I have an inspection tomorrow where I plan to point out all the issues I see with his work and plan on using that date as the day I noticed defects.

However, if the pest problem resulted from a defect of the property (crack in the foundation, a window needs to be sealed, etc.) then that is when the owner pays/handles. 

If it’s defective you replace it immediately.

The City PWD came out yesterday (plumber is scheduled to come tmrw) and told me that there is a potential leak in the water line and gave me a Notice of Defect (NOD). 

May answer as to what you need to know before you make an offer is basically "everything" with the exception of less than obvious defects to the structure or situations that need environmental testing.

And the older you get, the harder it is to conceive and the higher the chances of birth defects (most people don't know it, but it's true for older men too!)

We had planned to renovate the entire place ourselves.List of violations:properly repair with similar material the broken or defective sheet-rock at east wall inside base cabinets in the kitchen located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly repair with similar material the broken or defective ceramic tiles floor in the bathroom located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly secure the loose base-molding at walls in the 2nd room from north at west located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly repair the broken or defective counterbalance at upper sash south east window in the 2nd room from north at west located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly repair the broken or defective counterbalance at lower sash south window in the kitchen located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyreset, so as to secure a proper and tight connection, the water closet bowl .."

We had planned to renovate the entire place ourselves.List of violations:properly repair with similar material the broken or defective sheet-rock at east wall inside base cabinets in the kitchen located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly repair with similar material the broken or defective ceramic tiles floor in the bathroom located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly secure the loose base-molding at walls in the 2nd room from north at west located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly repair the broken or defective counterbalance at upper sash south east window in the 2nd room from north at west located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyproperly repair the broken or defective counterbalance at lower sash south window in the kitchen located at apt 2fl, 2nd storyreset, so as to secure a proper and tight connection, the water closet bowl .."

So, I would not run from someone that says they will not tell all of the defects.

This should have been in the inspection report because it's an obvious defect.