Aaron,
I was also a General Contractor in a previous life, and was raised in a family of contractors (in Southern CA). I started working in the family business in the summer of 1964 when I got my drivers license. I've been an inspector since 1989 by the way. While my main career path took me in the direction of a "real job", I always was involved in the family business, and got my own GC license too.

I have been involved in many renovation projects, and several "flips" if you will, and I can honestly say that we NEVER tried to cover up something, or hide a known defect - or whitewash. Not all of them made the profit we had hoped, and I remember one or two that were on the verge of getting us in the red. We not only built regular homes in the SF Valley, but built many movie stars homes in the Hollywood Hills, as well as commercial buildings.

Not all of the flips I inspect in Knoxville are pieces of crap either. I guess you are right, we are coming from different experience pools.

I agree that a lot of the flippers, especially ones that got into it in the last few years, are more geared to the cover it with paint and caulk and move on and hope no one finds out before the check clears - but not everyone.

Richard is right, Wes has a ethical issue to deal with.
JF