In 2013, I bought a 20 year-old Traditional-Contemporary house. The Architect placed this Custom Design on 2 wooded acres overlooking a lake and golf course.

Sounds Idyllic… So what is the problem?

Behind the 10-foot entrance door and exquisite crown molding lay a house plagued by careless workmanship. Scant Insulation: It cost a fortune to heat. Rainwater emptied into the crawlspace! Water lines froze in unheated spaces. HVAC lines kinked and leaked. Who does this?

But this home started out with good intentions, as some building trades really cared: The framing was crafted by a master carpenter, the brick facade is a work of art, the interior millwork was fitted to perfection, and most importantly, the architect’s vision was brilliant.