Rushed Construction Could Be Slowly Destroying Your Home

It's a wonderful feeling, stepping through the door of a newly built home for the first time. Everything is shiny and new — free from creaky floors, leaky roofs, and the wear and tear that takes a toll on older homes. The millions of dollars you spent to buy that brand new home was certainly worth it — or so you thought. Some homeowners, who invested significant sums to purchase newly constructed homes, have been left reeling, forced to confront the fact that after just a few years, their "brand new" homes are falling apart. The common culprit in these cases has been builders who rushed to get these properties up without taking the time to properly prepare. As a result, homeowners have been left with huge headaches as they deal with expensive repairs and an overwhelming sense of buyer's remorse.

While there are clear benefits to buying a new construction home, the process of building a home requires a high level of preparation and due diligence to ensure the area, property, and builder are all up to the highest standards. When builders ignore proper procedures or cut corners, which are common mistakes contractors make to save money, the consequences can be devastating — ranging from small cracks and uneven floors to failing foundations and other major defects that could render the home unsafe. This has been the unfortunate reality for a group of homeowners in one Las Vegas lakefront community. In this instance, their luxury homes – costing upwards of $1 million – were built on unstable land, which has resulted in sloped floors, cracked retaining walls, and even a patio detaching from the house.

"They believe they bought a wonderful home and instead they bought a lemon, " attorney Norberto Cisnero, who represents the Las Vegas community homeowners, told FOX5 Las Vegas. "You have cracking in the drywall ... They have repaired it twice. It has come back each time, and it gets worse every time," Cisneros said adding, "This is probably one of the worst cases I've ever seen." Because of the instability underneath the homes, some fear that if an earthquake were to hit the area it could be catastrophic. 

Las Vegas is not the only community facing these woes. In Florida, the same construction group has been under fire for improperly applying stucco to new-build homes, resulting in cracked walls, leaks, and water damage. A different instance occurred with a group of recently built Florida townhomes. Just a few years after completion, issues such as crumbling stucco and rotted support beams have already arisen. Meanwhile, in Texas, where new homes were built following devastating hurricanes, multiple families have lodged complaints that they are already seeing foundational cracks and mold. 

While such issues with new-builds may not be widespread, they're important for homeowners to understand as they debate whether to buy a new construction vs. an old home. For those who do go the new-build route, it's essential to look into the builder. Make sure they're licensed and insured and see if there are any legal issues or complaints against them. It's also a good idea to have an expert examine the property to ensure it's in good condition to build on. Also, be aware of the builder warranties as well as the process in your area for making a complaint if you discover defects.