There is something about the words “brand new” that makes people relax. No previous owners, no old problems, no surprises. A builder hands over the keys, and the house is supposed to be perfect. Then somebody who looks at houses for a living walks through the door, and the picture changes fast.
An Instagram reel from @rosshomeinspection opens with a simple line: 2026 new build, let’s check it out. What follows is a short tour of the problems waiting inside. The post is tagged with a line that sums up the mood: the builder said “trust me bro.”
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A Walk Through The Problems
The first comment is a dry one about a handrail. “Gotta love this handrail until it isn’t,” the inspector says, which tells you the handrail is not quite what it should be.
Then comes the doors. All the interior doors upstairs, so far, are already sticking. For a house built in 2026, that is not what a buyer pictures when they imagine a fresh start. A door that sticks is a daily annoyance, and it is the kind of thing you notice every single time you walk down the hall.
Next, the inspector points out ants, and adds the word “more,” as in more ants. Nobody wants to move into a new house and share it with an ant colony.
The bathroom is where the reel gets almost funny. The inspector says the bathroom door cannot even be shut: “literally no privacy.” Then there is the shower base. Without a curtain, the inspector says, the water is just going to go everywhere. The last comment is aimed at the builder’s workmanship: the inspector thinks they could have done a better job with the baffles.
New Does Not Mean Finished
It is easy to believe that a new house has been checked by somebody already. Builders have their own people, and local authorities may sign off on parts of the work along the way. But a sign off is not the same as a careful look at every door, shower and handrail through the eyes of a buyer. The reel is a reminder that a home can be brand new and still have a long list of things that need to be fixed.
That is exactly why many buyers hire their own inspector even for a new build. The person you hire works for you, not the builder. Their job is to find the issues while the builder is still around to fix them, and before you have moved your furniture in.
What To Do If You Are Buying New
- Hire your own inspector. Do not assume a new house is a perfect house. An independent inspector works for you.
- Test every door. Open and close each one, including closets and bathrooms. Doors that stick or will not shut are easy to spot when you go looking for them.
- Run the water. Turn on every shower and tub, and look at how the water behaves. A shower where the water goes everywhere is a design or build issue worth raising.
- Look for pests. Ants inside a brand new house are a sign to ask questions. Check corners, windows and baseboards.
- Check the railings. A handrail is a safety feature. Give it a firm push and see how it feels.
- Make a written list. Take photos, write down every item and send it to the builder so there is a record.
- Ask about the warranty. Find out what the builder covers and for how long, and get the details in writing.
Do Not Rely On A Promise
The reel’s tagline, “trust me bro,” is a joke, but it points at a real problem. A friendly promise from a builder is not a replacement for a finished house or a signed agreement. If the builder says something will be fixed, ask for it in writing and ask for a date. If the builder says the house is perfect, ask for the chance to have it inspected first.
The trick is to find the problems before closing, when you have the most leverage, and to keep a record of everything you report. Be polite, be organized and be specific. A short written list with photos is much harder to ignore than a phone call you made on your lunch break.
Why The Small Things Matter
None of the problems in the reel is a collapsed roof or a cracked foundation. A sticking door, a few ants and a shower base that sprays water around are the kind of things a builder can usually fix. But small problems add up, and they tell you something about how carefully the house was put together. When an inspector finds several issues in one short walk, a smart buyer takes that as a sign to look even closer.
It also helps to know that the small stuff is easiest to get fixed before you move in. Once the furniture is in place and the boxes are unpacked, a repair becomes a hassle for everybody. Before closing, it is just an item on a list.
The Takeaway
A 2026 new build with sticking doors, ants and a bathroom door that will not shut is not a dream home yet. It is a work in progress. If you are shopping for a new house, take a lesson from this reel: bring a professional, check the small stuff and never let anyone rush you past the details.
You can see the full walk through on @rosshomeinspection.
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