I have dealt with numerous builders and developers over the
years who have had their building company renovate a residential
property for their development company. The development company has
then entered into a contract for sale of the renovated property
with a buyer. The buyer later contacts the building company and the
development company in relation to defects in the property and asks
them to fix them.
The builder and developer (before they come to see me) initially
refuse to go back to the property to fix anything and say to the
buyer "the property was sold to you in the state that it was
in. Under the contract of sale the rule "buyer beware"
applies, that is, you as the buyer were required to make your own
inquiries in relation to the property and the state of the building
works. I also had a special condition put into the contract that
you rely on your own inquiries in relation to the condition of the
premises and the building works on it."
