Hindsight is 20/20 in most cases, but even that may not have been able to protect the three homes perched above a slope failure in the Hills of Rivermist subdivision.
What can potential homebuyers do to protect themselves from a similar circumstance? Not very much, industry experts say.
Builder's reputation
If you are dealing with a major builder, you should get a well-built home, said Michael Moore with the San Antonio Builders Association. The construction techniques should be about the same and the quality of the construction should be the same.
He recommended checking to see whether the builder is a member of the San Antonio Builders Association and the Better Business Bureau. These memberships can be clues to help you determine the reputation of individual builders.
No perfect homes
When it comes to homebuilding, it is difficult to get it right 100 percent of the time. Subject to varying weather conditions, and with 20 different trades working a site, it is anything but a controlled environment, Moore said.
"You just can't build a perfect home. You just can't do it," he said.
Trusting permits
The City of San Antonio says Pulte Homes never received a permit for the retaining wall at Hills of Rivermist. But Moore said having such a permit is mostly an administrative procedure that is not subject to inspections.
He explained that city fees are based on the cost of the construction project, and the city does not review the engineers' plans on such outside improvements unless water or sewer lines are involved.
Extra scrutiny
Moore said a home built on an escarpment filled with soil rather than rock, such as this situation, could be cause for concern. Soil gets compacted by drought and rain, resulting in shrinking and expanding that can create damaging conditions for shifting of the foundation.
Architects say you should be leery when there is a large drop-off behind your house. Homebuyers have to rely on the city code and the lender's inspector.
Inspecting the property
You also can do your own inspection walk-through:
• Notice whether windows or doors are opening and closing properly. If they are sticking, it could mean the foundation or land underneath has shifted.
• Make sure the plumbing is working and that there are no drips.
• Note where the electrical outlets are and whether they would be convenient to your purposes
• Are there areas outside where rain collects? Project how that could affect the house
• Observe the direction the house is facing at different times of the day to determine hot zones and how that might impact your living patterns.
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