People often overlook independent building stage inspections either through ignorance or because they are making choice to save money.

However this is not a simple commercial decision and the risks are far greater than you can imagine. If something does go wrong it will cost you thousands if not tens or hundreds of thousands and or you will have to accept and live with sub standard quality.

I have seen countless homes and investments ruined or at the very least aesthetically devalued. It does not matter if you are a first home buyer or if your home is over a million dollars.

Some people have dumb luck, no inspections and the home is OK but with others the gun goes off. Consider a recently completed home at pre final stage inspection, it already has structural failure:

This is a new home, not yet handed over!

How do I help the owner?, I have no photographic record during construction and even though I suspect poorly drained site ( the builder has poor drainage on his other sites) it may be difficult to get the evidence.

This kind of problem could have been prevented for if I have been called to do stage inspections: slab, frame and pre plaster I could have drawn attention to drainage matters.

Just remember that if you are playing Russian roulette with your investment, the gun might just go off!