Home inspector Bryan Standley has become TikTok-famous for roastingflipped houses .- In his videos, Standley highlights ways that house flippers slip up and cut corners.
- A lack of receipts for renovations is often a sign of hidden problems, Standley told Insider.
Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Standley has inspected thousands of homes over the course of his career, reviewing everything from roofs to electrical systems.
Inspired by a friend, the 35-year-old inspector joined TikTok in January 2020 to share his tips and experiences. He now has over 28,000 followers, and his videos have been liked more than 585,000 times at the time of writing.
While many things can go wrong in a home, Standley told Insider that there is one main red flag he looks out for in a recently flipped house: a lack of any receipts or documentation for completed renovations.
"Homes have several complex systems, and very few people can master all of them," he told Insider.
When licensed and qualified tradespeople work on a home, they usually provide a receipt for the work performed, Standley said.
"You should expect that the flipper has done several of the aspects in-house, but if they can't provide receipts from any specialty trades like plumbers, electricians, or HVAC pros, this might mean they went beyond their expertise," he told Insider.
Installation slip-ups Standley has encountered include improperly-sized air conditioners, open electrical splices hidden in your attics, and gurgling drain pipes.
In one video, Standley explains how dishwasher drainage issues 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
"At best the warranty is voided, and at worst this can create a real safety issue," he told Insider of improperly installed appliances and systems.
The worst case of a house flipper going beyond their expertise that Standley can remember is when a flipper decided to restrain a leaning basement wall.
"The system they installed relies on the opposing basement wall to prevent any more leaning," he said. "The problem here was that the back of the house was a walk-out, so they unwittingly installed a 'fix' that was actually pushing the house over. Just two months after the restraints were installed, I documented newly formed cracks and a basement walk-out wall that was being pushed out."
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.