That 4 inch dip isn't just normal settling, it means the builder didn't backfill properly or the soil wasn't compacted right in the first place. Your buddy gave you a solid read on that one, and the window well rust proves the water was already getting where it shouldn't.

Three pounds will wreck your shoulder if you're doing fine work, so maybe he was wrong for the wrong reasons.

Man, @ninal91, I read that totally different, sounds like the price to me.