THAT is a classic story if there ever was one.

I was just thinking yesterday that it was almost a year ago that the builders flooded our basement, right after the big remodel started and we moved down into said basement for six months. And just before I broke my toe from living in too small a basement bedroom and whacking my toe into the wall....etc.

Indysteel's advice is very good. Get names now from friends or co-workers of good pros in all the major house-gone-wild areas so you can call someone you trust when the time(s) come.

Just remember that as a homeowner, at least you no longer have to listen to fellow apartment dwellers stomp around over your head or play horrible loud music on the other side of your bedroom wall. There are real pluses to homeownership...and all the broken stuff WILL get fixed eventually.