I think that most people who are not in the trade or who haven’t bought a couple of houses can’t tell the difference.
Everytime I look at an American SUV, I stare at the huge gaps between the body panels and the chunkiy look of the parts on the dashboard. Same thing for houses. Aside from the unseen part of the house, such as plumbing and insulation, fit and finish is all important. If you see a lot of caulking in between gaps, then you know the finish is lousy. Builders generally have a “good enough” mentality and caulking is their best friend.
Most of the time, crown moulding and “designer” paint make a house look uglier that it would otherwise be.
I agree with bugs on ceiling heights vs. vaulted ceilings.
It takes a discerning eye to see quality. If you can tell a person’s upbringing by the way she holds her fork and her table manners, then you most likely can tell the quality of a house.
