You hire a company to build your dream home. The plans look great, and they show you a few other homes they’ve already done so that you can see what you should expect. It all seems very good at the beginning.

At the same time, though, you’re wary. This is a massive investment. It’s a house you want to live in for the rest of your life. It has to stand up to your expectations. It has to. How do you look for mistakes and construction defects to make sure it does?

First off, check every area of the house closely, not just the main living areas and bedrooms. For instance, foundation cracks are one of the main defects that lead to litigation. A crack can slowly cause a home to settle unevenly and may pull apart everything above the foundation. It’s a very expensive fix. Look over every inch of the foundation.

You also want to test out all of the systems in the home. Many defect claims revolve around electrical issues. Check every room, every switch, every breaker. This is important not just from a defect perspective, but from a safety perspective.

Remember that some defects only show up over time. The house may look flawless when you move in, but keep an eye out for things like mold, roof leaks, faulty drainage, structural issues and much more. Just because you do not see the issue the day that you move in doesn’t mean you have no claim if it shows up later on.

If you do run into issues with your dream home and they’re very costly, be sure you know about all of your legal options.