d be sealed. A quick test to check the seal is to sprinkle water on grout, if it beads up, it’s sealed, if it’s absorbed, it’s not.

-Windows are not all created equal. This feature is one commonly discounted in building budgets. Ask the brand name of the windows and do a search on the Internet to determine quality. Metal-framed windows conduct cold. Wood framed windows are considered best.

-Finish moldings and trim. Inexpensive, out-of-scale, or non-existent baseboards, window and door trim work all say the builder cut corners. Baseboards should have quarter

The new-construction boom has crated thousands of new condominiums. Some are well built and some utilize questionable building techniques. Before you sign a real estate purchase contract, be aware of some beyond the surface construction flaws that should make you run not walk from the development.

-Before falling in love with a builder, ask for the addresses of other projects they’ve completed. Talk to condo association board members on the track record of the builder. Warranty issues should have been corrected in a timely manner. And, don’t be afraid to ask if they had to file lawsuits against the builder.

-Concrete or cinder block construction, requires ongoing waterproofing maintenance. If moisture seeps through, mold in addition to structural damage will result.

-Ask for 2 coats of finish paint over 2 coats of primer. Less, and you’ll be painting sooner than you expected. Tops and bottoms of doors should be sealed and painted, to eliminate expansion in humid weather. Run your hand over painted walls, if it’s bumpy, the wall wasn’t prepped properly.

-Exposed kitchen and bath cabinets should have finished, matching end panels, not particleboard with wood-look laminate. All drawer and door pulls should be in the same place. Look for dovetailed drawer construction and drawers that roll all the way out, both quality signals. Doors should hang square and hinges should be adjustable.

-All plumbing and electrical pipes should have finish plates that screen holes through walls or cabinets. Irregular and large holes are signs of a sloppy contractor and a mediocre builder.

-Phone and cable jacks in every room. If one room wired is standard, it’s a sign that the builder will nickel and dime buyers. Ditto single clothes bars and shelves in closets. If 100 amp electric service is a minimum code requirement, but the builder has installed 200 amp service, it’s a sign that they do things right.

-Do your homework on appliances, furnaces, air-conditioners and hot water heaters. There are wide ranges of price points, and some builders know that consumers don’t know the difference between a low-end and a top-of-the-line furnace.

-All ceramic or glass tile should feature on all outside edges a rounded corner “bull-nose”. And, grout should be sealed. A quick test to check the seal is to sprinkle water on grout, if it beads up, it’s sealed, if it’s absorbed, it’s not.

-Windows are not all created equal. This feature is one commonly discounted in building budgets. Ask the brand name of the windows and do a search on the Internet to determine quality. Metal-framed windows conduct cold. Wood framed windows are considered best.

-Finish moldings and trim. Inexpensive, out-of-scale, or non-existent baseboards, window and door trim work all say the builder cut corners. Baseboards should have quarter-

ey had to file lawsuits against the builder.

-Concrete or cinder block construction, requires ongoing waterproofing maintenance. If moisture seeps through, mold in addition to structural damage will result.

-Ask for 2 coats of finish paint over 2 coats of primer. Less, and you’ll be painting sooner than you expected. Tops and bottoms of doors should be sealed and painted, to eliminate expansion in humid weather. Run your hand over painted walls, if it’s bumpy, the wall wasn’t prepped properly.

-Exposed kitchen and bath cabinets should have finished, matching end panels, not particleboard with wood-look laminate. All drawer and door pulls should be in the same place. Look for dovetailed drawer construction and drawers that roll all the way out, both quality signals. Doors should hang square and hinges should be adjustable.

-All plumbing and electrical pipes should have finish plates that screen holes through walls or cabinets. Irregular and large holes are signs of a sloppy contractor and a mediocre builder.

-Phone and cable jacks in every room. If one room wired is standard, it’s a sign that the builder will nickel and dime buyers. Ditto single clothes bars and shelves in closets. If 100 amp electric service is a minimum code requirement, but the builder has installed 200 amp service, it’s a sign that they do things right.

-Do your homework on appliances, furnaces, air-conditioners and hot water heaters. There are wide ranges of price points, and some builders know that consumers don’t know the difference between a low-end and a top-of-the-line furnace.

-All ceramic or glass tile should feature on all outside edges a rounded corner “bull-nose”. And, grout should be sealed. A quick test to check the seal is to sprinkle water on grout, if it beads up, it’s sealed, if it’s absorbed, it’s not.

-Windows are not all created equal. This feature is one commonly discounted in building budgets. Ask the brand name of the windows and do a search on the Internet to determine quality. Metal-framed windows conduct cold. Wood framed windows are considered best.

-Finish moldings and trim. Inexpensive, out-of-scale, or non-existent baseboards, window and door trim work all say the builder cut corners. Baseboards should have quarter

ching end panels, not particleboard with wood-look laminate. All drawer and door pulls should be in the same place. Look for dovetailed drawer construction and drawers that roll all the way out, both quality signals. Doors should hang square and hinges should be adjustable.

-All plumbing and electrical pipes should have finish plates that screen holes through walls or cabinets. Irregular and large holes are signs of a sloppy contractor and a mediocre builder.

-Phone and cable jacks in every room. If one room wired is standard, it’s a sign that the builder will nickel and dime buyers. Ditto single clothes bars and shelves in closets. If 100 amp electric service is a minimum code requirement, but the builder has installed 200 amp service, it’s a sign that they do things right.

-Do your homework on appliances, furnaces, air-conditioners and hot water heaters. There are wide ranges of price points, and some builders know that consumers don’t know the difference between a low-end and a top-of-the-line furnace.

-All ceramic or glass tile should feature on all outside edges a rounded corner “bull-nose”. And, grout should be sealed. A quick test to check the seal is to sprinkle water on grout, if it beads up, it’s sealed, if it’s absorbed, it’s not.

-Windows are not all created equal. This feature is one commonly discounted in building budgets. Ask the brand name of the windows and do a search on the Internet to determine quality. Metal-framed windows conduct cold. Wood framed windows are considered best.

-Finish moldings and trim. Inexpensive, out-of-scale, or non-existent baseboards, window and door trim work all say the builder cut corners. Baseboards should have quarter

l nickel and dime buyers. Ditto single clothes bars and shelves in closets. If 100 amp electric service is a minimum code requirement, but the builder has installed 200 amp service, it’s a sign that they do things right.

-Do your homework on appliances, furnaces, air-conditioners and hot water heaters. There are wide ranges of price points, and some builders know that consumers don’t know the difference between a low-end and a top-of-the-line furnace.

-All ceramic or glass tile should feature on all outside edges a rounded corner “bull-nose”. And, grout should be sealed. A quick test to check the seal is to sprinkle water on grout, if it beads up, it’s sealed, if it’s absorbed, it’s not.

-Windows are not all created equal. This feature is one commonly discounted in building budgets. Ask the brand name of the windows and do a search on the Internet to determine quality. Metal-framed windows conduct cold. Wood framed windows are considered best.

-Finish moldings and trim. Inexpensive, out-of-scale, or non-existent baseboards, window and door trim work all say the builder cut corners. Baseboards should have quarter

d be sealed. A quick test to check the seal is to sprinkle water on grout, if it beads up, it’s sealed, if it’s absorbed, it’s not.

-Windows are not all created equal. This feature is one commonly discounted in building budgets. Ask the brand name of the windows and do a search on the Internet to determine quality. Metal-framed windows conduct cold. Wood framed windows are considered best.

-Finish moldings and trim. Inexpensive, out-of-scale, or non-existent baseboards, window and door trim work all say the builder cut corners. Baseboards should have quarter-round where the baseboard meets the floor.