Swiss Cheese Market Series: Why Home Inspections Are Back in 2025

I’ve started calling 2025 the Swiss cheese market. Why? Because overall, things have slowed and balanced — but there are still “holes” where certain neighborhoods or pristine homes command multiple offers and move fast. 

And here’s the biggest shift I’ve seen this year: home inspections are back. In many of my 2025 transactions, buyers have asked for repairs or credits — and more often than not, sellers are finding they need to accept. 

Inspections are once again serving their real purpose: 

✅ Identifying costly defects 

✅ Flagging safety issues 

✅ Calling out major deferred maintenance 

But here’s the truth: an inspection isn’t a chance to “upgrade” things you don’t like. You knew about that crack in the driveway or the old roof when you wrote the offer — the inspection is about making sure those things aren’t actively failing. 

Most Common Repair Requests in 2025 

Water management — roof leaks, grading, clogged gutters 

⚡ Electrical safety — ungrounded outlets, loose fixtures, outdated wiring 

Deck repairs — boards, rails, structural wear 

Plumbing leaks — sinks, toilets, fixtures that won’t quit running 

Chimney upkeep — missing mortar, water intrusion, flashing issues 

Windows — broken seals, panes that don’t open or close properly 

For sellers: don’t just stage for photos. Stage for inspection. 

For buyers: winning the offer is step one — winning the condition is step two. 

This is the first post in my Swiss Cheese Market Series, where I’ll be sharing what 2025 inspections are teaching us — from the most common issues to the overlooked fixes that make or break a deal. 

- Everything I share in this series comes directly from what I’m seeing on the ground in my own transactions this year 

- About Me:  

I’m Gaylie Corens, a Certified Real Estate Planner and Top Producer with the FASS Results Group | eXp Realty. Recognized as a 2025 Top Producer in Northern Virginia, I specialize in helping clients make smart, strategic moves — from first-time buyers, to families moving up, to seniors planning their next chapter. 

I take a consultative approach: educating, planning, and negotiating so my clients feel confident at every step.