Having a house built to your exact specifications is an exciting prospect. Unlike buying a house that's already built, designing your own house gives you the opportunity to create the exact home of your dreams. Unfortunately, sometimes things can go wrong during construction. If you notice major issues in the construction of your home, here's how you can resolve them:

1. Document the issues.

According to NOLO, signs of poor construction include cracks in wall plaster, water damage around openings to the outside, and gaps in your flooring. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take photos of all the problems you see. Make sure to also write down the issues in as much detail as possible, as well as the date you noticed these problems. Documenting this information can help to prove that you didn't cause the damage yourself.

2. Ask for a second opinion.

It's a good idea to get a second opinion before proceeding any further. Call an unrelated contractor to come take a look at your house and give you their professional opinion. It shouldn't cost you very much money, since most problems will be readily apparent to a trained eye.

3. Alert your contractors.

Before taking other action, you should get in touch with the contractors who built your house and give them the chance to make things right. Tell them about the problems you noticed, and ask if they would be willing to fix them. Hopefully, they will fix their mistakes free of charge.

4. Hire a construction attorney.

If your contractors deny that they did a poor job constructing your house or if they ask for additional money to fix their prior work, you should hire a construction litigator. You'll need to give your attorney the photos you took of your house as well as any receipts from your transactions with the contractors. Your lawyer may also want a copy of the contract you made with the construction company. They will use this information to make a litigation against the contractors who wronged you, so you can recoup some or all of the money you lost. Contact a firm, like Wright, Ponsoldt & Lozeau, Trial Attorneys, for more help.

It's a good idea to keep yourself informed on the progress of your house. Drop by the construction site regularly to observe the work taking place, and ask your head contractor to explain the progress to you. Don't be afraid to ask questions, since it's better to catch problems quickly so they can be resolved. If you run into any of these common problems, now you'll know what to do to remedy them.