“Laughs In European”: $1.6 Million House Inspection Goes Viral

The saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” applies to different facets of life. A person who appears rough around the edges may actually be a sweetheart.

In the same way, an expensive, relatively new house with a luxurious facade may have interior defects that would turn off any potential buyer.

This is a reality that inspectors like Andrew Matson see regularly. His recent social media post shows the kind of home you can get for $1.6 million these days. Scroll down to find out.

Many expensive homes these days come with interior defects

Inspector examining a luxury home's exterior, holding blueprints, wearing a hard hat.

Image credits: Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Charlotte-based inspector Andrew Matson recently showed a $1.6 million fixer-upper house

Man outside a home, wearing a dark blue shirt, related to inspection of $1,600,000 house built two years ago.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“This home was built two years ago, 2022, $1.6 million. Let’s see what we’ve got going on”

$1,600,000 home exterior with white brick, two-story facade, columns, and windows, built 2 years ago.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Yep, this needs no explanation”

Downspout duct-taped to a brick wall on a $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago, illustrating poor construction condition.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Looks like our steel lintels are beginning to corrode. As it corrodes, it expands and that leads to brick cracking”

Close-up of window frame at $1,600,000 home showing rust on a two-year-old construction.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“I don’t know what’s going on there, that’s not good”

Damaged corner of a $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago, showing poor construction quality.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“And one of our bath exhaust vents is already disconnected”

Inspection reveals issues in a $1,600,000 home, built 2 years ago, showing a damaged vent on the ceiling.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Looks like the caulk on our windows has begun to deteriorate already”

Exterior corner of a two-year-old $1,600,000 home showing poor construction condition.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Caulk that side, caulk that side and then we got to the top and, well, our ladder didn’t go that high so we’re just going to stop”

Close-up view of poorly aligned window frames in a $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago, highlighting construction issues.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Damaged window screen, that’s nice”

Close-up of window with noticeable construction flaw in a two-year-old $1,600,000 home.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Always got to grab our railings make sure they’re nice and secure, but this one right here is not because the brick is moving”

$1,600,000 home with damaged brickwork, highlighting inspection issues.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Rear sliding door – the locks will not disengage, you can see this one’s bent and does not want to go back in its original path, something jacked up here”

Close-up of a door lock in a two-year-old $1,600,000 home, showing poor condition.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“No weather stripping on our exterior access door into this garage”

$1,600,000 home's poorly fitted door reveals construction issues, showcasing inspector's findings.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Our disposal is bound up, there’s something stuck inside there”

Garbage disposal unit under the sink, part of a $1,600,000 home's surprising condition.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“So that door runs into the air register, that’s nice”

White door in $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago showing flawed construction with misaligned placement over floor vent.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“This is just the icing on the cake, not even the doorbell works”

Close-up of a doorframe in a home built 2 years ago, highlighting inspection details in a $1,600,000 residence.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Don’t get me wrong the kitchen’s pretty, they even gave you a nice fake door into the pantry”

Modern kitchen with marble island in a $1,600,000 home, showcasing elegant pendant lights and stainless steel appliances.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

Inspector reveals issues in $1,600,000 home's cabinet with gold handle, highlighting unexpected condition surprises.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“Some gaps right there in the primary bathroom shower wall”

Flawed tile corner in a $1,600,000 home, revealing construction issues in a two-year-old house.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

“And what would this report be without some structural damage to our roof trusses”

Poor condition of insulation and beam in $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago, highlighting inspection findings.

Image credits: andrew.matson7

Here’s the full video he posted

@andrew.matson7 Let’s inspect this 1.6 million dollar home together! #homeinspection#realestate#realty#houses#construction#informative#educational#bluecollar#business#inspection#engineer#mansion♬ original sound – Andrew Matson

Image credits: AS Photography / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Shortcuts from contractors lead to interior defects in brand-new homes

The house Matson showed is just one of the many expensive homes with interior defects. It’s been happening in the US and the UK, causing concern among homeowners. 

Experts point to a rising demand for building materials, which has led to skyrocketing prices. Many contractors resort to substituting cheaper and lower-quality options as a compromise. 

“They’re less apt to correct the mistake by switching out the lumber or the product,” International Association of Certified Home Inspectors founder Nick Gromicko told Bankrate. “They’re more likely to patch.”

An inexperienced person may not easily spot a structural flaw in a home, but there are signs to look out for. According to Rockford Mutual Insurance Company, soil pulling away from the walls is one of them. It may mean that the foundation was incorrectly laid. 

Uneven gaps on doors and windows are another indicator that isn’t easy to spot. But if you notice your doors and windows aren’t opening and closing as smoothly, it may be a sign that they are buckling under the pressure of carrying the weight of the house.

Image credits: Cytonn Photography / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Filing a lawsuit isn’t the advisable immediate response when finding defects in a newly constructed home 

It is understandable to want to sue the builder for a poorly constructed home. However, it isn’t the advised immediate course of action. 

As engineer and author James Dulley points out in a column for The Florida Times-Union, going the legal route right away may lead to thousands of dollars spent without guaranteeing a courtroom victory. 

He advises listing all defects first and then studying local building codes in the area. Dulley says code violations are easily measured and quantified, making for a solid argument in court. 

When filing a lawsuit, Dulley suggests omitting subjective defects, or those that don’t violate codes. These include unstable drywall joints and poorly done paint jobs, which may not be an acceptable argument for a judge. 

Dulley recommends waiting it out before taking action, as the process takes a long time. 

“Generally though, six months should be adequate time for the builder to get around to your complaints,” he wrote. 

If anything, Matson’s video may serve as a precaution when considering purchasing a new home. It would be wise to scrutinize everything first or hire a professional with a trained eye to take a look.

As expected, commenters weren’t pleased with what they saw

Comment questioning damage on $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago, with shocked emoji and engagement metrics.

Comment criticizes the condition of a $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago, expressing concern over construction quality.

Comment on home condition post, expressing disbelief at home quality.

Comment discussing a $650K house inspection with a 170-page report on problems.

Comment on a viral post about a $1,600,000 home's condition, questioning poor maintenance.

Comment reading "Anything over 200k is a joke" related to a $1,600,000 home’s condition.

Comment on new construction quality, comparing $1,600,000 home to garage. User criticizes modern homes as uniform.

Comment about $1,600,000 home's condition expressing frustration over contractor's negligence.

Comment with the phrase "Laughs In European," showing user engagement and reactions.

A viewer commenting on the poor condition of a $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago with laughing emojis.

Comment expressing doubt about $1,600,000 luxury home condition, saying "New 'luxury' builds are always sus.

SebastianKlingk comments on house quality, receives 16 likes and 1 dislike.

Comment on $1,600,000 home's condition: "Built in 2 hours on a Friday" with a cat profile picture and cowboy emoji.

Comment questioning quality of a $1,600,000 newly built home.

Comment criticizing the condition and value of a $1,600,000 home built 2 years ago.

Comment on a post about a $1,600,000 home’s condition, mentioning cheaper homes in Europe.

Comment on high-cost home's condition, questioning sliding door choice.

Comment expressing surprise about the condition of a $1,600,000 home.

Comment on social media about a $1,600,000 home says, “I’ll stay in my 1928 bungalow thanks” with a smiley face.

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