Are you going to remember exactly where pipes and wires are in your walls 15 years after your house is built? What happens if you think faulty work is being performed and you know it is going to be covered up? There is no substitute for photos in my opinion. Photos simply tell the truth and harbor no bias.
Let's say something goes wrong at your house some time after the contractor packs his tools and leaves. You ask him to fix the defective work and he balks. Just call his insurance agent and file a claim. Wait, you did get a copy of his Certificate of Insurance, right?
Do you remember all of the hysteria and the buildup to January 1, 2000? A bunch of doomsdayers predicted the world was going to end. Heck, you would think Superman was going to be called in to stop the rotation of the Earth so we could go back in time and take the necessary time to fix all of the goofed up computers. It was hilarious if you want my opinion.
I have lost track of the number of room additions I have built. But each time we had to demolish the existing house wall where we connected the addition, there was asphalt felt paper under the outer skin of the house. Old builders knew that water could get behind every outer building material. Now builders can use high-tech house wraps. Is your builder choosing wisely?
Oh the misery. You have gotten into a dog fight with your builder and it is time to hire an attorney. Going to court is ugly, expensive and emotional. It is also a gamble, unless you happen to hold the winning hand.
Many people complain to me about unwanted noise that drifts into their homes. Other people complain about noise within the house that pollutes other rooms where family members want peace and quiet. The solutions are not always easy once a home is built.
When a builder builds a home, there is almost always leftover everything. Shingles, ceramic tile, siding, brick, etc. are in abundance. But rarely is it left behind. Often it is easy to store and can come in very handy.
Fires, tornadoes, rainstorms, floods, etc. can wipe out your home and cause enormous devastation. If this happens to you, you are in a state of shock. I know because I have been around homeowners who have had this kind of misfortune. You need to know what kind of insurance you have before a disaster strikes.