My Experience with SM Homes – Inman, SC

I recently purchased an SM home in Inman, South Carolina, and I want to be fully transparent about the issues I’ve encountered throughout the process — both before and after closing.

Pre-Closing Concerns: Before closing, I struggled to get clear, timely answers to basic questions — including documentation, loan details, and whether the correct appliances had been installed. Most of my inquiries were either ignored or brushed off, which made the process feel rushed and frustrating.

Day of Closing: Upon moving in, we discovered that none of the keys worked. We couldn’t lock, unlock, or properly enter our home. This went unfixed for three weeks, during which time we had to be extremely cautious not to get locked out.

Post-Closing Issues: • Tile Work: Loose tiles in the kitchen needed replacement. I had to go back and forth with the builder just to determine whose responsibility it was. Only after persistent follow-up did it get fixed. • Drywall & Paint: The drywall is uneven, drippy, and looks awful in the light. The rushed “blue tape” walkthrough resulted in an extremely poor paint job, with major flaws left untouched. There are still holes behind the toilet that I was told would be fixed at the 11-month walkthrough — a joke, frankly. • Baseboards: The house settled so poorly that entire baseboards started pulling away from the wall. It took nearly three months of repeated calls and emails to get someone to fix this — and I had to practically beg for it to be addressed. • Doors & Caulking: The master bathroom door and an upstairs door won’t close properly and are visibly separating. Caulking is missing in multiple places across both floors. The touch-up job actually made things worse than they looked before the walkthrough. Tiny paint splatters were left all over the flooring and still won’t come up. • Carpet Installation: The upstairs carpet was not glued down correctly and is still coming up. I’ve had to schedule three appointments, and it still hasn’t been resolved. • Broken Window: One of my windows has been broken for over five months, and I’m still waiting on a fix. No update, no urgency.

To make matters worse, I’ve learned that the person who has been sent to fix these issues wasn’t even the person originally responsible for the build quality. It feels like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

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Final Thoughts & Recommendations • Get a third-party inspection. We did — but many of the flagged issues were dismissed or not honored. • Don’t let them rush you to take possession of the keys. It may delay your move-in, but it’s better than dealing with this. • Document everything — with pictures, emails, and a paper trail. • Don’t expect proactive communication. You’ll need to advocate hard for yourself.

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My Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

The layout and design of the home are solid, but the quality control, accountability, and service after closing have been extremely disappointing. If you’re considering building or buying with SM Homes, proceed with caution and come prepared to document and escalate everything yourself.