Economics

100% agree with you; I have spent a lot of time working with new residential construction, the majority of it with home builders ranging in size from local to national.

This issue is pervasive with nearly every builder I’ve worked with, the one exception was a home builder of multimillion dollar homes in a wealthy area and even they cheaped out a bit and cut corners on their spec (not custom) homes. Just like with everything else involving the wealthy and legal matters, obv the builder will not risk the very powerful legal teams the homeowners have easy access to so they mostly stick very rigidly to high standards.

Some of the stuff I’ve seen, the corners I’ve seen cut, and the sheer volume of individuals in positions they have no skill or ability to be involved in, from design to labor to those working in city/county positions (permitting, etc) and everyone in between was astounding. There is always a push to produce faster, and quantity over quality reigns supreme. Most new builds are no better quality wise (esp finishes) than an apartment for rent and their floorplans are typically very similar to an apartment or townhome one would rent, not buy. In fact, I worked for a company that also built apartment buildings and there was zero difference in the interior selections (flooring, paint, trim, appliances, lighting and plumbing fixtures, etc). Only difference between these apartments and a single family home was the postage stamp plot your home was built on with a zero-lot line 15’ from your neighbor’s home. But it was yours, and for over half a million dollars in a bland, soulless and poorly landscaped neighborhood where every single home looks the same inside and out and you get to listen to your neighbors bitch about their own shitty home in your 20sq/ft backyards separated by a half wall and mostly occupied by an air conditioning pump.

Most builders will perform ‘warranty’ work for a year after the home was built, however it’s nearly always in house and subpar. And always a hassle because the builder will always try to push the responsibility on their suppliers and outsourced labor.

I have and will never buy a new build or previously owned home from a home builder, and would encourage anyone to do the same. In this case, as many others, they indeed do not make them like they used to, not by a long shot. Yeah I feel some kind of way about this and have a lot to say.