My house seemed like it didn't need any work. And then we figured out that the previous owners had basically deferred all maintenance for the last 5 years. Every window in the house needs replacing (we've done about half), every sink needed some sort of work to get it working right, the humidifier wasn't functioning and had to be replaced, the basement floor is sinking, the guest bath appears to be leaking based on the stain on our living room ceiling, the yard was overgrown with weeds, etc. etc. And our house is relatively new, built in 1994. Not a lot seems to be breaking, but we are having to take care of all of the stuff that the previous owners should have done.