You know the old saying, "You get what you pay for."
So you might think that paying almost half of a million dollars would get you a fantastic product, but according to home inspector and TikToker "Inspector Randle," that isn't true of newly-built homes.
Randle's primary line of inspection involves new constructions in suburbs and new housing divisions, and discovering offensive home-building violations has become such an issue for him that he's started sharing his findings on his TikTok channel.
In one of his recent videos, Inspector Randle cited numerous violations, despite the home carrying a price tag of $420,000. To make matters worse, the violations weren't even minor offenses, but some very serious ones.
The first two issues with the home involved the structure and the roof.
"Every single new-build, every single one I do [inspect], they can never get the rafters connected to the ridge."
This can cause incredible issues with the home's stability, which will impact its longevity, its ability to withstand storms, and even the homeowner's ability to perform renovations in the future.
The second issue involved the home's lack of "counter flashing," which is what would prevent the roof from leaking, without which would lead to serious water damage and other needed repairs.
Out in the garage, the inspector found a major issue with the electric shock protection.
"[I'm] in the garage, and [there's] no GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupters) Protection, even though it says it's protected."
He discovered this while testing one of the garage's outlets, the test showing a surge. GFCI Protection is used in the event of a ground fault and can prevent electrical shocks.
There were also other issues around the home, including the shower tiling not being sealed properly, a leaky shower head, and a door that was supposed to have a self-closing hinge but which had been installed with standard hinges.
You can watch the video here:
Fellow TikTokers were appalled by the violations, despite the home's price tag.
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
Other TikTokers agreed with Inspector Randle and confirmed that this was the current state of new-build homes.
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
@inspector_randle/TikTok
In another video, Inspector Randle shared an even more expensive home, this one priced at $560,000, and it carried similarly problematic issues, including the house sitting off of its foundation block and a front door that was not properly attached to its swinging hinges, leaving nails to greet newcomers at the door.
It's clear that violations in newly-built homes are becoming a feature of sorts, and with the increasing cost of materials and higher and higher builder shortages, it doesn't seem to be an issue that will be resolved any time soon.
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter