My home is my castle

Ask an average person what they want most out of life, and buying an apartment is almost always part of the answer. The dream of owning one is so strong that even today's high prices don't deter us. To afford it, most of us take out a mortgage heavy enough to follow us for years, all so we can make that dream real.

But for all that investment, the dream sometimes turns into a nightmare. After the purchase is done, we may discover construction defects in the apartment: cracks in the walls, leaks, sinking flooring, and more. Want to make sure you're not buying blind? Keep reading to find out how a home inspection (bedek bayit) makes that possible.

Common construction defects and what they lead to

There are many kinds of construction defects. A few of the most common:

Leaks and dampness: caused by plumbing problems or poor sealing. Left alone, serious leaking can rot walls and doors over time, cause electrical short circuits, raise humidity, create odors, and grow mold.

Cracks in a wall: easy to spot, but the real danger is in what caused it, whether that's badly built foundations, temperature swings, or something else. Beyond the aesthetic issue, a crack tends to spread and widen, which can fracture the concrete and let water in. Cracks aren't always visible either: furniture or fabric such as curtains often hide them.

Radiation: cellular companies place antennas wherever they can to extend their coverage, which means we can be exposed to high radiation levels without knowing it.

Coming up: how are these and other defects found, and where does a real-estate lawyer come in?

What a home inspection actually does

We've given a few examples, but there are many more kinds of construction defects, some of which an untrained eye simply cannot spot, hidden as they are behind furniture or fabric like curtains covering damaged windows.

So how do you find out whether the apartment you're about to buy has any of them? You don't have to, any more than you'd research case law yourself instead of hiring a real-estate lawyer, or do your own books instead of hiring an accountant: you bring in the right professional.

A home inspection is that professional's answer for you. Skilled engineers examine the apartment and identify its construction defects, and what they find can be the deciding factor in whether you go ahead with the purchase.

Already bought an apartment with construction defects?

Many people buy an apartment and only afterward discover serious construction defects that never showed up before the purchase. Excuses and made-up stories from the previous owners rarely fix anything in these cases.

What can you do instead? Turn to a real-estate lawyer to seek compensation for the defects you've found. That is why it's worth getting a home inspection even after you've already bought the apartment: the findings can support whatever real-estate lawyer you bring in to pursue compensation.

Whether you're about to buy an apartment or you already own one, don't skip a home inspection to find its construction defects. It's how you avoid made-up stories and sleep with a clear conscience.