Not every home inspection is a list of problems. Sometimes an inspector walks into a house and comes away impressed. The team behind @constructioncheckhq shared a tour of a $10 million luxury property that, as their caption puts it, had one of the best inspections they have seen. The inspector then pointed out his favorite features, and they are not the ones you would find in a typical real estate listing.
The post has drawn more than 1.5 million plays. Whether or not you will ever shop for a home in this price range, the details are fun to look at and some of them are ideas you can borrow.
@constructioncheckhq
The Features He Singled Out
The inspector says these are his favorite things about the home, and he starts in the kitchen. There are a couple of small ports in the floor that connect to a central vacuum. Instead of reaching for a dustpan, you simply sweep the dirt toward the port, tap it on with your foot, and the system pulls it away. Then you tap it off again. It is a simple idea, and it is easy to see why it stands out.
He also shows off a closet carousel. The idea is that all of the clothes hang on a rotating rack, and you can turn it back and forth until you find what you want to wear. Think of the rotating rack at a dry cleaner, but built into the home. All the closets in the house also have fabric draped down from the ceilings, which gives them a soft, boutique look.
Next come the floors. All of the tile floors in the house are heated, including those in all 10 bathrooms. Each bathroom has its own thermostat, and each can be set on its own schedule. By the time someone wakes up, he says, the floor is already nice and warm. Anyone who has stepped onto a cold bathroom floor in January will understand the appeal.
In the dining room, he points out a button under the table. A diner can press it with a foot, and it rings a bell in the kitchen to let the butler know it is time to bring out the next course or more wine. He says he thought this was pretty unique, and few would disagree.
Finally, there is a large private balcony off the primary suite. It gives an overlook of the entire back landscape, a view he describes as beautiful.
What “Well Built” Really Means
You might notice that none of the highlights listed above are about the structure. The caption mentions an excellent inspection, but the clip itself focuses on features. That is a reminder that a home inspection and a home tour are two different things. An inspector looks at whether the roof, foundation, wiring, plumbing and heating systems work safely and as intended. Lovely features are a bonus, but the basics come first.
Large luxury homes also bring their own inspection challenges. More square footage means more windows, more plumbing fixtures, more circuits and more mechanical equipment, and heated floors, central vacuums and similar systems each add parts that need to be tested. Because of that, inspectors who work on big homes often spend many hours on site, and a careful report on a house this size can run long. A clean result is therefore a real accomplishment for the builder.
In general, inspectors tend to praise a home when they see:
- Clean, consistent workmanship. Straight lines, tight joints and finishes that match from room to room.
- Proper water management. Good drainage, sealed windows, flashing in the right places and no stains on ceilings.
- Safe electrical work. Outlets and breakers that test properly and panels that are neatly labeled.
- Working mechanical systems. Heating, cooling and ventilation that run quietly and evenly.
- Sensible access. Attics, crawl spaces and equipment rooms that can be reached and serviced.
Luxury Ideas You Can Borrow
You do not need a $10 million budget to take inspiration from this house. Here are a few features that can be scaled down.
- Heated floors. Electric mats can be installed under tile in a single bathroom. They are one of the most popular upgrades in a bathroom remodel, and a programmable thermostat lets you set a schedule like the ones in the tour.
- Central vacuum inlets. Some newer homes offer this, and retrofits are possible in some houses. Kitchen toe-kick vacuums are a smaller version of the same idea and can be added to an existing cabinet.
- Better closet design. Even in a small closet, double hanging rods, pull-out racks and good lighting help you see everything you own.
- Fabric and softer finishes. Draped fabric is a luxury touch, but a curtain over an open closet is an easy and affordable way to get a similar effect.
- A balcony or porch with a view. Even a small seating spot with a plant or two can become your favorite place in the house.
The Takeaway
It is refreshing to see an inspection that celebrates what a builder got right. The best-built homes are not defined only by price. They are defined by care, from the quality of the framing to the thoughtfulness of small details like a warm bathroom floor. Whether you are touring a mansion or an open house down the street, look for signs that someone took time to do the work well. Those signs are usually easy to spot once you know where to look.
Leave a Reply