A "construction defect" on a new or previously owned home can be a real problem for the new owner. The severity of the defect depends on where the problem is. An issue with the foundation affects the whole building while a leak around a window is much more localized.

The biggest single step that can be taken before buying your home is to have it inspected. While this may not spot all problems with the house, it can certainly limit the problems you will have. Choose your own inspector after checking the credentials and experience of the inspector. Expect an inspector to be partial to the person who asked him to come out and look at the house. It won't always happen, but we are all biased towards those who hire us.

What are some of the skills they should have? Knowledge of the appliances, hot water heater and heating/ac system is very important. Electrical and plumbing knowledge is very helpful. A background in construction is also very important to be able to spot issues with how it was built and if there have been issues since it was built.

You are also an important inspector of the house. Look past the parts of the house that you just can't live without and look at how it was built.

Here's some tips for you when you are walking through.

Checking the house for level.
Walk across the floors of each room. Walk side to side and corner to corner. Go in both directions, across and back. See whether the floor feels like it is rising or dropping. It is not unusual for a floor to be out of level a little bit. Just decide whether it is too much for you or not. Many people cannot notice if the floor is out by rises or drops an inch in 10-12 feet.

Look for imperfections in the finish.
Cracks in the walls can mean movement. This is particularly true if the soil under the house can expand and contract when it rains and dries out. It could also meant that there are issues with the framing. Maybe it was undersized or maybe there are termites making the frame weaker.

Be sure to check inside and outside the house.

Has the finish on the walls been repaired? Look for changes in the texture of the wall. Few repairs are done so well that they can't be seen.

Look at the wood trim outside. Look for places where there is damaged wood from water. Yes, it could be either rot or softened wood that is beginning to rot.

Drainage
Can water easily drain away from the house? Look to make sure that the ground slopes away from the house.
Will water that gets on the driveway and sidewalks drain away or will it puddle? Check it out with a water hose to make sure that it doesn't puddle or that if it does you can live with it.
If there are gutters will they drain properly?

Roof
Are the shingles in good condition? Shingles that are beginning to curl, have lost a lot of the granules, exposed nails or staples and missing pieces of shingles can all be signs of the roofing material wearing out.

Do your homework before purchasing. If you find a construction defect it doesn't mean you can't buy the house. It puts you in control and it will help your pocketbook. Get the seller to fix it. Get the seller to lower the purchase price. If you can't reach an agreement go find another house.