Nope, nothing really. Last week I found it in many times in two open houses. It's
your standard Leviton switch; $1.59 for the ten-pack, contractors'
pricing probably a bit cheaper.
In the morning, I saw this switch being installed in a $1.4m modernist house under construction. No issues.
Then, same day an hour later, I encountered it and many of its siblings in another brand-new modern home for sale.
This time, the asking price was $6.9 million.
|
Alternative switch, nicer |
But – $1.59 switches in a $6.9m home? Visible screws and all?
If I was a prospective buyer in that price bracket, I'd blow a gasket. Upscale pricing should get more than an upscale location and more space, it should also demand better materials.
But sadly, I often observe stunts like that. And I can't help but wonder what kind of buyer will let a detail like this slide by. You don't have to be in the building trade to be a bit more discriminating.
Is the builder's margin really that poor that s/he has to resort to
this? Are luxury buyers really that indiscriminate that glitzy
appearance of a big house is worth more than substance in details?
Seems so. In my book, that gets filed under "pathetic".
What's your opinion?