Advice for Home Buyers Seeking a Solid Foundation

Construction defect lawyers suggest that would-be home buyers heed the following advice before making what is the largest investment most people ever make:

* Avoid homes built amid housing booms. Supervision is probably more lax than it should be and demand for labor so high that unskilled workmen enter the market. If boom conditions cannot be avoided, lawyers suggest that consumers buy model homes, which housing inspectors are more likely to have actually inspected.

* Know your builder. Ask about lawsuits brought against the company’s work. Defects at one project are often duplicated at a sister site as a builder’s general contractor often hires the same subcontractors for new jobs. Small builders often make the worst mistakes and are the least worried about longevity and reputation.

* If the project is partially occupied, knock on doors and talk to the residents. Don’t be dazzled by the views from cut-and-fill hillside home sites. Look for cracks. Take along a pair of pliers and pull up a corner of the carpeting to see if the carpet tacks are rusty. Smell the closets for mildew.