Originally Posted by shakran

get hold of a prospective architect's and builder's clients and go talk to them. See if they're pissed.

Be prepared to go to the construction site EVERY DAY to check the work that was done that day. Inspect it VERY carefully. Try to find a friend that's already built a house - they'll have a better idea what to look for. Builders love to cut corners wherever possible, and you have to conduct daily inspections to make sure they don't get away with it.