Pay at Close lets home buyers defer their inspection payment until closing, while the inspector gets paid within 1–2 business days of publishing the report. Spectora takes on the collection risk and coordinates with the title company, escrow officer, or closing attorney, so the inspector never waits on closing day to get paid.
In our October 2026 webinar, Spectora product marketing manager Olivia, Pay at Close program lead Anne, and payments product manager John walked through how Pay at Close works, the new option to set your own Pay at Close fee, and how to turn it on. This post recaps the highlights and answers the most common questions from attendees.
Watch the full webinar recording →
Buying a home is the largest purchase most people will ever make, and the costs land all at once. In the weeks before closing, a buyer may be covering:
Many buyers are surprised to learn the inspection usually can't be rolled into closing costs. That means another charge on a credit card or more cash up front. When money is that tight, some buyers skip the inspection entirely, which is bad for them and bad for your business.
Pay at Close removes the upfront-cash objection. The buyer still gets a full inspection, and you still get paid fast.
Buyers choose Pay at Close at checkout in four steps:
Pay at Close also works alongside Spectora's multi-party payments.
Inspectors can now add an optional Pay at Close fee of up to $100 to any Pay at Close invoice. It was the most requested change from inspectors, and the most common reason companies held off on offering Pay at Close.
There are two separate charges, and they're easy to mix up:
Example: on a $500 inspection with a $75 Pay at Close fee, the client's invoice totals $575. Your payout is $575 minus the $50 service charge.
A few things to know:
Inspection companies using Pay at Close see a higher ancillary service attach rate and a higher average ticket. In a recent Spectora survey, 78% of homeowners said they would likely use Pay at Close if it were offered.
Ditanyan Sye, owner of DS Home Inspection Services, has offered Pay at Close for about a year. His packages run up to $2,000, a big charge for buyers trying to protect their cash flow.
He sets a minimum of roughly $800–$900 to qualify. Buyers under that threshold often add services to reach it, which raises his ticket. He also promotes Pay at Close on his website as a selling point.
"Once the inspection is published, I get paid my money, even if they don't go to closing on that property for whatever reason… I still get my money and keep moving on to the next deal. It's no risk to me." — Ditanyan Sye, DS Home Inspection Services
Pay at Close is available to US-based Spectora companies on Spectora Payments. You don't need an advanced plan.
On the client side, Pay at Close shows up as the first payment option at checkout.
Don't see the option? You may be outside the US, not yet on Spectora Payments, or need an eligibility review. Write in through the chat bubble and the team will help.
Need to cancel Pay at Close on a specific job? Email payatclose@spectora.com or use the chat bubble before you publish the report.
About two days after you turn on Pay at Close, you'll get an email with a link to your Pay at Close marketing kit. It includes:
Yes. With Spectora Pay at Close, the buyer defers the inspection payment to closing, and the title company or closing attorney pays Spectora from closing funds. The inspector is paid 1–2 business days after publishing the report.
Spectora charges a $50 service charge per Pay at Close inspection, deducted from your payout.
The $100 is the most you can add to the client's invoice. The $50 service charge isn't added to the invoice; it comes out of your payout.
You still get paid. Spectora charges the backup card the buyer added at checkout and works with the buyer directly on any cancellations or closing-date changes.
1–2 business days after you publish the report with Publish All. The dollar icon on the inspection turns green once you're paid.
No. Spectora is not a lender and there is no credit check. The buyer signs an agreement to pay at closing.
A card is required for every Pay at Close transaction, but it can be a credit or debit card. It's only charged if payment can't be collected at closing. This backup-card requirement is standard for pay-at-close programs.
Spectora does. The buyer provides their title, escrow, or closing attorney contact at checkout, and Spectora handles the rest. If the title company won't collect, Spectora works with the buyer directly at no extra cost to them, and your payout isn't affected.
No. Client information isn't shared with outside parties. It stays between Spectora, the client, and their closing company.
Yes. You can disable it on specific services or set a minimum booking total (when the Pay at Close fee is off). Most inspection companies offer it on all residential inspections and let buyers choose.
It comes out of the company's share. The inspector's percentage is calculated on the full inspection price.
You set and charge the fee, and it isn't a processing fee or card surcharge. State rules vary, so check with your own legal counsel; Spectora can't provide legal guidance.
US-based Spectora companies using Spectora Payments, subject to light eligibility requirements.
Pay at Close gives buyers a way to get the full inspection they need without more cash up front, and you get paid in 1–2 business days with no collection risk. With the new fee option, you can cover the service charge yourself or turn it into a small revenue stream.
Turn on Pay at Close today: Settings → Payments → Pay at Close → Enable. Questions? Email payatclose@spectora.com or reach out through the chat bubble.