Home inspector Bryan Standley has become TikTok-famous for roastingflipped houses .- In his videos, Standley highlights ways that house flippers can slip up and cut corners.
- Future buyers should look out for three red flags before purchasing a
flipped home , Standley told Insider.
Home inspector Bryan Standley, 35, has become a TikTok sensation after exposing the different ways that house flippers can cut corners to save time and money.
Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Standley has inspected thousands of homes over the course of his career, reviewing everything from roofs to electrical sytems. Inspired by a friend, he joined TikTok in January 2020 to share his tips and experiences. He now has over 23,000 followers, and his videos have been liked more than 550,000 times at the time of writing.
While many things can go wrong in a home, Standley told Insider that there are three main red flags he looks out for:
1. A house is being shown, but isn't finished
If a house is being shown, but there are ongoing repairs, that's a sign that a house flipper may be cutting corners, Standley told Insider.
In a video captioned "plz tag house flippers," Standley shares footage of water-damaged wood covered up by wood putty. The putty was used to seal gaps in the wood, but was ineffective in holding everything together.
"I know it's hard to flip houses, but you can't put wood putty all over everything," Standley says in the video.
@bryanstandley #stitch with @brandontheinspector plz tag house flippers
♬ original sound - Bryan Standley
"Making repairs and upgrades the right way is important," Standley told Insider.
In a video duet of a ceiling collapsing during a storm, he illustrates why:
@bryanstandley #duet with @d_ray_of_sunshine New follower here, keep us updated.
♬ original sound - D_Ray_ArmyVet
2. There are no receipts for work done on the house
When licensed and qualified tradespeople work on a home, they usually provide a receipt for the work performed, Standley said.
"Being a house flipper does not automatically make a person qualified to perform every type of work a home needs," he said. "Be sure that any work done by the flipper or their in-house crew was within their wheelhouse and they used professionals when necessary."
Standley says one of the most common problems he encounters on the job is improperly installed items, like dishwashers that are incorrectly connected to garbage disposals, causing drainage and flooding issues.
In one video, Standley said issues like these are so prevalent that he carries towels with him during his inspections.
@bryanstandley Reply to @myemail36 stuff leaks. I also carry towels. #homeinspector #homeinspection #kcrealestate #kansascity #inspectkc
♬ original sound - Bryan Standley
3. Paint is on everything
Standley said he has seen paint on every surface imaginable: floors, countertops, roof shingles, electric outlets - "even the dust on the air registers."
"Nothing freshens up a room like a good coat of paint, but when you see paint on actual dirt, you can be sure proper care was not taken," he added.
According to the home inspector, paint can be a sign of a cover-up. "I have seen foundation cracks covered, even whole portions of the basement blocked off," he said.
"Fresh paint smell on
In one video, Standley shares his experience walking into a basement that's coated in a thick layer of paint. He pairs the video with a music clip that repeats the phrase "don't be suspicious":
@bryanstandley Flippers gonna flip #homeinspector #kansascity #realestate #kcrealestate #inspectkc #kc #homeinspection #houseflip #houseflipper
♬ Don't Be Suspicious - Parody Mix - Pojammer
While Standley enjoys sharing tips with that can help future home buyers identify faults in a house, his main recommendation is to hire a qualified home inspector.
To see more of Standley's videos, follow him on TikTok at @bryanstandley. You can learn more about his home-inspection business on his company website, Inspect KC.
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