if there are gaps that are large enough to see that it would tell me all i need to know about the builder that built the home. 

Wow that must be embarrassing for the builder.

Finding good contractors has always been difficult, its the hardest part of this business, and with new home builders working again they are sucking up a lot of the quality people and driving up prices.

To the OP, I would also check where local builders get their material then get 3-5 quotes (not estimates) from HD Supply, Lowe's QSP, and local contractor warehouses. 

Now, if you're in a neighborhood where one builder built 1500 homes in 2005 and all of them are 1600sf, you may be ok since everything is the same.... but that's generally not the case.The $/sf model is a lazy one and requires minimal research and unstable results.

Perfect source is if you're a current Residential builder, Supt or PM for a builder who wants to get into investing in rental units.I can trade tips / guidance on residential rental income and/or investing in real estate with a self directed IRA. 

We have loved doing the rehab and project over time will be a huge equity builder for our family.

Homes in both subdivisions were built by different but similar quality builders.

Many of them learned through programs like Rich Dad's, Fortune Builders, and Note School.

Her honest 15-20 a year sounds bad next to the agent claiming 5 a month, but most of the time her honest 15-20 a year is real and that 5 a month is more like 5 a year.IRL if an agent sells 10+ homes a month, and isn't a builder's in-house agent, you will know because they will be one of the "Big Names" in the market.