- 100% agree, it’s not just about the age of the house. I see “new” homes with issues that make them feel decades older—usually comes down to rushed work or lack of oversight.
- Builders cutting corners is a big one. Sometimes it’s insulation, sometimes it’s flashing around windows, or even basic stuff like caulking. I’ve seen brand new houses with gaps you could stick a finger through.
- Site management makes a huge difference. If the supervisor’s not on top of things, you get weird inconsistencies—like one room done right, next one a total mess. It’s almost like they swapped crews halfway through lunch.
- The “energy efficient” label doesn’t always mean much in practice. I’ve inspected plenty of newer builds where the air sealing is so sloppy, you can feel drafts everywhere. Meanwhile, some 70s or 80s homes are tight as a drum because someone actually cared.
- Sometimes it’s not even shortcuts, just plain old mistakes that never got caught. I once found a vent fan ducted straight into an attic—brand new build, too. No one checked.
- When I call out a house for feeling “older” than it is, it’s usually because of stuff like: uneven floors, cheap fixtures already failing, or water stains from leaks that shouldn’t happen in a five-year-old place.
- Not every old house is a gem either. Some are just as bad or worse, but at least you expect it. With new builds, people get blindsided.
- Honestly, luck plays a part. You might get the A-team or you might get the Friday afternoon crew who just want to go home.
Bottom line: attention to detail matters way more than the year on the permit. If you’re buying, don’t assume “new” means “better”—look at the little things and ask questions about who actually did the work.
Had to laugh at the “Friday afternoon crew” bit—feels way too real. When we bought our place, it was only three years old but already had a leaky window and a bathroom fan venting straight into the attic. Inspector said it “felt tired.” Honestly, I expected more from a newer build, but you’re right: it’s all about who actually did the work and whether anyone bothered to double-check. I’d take a well-kept 80s house over a slapdash new one any day.
That “Friday afternoon crew” thing hits home. I’ve seen roofs on brand new houses where the shingles were already curling or the flashing was just slapped on—no attention to detail at all. Meanwhile, I’ve worked on 70s places where everything’s still tight and square. It’s wild how much depends on who actually showed up to do the job, not just the age of the place. Sometimes newer isn’t better, just faster... and not in a good way.
I swear my house was built in 2015 but the inspector looked at the roof and said, “Early 90s?” Not exactly what you wanna hear when you just signed the papers. Is it just me or do some new builds age in dog years?
Is it just me or do some new builds age in dog years?
- Not just you. I bought a “new” place in 2017 and the inspector guessed the roof was at least 20 years old. Turns out, builder used budget shingles—looked fine for a couple years, then started curling and losing granules fast.
- Some builders cut corners on materials, especially if the roof isn’t a big selling point. Cheaper shingles might only last 8-10 years, even if the warranty says 20+.
- Climate’s a factor too. I’m in the Midwest—hail, wild temp swings, and humidity seem to speed up the aging process. My neighbor’s house (same age as mine) already had to patch after a windstorm last spring.
- Roof pitch matters. Flatter roofs seem to take more abuse from sun and rain pooling. Steeper ones shed water better, but still, material quality is huge.
- One thing I learned: just because a house is “new” doesn’t mean every component is. Sometimes builders use leftover stock or whatever’s cheapest at the time. My gutters were literally stamped 2010, even though the house was finished in 2016.
- If you’re worried about lifespan, check if there’s any transferable warranty on the shingles. Sometimes you can get a prorated deal if they fail early.
- Not saying all new builds are like this, but yeah, some definitely seem to hit middle age before they’re out of diapers.
Honestly, I’d rather have an older house with a newer roof than the other way around... but I guess that’s not how the dice rolled for me either.
