By Micaela Remmert

Seeing an Opportunity

Interest rates might have caused the real estate market to slow down, but this shift has opened up a wealth of opportunities. For us, it meant finding the chance to build a new house with more space, an opportunity significant enough to make us willing to give up our cozy 2.8% interest rate.

Yikes—Mold!

Most of the build process went smoothly, and we had a blast picking out our design finishes. However, things took a turn shortly before our scheduled closing date when I discovered mold on the ceiling.

The builders quickly removed that section, but I requested they leave the wall open for mold testing. Unfortunately, they ignored my request and covered the wall back up to stay on track for the city inspection. I informed them that I wouldn't move forward until mold testing was done. With the wall covered, cavity testing became essential alongside air samples. The tests revealed high moisture and mold levels. I escalated the issue to the builder's management, insisting on reimbursement for the mold testing and proper treatment of the affected wall section. They complied, opening up the entire wall section and treating it correctly.

Fire Department Called During Inspection

Just when we thought we were in the clear, another unexpected event occurred. While finishing a closing with one of my clients, I received a call from my inspector. She informed me that my new house was filling with smoke and that the fire department had been called.

It turned out that the person who installed our furnace left debris in the sealed chamber. Some papers caught fire, got sucked into the air ducts, and dispersed smoke throughout the house. The builder initially claimed that "everything is fine now" and that we were still on track to close. However, I insisted on additional inspections, testing, and cleaning. Thankfully, the burned papers did not cause lasting damage, and proper installation was ensured.