The most important lessons we have learned from our ordeal and nightmare (see post in Binding Arbitration forum) have been...

1.  Don't sign any contract that has a binding arbitration clause in it.

2.  No matter how many building or home inspectors the builder has had go through your new home, hire your own.

3.  If you are building a new home, hire an inspector.  Many will charge one fee and come out during several building phases and again when the home is completed.  It is well worth the cost to find and cure problems before they are hidden.

4.  TALK to people in the neighborhood who have purchased and live in homes by the same builder.  Our nightmare could and would have been avoided if we had done this one simple thing.

5.  Listen to your gut.  If it sounds too good to be true and especially if you are told there are NO problems of any kind...don't sign on the dotted line.

6.  One of our most important lessons learned......do NOT sign off on any of your 30 day or 1 year walk through inspections by the builder (if they offer this) until ALL defects have been remedied.

We thought we were buying a dream.  In fact, our builder's slogan is "Dream Big".  We dreamed big and now we "Own a Nightmare".