[sweet_diane]

"and 100 gallons of water came crashing through the ceiling downstairs because the plumbing drains were not connected."

Didn't a plumbing inspector check out the house? Was there a final inspection? Isn't this the reason a Building Inspection dept even exists?

[metesky]

The entire plumbing system is supposed to be filled and inspected for problems (leaks) before the sheetrock goes up.

The question is; does Houston even have a building code? I know that they did not have zoning in the past. Has that situation changed?

[Malacoda]

(Acknowledging that the plural of anecdote is not data:)

That first night in the new house, the dining room ceiling collapsed. Bob had pulled the plug in the Jacuzzi tub upstairs, and 100 gallons of water came crashing through the ceiling downstairs because the plumbing drains were not connected.

This exact same thing happened to a close friend in April. They moved in to their new town home, and the first night, she took a bath. The jets were not attached properly, and the living room ceiling caved in.

Didn't a plumbing inspector check out the house? Was there a final inspection?

In their case, because it was a development of forty town homes, the inspector went through ONE, saw everything was OK, and rubber-stamped the others as OK, too. They'll be tied up in court for years over this.

[goldstategop]

You would think things like this would be noted by a professional home inspector. They know where to look for problems. Every home buyer SHOULD hire one before they make an offer. A few hundred dollars a reputable home inspector charges isn't a lot for peace of mind on what is arguably the biggest purchase most people will make in their life. My view is that if the report turns up lots of problems - just walk away no matter how tempting it might be. Such a report can save you from acquiring the home in hell. And if it does check out, get a one year home warranty in writing for added peace of mind.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus