Summer is finally coming to a close.  Even though it's still 100 degrees at the moment, the rainy season will be here before we know it, and with the rain comes the discovery of construction defects that otherwise might have gone unnoticed.  The most obvious is a leaky roof and other compromises of the building envelope, but there are other issues that can catch new homeowners off guard.  Improper grading can lead to pooling and flooding - in one case, pooling in the back yard breached a rise in the soil like a dam, inundating the first floor in a matter of minutes. A thorough pre-buy home inspection should include a close look at the soil elevation outside the home - such failures are a common theme in cases of construction negligence, and may not become evident until long after the home is complete.