Niamh Shackleton
A home inspector's recent evaluation will make you question buying a new home.
Typically older homes are the ones that need some TLC, but TikToker and home inspector Andrew Matson has proven that even new properties can sometimes be poor quality.
Andrew documents many of his property evaluations on TikTok, where he boasts over 45,000 followers.
In a video posted in recent days, Andrew showed a $1.6 million home, and while the two-year-old property looked pretty impressive at first, it wasn't long until Andrew found a host of problems.
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Firstly there was a loose pipe at the front of the house, then Andrew spotted the window frames are already corroding.
Going on to inspect more windows, he found another one thats caulk was starting to deteriorate.
Moving to inside the property, Andrew further discovered that one of the patio doors wouldn't lock properly - not even the front door bell would work.
Long story short, the home wasn't in a good way and needed numerous repairs already - despite only being built in 2022.
Andrew's video has already garnered over 195,000 views in just 48 hours and dozens of people have shared their thoughts.
"This is definitely what happens when you have contractors who care more about making a quick buck over the quality of their homes," one person said.
While a second shared: "My mom was going to buy a brand new $650K house, she got a home inspector and he gave her a 170 page report of all the problems he found."
"Wow I’m no longer jealous of these homes when I pass by them in the area," wrote another.
Someone else branded the home as a 'joke' with its eye-watering $1.6 million price tag and all of its issues in mind.
"1.6 million? Quality and craftsmanship are gone nowadays," echoed someone else.
Sadly, new build homes declining in quality is nothing new in the US.
Some people have argued that its down to the lower quality materials builders are now using, as well as lower quality workmanship.
A 2014 New York Times op-ed penned by Henry Petroski read: "Newer homes have been clad outside in shingles that have deteriorated and inside with imported drywall, which, as it breaks down, releases fumes that sicken the occupants."
Henry continued: "Workmanship has declined in parallel. There continue to be expert craftsmen - carpenters, roofers, painters - who work with precision and pride, but they are increasingly being pushed out by cheaper labor with inferior skills."
What do you think?