The punch list that never closes
Items agreed at walkthrough are the most common thing to go unfinished, because the builder's leverage disappears at closing and the buyer's leverage went with it.
Common problems with new construction work
What tends to go wrong, what it usually points at, and what your options are when the business that did the work won't put it right.
Substituted materials and finishes
Allowances and specifications in the contract are what make a substitution provable. A change nobody approved in writing is a change the builder will describe as equivalent.
Warranty periods running out while you wait
Builder warranties are usually tiered, and the shortest tier covers exactly the cosmetic and workmanship items most likely to be disputed. Delay is a strategy.
Placeholder imagePhoto: close-up of a common new construction defect, the kind of detail a homeowner would photograph
What to do about it
Document what you were promised and what you got, keep every invoice and message, and photograph everything before anyone “fixes” it. Whatever route you take from there, whether talking to the business yourself, a licensed attorney, or us, the case rests on that record.
This isn't legal advice
We're a consumer advocate, not a law firm, and this page is general information rather than guidance about your situation. If you need legal advice, speak to a licensed attorney in your state.
Dealing with one of these?
Tell us what happened and we'll tell you whether it's something we can help with.
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