In many cases, defects are not apparent to consumers at the time of purchase. Problems may take months or years to appear. For example, improperly applied claddings or flashings may allow rain water to penetrate the building. The homeowner's first indication that this is happening may be a stain on the ceiling, bubbling paint, or damp, mildewed carpets. By this time, serious rot may have occurred inside of the wall.
Most builders willingly make repairs to defects that are brought to their attention early on.
But with more serious problems, or those that come to light only well after the date of occupancy, the individual homeowner or strata corporation may be forced to take on the responsibility and the potentially large expense of identifying and correcting the deficiencies. A new homeowner or a newly formed strata corporation may not have the financial resources to cover the expense of repairs, which in some cases may amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.