When a house costs ten million dollars, most of us assume every detail has been checked, polished and checked again. Home inspector @homeinspection03 says that assumption does not always hold up. In a quick tour of a new luxury build, he finds a string of problems that would make anyone pause.
His caption asks the question directly: would you trust this house after seeing what is behind the walls?
@homeinspection03
A front door that works backward
The tour starts at the front door. He tells us it is locked and that he is going to unlock it. Turning the key one way does nothing. He spins it the other way, and that works. His question is a good one: why does left lock and right unlock? Most of us are used to the opposite, and a lock that works backward is the kind of small detail that tells you someone did not test the hardware. It is annoying more than dangerous, but on a house of this price, you would expect the doors to work smoothly.
A beautiful oven with gouges
Inside, he notes the oven looks beautiful, and then points out that it has been cut into. He says those are actual gouges. Damage like that can happen when appliances are moved into place during construction without protection, and it is the sort of thing that should be caught before the owner arrives. A scratched or gouged finish may be a cosmetic issue, but it can also mean the appliance was mishandled, and a buyer may want it replaced.
Good tile, missed corners
He gives credit where it is due. The bathroom is nicely tiled, and he says the crew did a really good job with the tile. But the drywall worker missed a corner, leaving an area unfinished. It is a reminder that high-end materials do not guarantee careful workmanship across every trade. One crew can do beautiful work while the next one cuts a corner, literally.
No way into the attic
One of his more serious comments comes next. He says there is no access to the attic or the rakes, which are the sloped edges of the roof. He asks how he is supposed to get in there, and wonders aloud what they are hiding. Inspectors need to see attic spaces to check insulation, framing, ventilation and signs of leaks. If a space cannot be reached, it cannot be inspected, and the buyer is left to guess what is up there.
A heat pump in an odd spot
He then comments, in a sarcastic way, on the placement of the heat pump unit. He jokes that even Picasso could not have come up with a better place to put it. The outdoor unit needs space around it for airflow and service, and it is best placed where it can be reached for maintenance. An awkward location can make repairs difficult and expensive. The tour ends with another question that seems to have no answer: where are the steps?
He sums up his view with the line that this is another new house and another set of problems.
Why price tag does not equal quality
It is easy to believe that the more a home costs, the better it must be built. But the price of a house reflects the land, the location, the design and the finishes. It does not always reflect how well the work was supervised. Large custom homes involve many subcontractors, tight deadlines and complicated details, which can make mistakes more likely.
That is why an independent inspection matters no matter how big the number on the contract is. A professional who is not tied to the builder can look at the details without pressure and give you a list of items to correct.
A checklist you can use at any walkthrough
You do not have to be an inspector to spot some of these issues. Whether you are touring a mansion or a modest starter home, there are simple things to check:
- Test every exterior and interior door and lock, using the key more than once.
- Run the appliances and look closely at the finishes for scratches, dents and gouges.
- Look into the corners of rooms, along the ceilings and behind doors for unfinished drywall, paint or trim.
- Ask where the attic access is, and make sure it can be reached and is large enough to enter.
- Walk around the outside to see where the heating and cooling equipment sits and whether there is room to service it.
- Check that stairs, railings and steps are complete and safe to use.
Luxury homes often include custom features, such as specialty locks, high-end appliances and complex mechanical systems, so the list of things to test is longer than in a typical home. Taking your time with each one, and asking the builder to explain anything unfamiliar, is part of getting what you paid for.
What to do when you find problems
Write everything down and take photos. Send the list to the builder or seller in writing and ask for a timeline. If the problem involves access, such as the missing attic hatch, request that the work be done before closing so your inspector can see the space. For bigger issues, ask for a follow-up inspection to confirm the repair.
Remember that a few cosmetic problems are normal in new homes, and most can be fixed. What matters is how the builder responds. A company that takes your list seriously and corrects the work promptly is a good sign. A company that brushes off your concerns may be worth thinking twice about.
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