools. No matter how advanced or efficient technology becomes, nothing compares to the sight, touch, judgment, and human connection inspectors rely on every day.
“I’m a firm believer that, while helpful, AI, drones, and crawlbots are not 100 percent better than the human aspect of writing notes/reports, climbing the ladder to inspect roofs, and crawling to inspect the crawlspace,” Womack said.
Even as younger buyers lean more on technology, remote property inspections and the latest bots or automated reporting tools won’t make the biggest difference. As Lottes explained, inspecting is a people business. AI can’t problem-solve like an inspector, nor can it see or feel subtle details like potential rot under soft painted trim, he said.
Even then, the personal touch of customer service and inspection expertise will continue to build trust and set the best inspectors apart. That’s why people skills and continuing education remain essential, Lottes and Gourley said.
“ Everybody looks at this as being a very technical business, and it’s not. It’s just like every other aspect of the real estate world. It’s a people business first,” Lottes said. “ I think it’s actually going to become even more of a people business than it ever has been…the handholding, the education, the reassurance we should be giving people as part of a good, thorough inspection.”
“The biggest impact on home inspection services may not come from new technologies, but from expanded continuing education that teaches the building codes (IRC, NEC, etc) and tradecraft (requiring a certain number of hours work or existing experience to achieve),” Gourley said.
We also asked inspectors if they knew of any statewide changes that could be shaping the future of the home inspection industry. Several of their responses revolved around licensure and legislation.
As of 2025, over half of US states require a home inspection license. Whether more states should follow suit is a debate as old as the home inspection industry itself.
Anti-licensure inspectors fear licensing is more restrictive on the industry and small businesses than it is empowering.
Alternatively, pro-licensure inspectors believe licensing encourages higher, more consistent standards of training and practice. They believe licensing requirements and stricter regulations discourage would-be inspectors who aren’t ready to take the job seriously, as Jeff Bissonnette of JDB Property Inspectors LLC explained. In theory, it could protect clients and elevate the industry at large.
“California has been talking about licensing inspectors for the last few years. I think it would be a good thing for the inspection industry to weed out some inspectors who may not play by the rules,” Bissonnette said.
As of November 2025, Iowa (effective July 1, 2025) and Utah (effective January 1, 2026) are the most recent states to enforce or announce new licensing requirements. If this trend continues, it’s possible a more strictly regulated home inspection industry lies in the future. But nothing is set in stone—not even existing regulations, as Seth-Ward explained for Florida.
“In Florida, if you have been a home inspector for over 10 years, you no longer need to complete CE to renew your license. You simply apply and renew,” Seth-Ward said. “Personally, I believe this will cause issues with keeping up to date on new technologies, systems, methods, [and] developments.”
Meanwhile, some home inspection regulations are inspired by a real need for change within the community. That’s why, in 2026 and beyond, many will still be talking about Massachusetts.
In 2025, an initiative led by Michael Atwell of J. May Home Inspections helped pass Massachusetts Senate Bill S2474, which guarantees buyers the right to an inspection. (We interviewed Atwell and other inspectors behind the initiative in our article here).
Atwell and his cohorts had hoped the Massachusetts bill would inspire inspectors in other states to advocate for similar legislation, ASHI explained in their coverage of the bill. Now that the bill is law, Atwell’s vision is gaining traction.
“Massachusetts recently passed legislation protecting the client’s right to have an inspection performed. I hope this catches on nationwide. Congratulations to Massachusetts for leading the way,” Johnson said.
“If you think Massachusetts’ new regulations around what information home sellers can see about a home purchase is a trend that will be followed, waived inspections should hopefully become less and less [common],” Seth-Ward said.
Not all inspectors are optimistic. In his survey response, Jeffrey Poynton of JMP Home Inspections LLC in Connecticut said his state has tried introducing similar legislation. But Connecticut’s version of the bill hasn’t passed.
“Realtors are still allowed to talk prospective buyers out of getting a home inspection. Legislation introduced in Connecticut has gone nowhere the past couple of years. Many legislators are also Realtors and are not backing legislation like [what] was passed in Massachusetts,” Poynton said.
For now, Massachusetts shows what’s possible when inspectors stand together for the future of the home inspection industry. If high demand, low inventory real estate housing market trends continue, more states may follow. Which states take up the mantle next, however, remains to be seen.
As demand returns and pressures ease, inspectors with expertise and value will be best positioned to thrive.
According to Accurate Home and Commercial Services in their blog post about the future of the home inspection industry, 26 percent of inspectors leave the field after just one or two years.
In many parts of the country, market slowdowns spurred less demand for home inspections. Many inspectors stayed in business by diversifying and offering more value. Many others, however, left due to rising business costs, retirement, or pressure from underpriced, underexperienced competitors. This means a shortage of experienced home inspectors.
If real estate housing markets rebound as anticipated, Accurate Home and Commercial Services anticipates this being an exciting opportunity for experienced, qualified home inspectors to build lucrative careers.
But with more opportunity comes more competition. It’s more important than ever that qualified inspectors improve the value they offer through education, networking, and service, without underpricing their services to stay competitive.
“I think the biggest challenge is getting commensurate compensation for our services. In fact, as an industry, I think we are grossly underpaid for the services we provide,” Pino said.
“The biggest challenge facing the home inspection profession is competence,” Johnson said. “Professional affiliation, constant education, and contracting with the best insurance providers that will protect the inspectors is the foundation for protecting our clients and ourselves.”
As investor Ray Dalio famously once said, “He who lives by the crystal ball will eat shattered glass.”
Don’t leave your inspection business to fate. From our state-specific pre-inspection agreements to our pre-claims assistance and new inspector discounts, InspectorPro has all the tools you need to face the future with confidence—no matter what the home inspection industry has in store.
Apply for a free, no-obligation quote to find out how InspectorPro can improve your insurance experience.
And thank you to all the home inspectors who interviewed or participated in our survey!
We received plenty of other predictions for the future of the home inspection industry that didn’t make it in this article. If we missed an idea you’re passionate about sharing with other inspectors, comment on our December 15, 2025 Facebook post to keep the conversation going!
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