I have had previous properties that were "remodels" meaning different
builders added-on or structurally modified buildings. Sometimes these
things can turn out as good or better than a regular house....but lots
of times it is just some ham-fisted idiot. The usual way a regular
house gets built is that a proffesional builder starts from scratch and
builds according to plan. The odds of getting a lemon house are
greater with a remodel of an old structur (old basements get more prone
to leaking as they age....who knows if the plumbing was redone 15 years
can make a difference in plumbing systems (they develope slow leaks
over time). Houses are like people, and there is a difference between
the overall condition of a 30 yr old to a 45 yr old. At the time I
made my purchase, my inspector should have given me the chance to
decide if I wanted to purchase a house that not only is older than what
I've been told, but also the product of some major remodel/additons
(peiced together by an unknown) The signs were obvious, and he screwed
up by not noticing.

Secondly, I'm not complaining that part of the house is built on a
slab, but rather the house contains a 300 cubic foot unventilated and
innaccesable void (that has a slab for the floor.) Cement absorbs
water and could cause this void to be moist (I have no way of seeing
whats going on down there) Also there are plumbing lines and drains
down there...if there is ever a problem I'd have to rip out my hardwood
floors to access them.