Chicks in Construction

Podcast Cary
Podcast Cary
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You plan your renovation with excitement, trust your contractor, and hope for the best...until things start going sideways. That’s when most homeowners realize they didn’t know what they didn’t know. From permits that were never pulled to “contractors” who ghost after demo day, the construction world can feel like a maze of hidden costs and shady shortcuts. Too many homeowners end up confused, overwhelmed, and out of a lot of money. The Chicks in Construction Podcast is here to change that. Hosted by Mikki Paradis, a licensed general contractor with 20+ years of experience, and Jess Abreu, a homeowner turned construction content creator, this show breaks down real renovation horror stories and teaches you how to protect your time, money, and home. After building a multimillion-dollar drywall business and helping countless homeowners recover from construction nightmares, Mikki is on a mission to make sure you go into your next project informed, not blindsided. And Jess brings the perspective of someone who’s been in your shoes and now knows exactly what questions to ask. Submit Your Construction Horror Story: https://chicksinconstruction.com/

  1. 7 hr ago

    Your New Home Could Be Rotting?!

    Mikki Paradise and Jessica Abreu take a closer look at what can go wrong when building or buying a home, including hidden water damage, structural issues, inspections, warranties, and the importance of doing your homework before choosing a builder. The episode explores why passing a building inspection does not necessarily mean a home was built correctly, how rushed construction can lead to major problems, and why homeowners need to understand their rights and responsibilities when something goes wrong. Mikki and Jessica also discuss real cases involving major home builders, construction defects, warranty disputes, and what homeowners can do to better protect themselves. News sources mentioned:• FOX 13 Tampa Bay• Hunterbrook Media and its investigation, The House From Hell 00:00 What Chicks In Construction is all about 07:00 The construction story behind today's episode 13:00 Hidden problems behind your home's walls 18:00 Water intrusion and improperly installed windows 20:00 Who is responsible when something goes wrong? 24:00 Private inspectors and potential conflicts of interest 25:00 What a building inspection actually means 31:00 Construction defect deadlines and homeowner rights 34:00 The House From Hell investigation 40:00 Warranties, delays, and forced arbitration 45:00 What homeowners can learn from these cases 47:00 How to protect yourself when choosing a builder

  2. 8 Sept

    Navigating the Construction Jungle

    In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki Paradise and Jessica Abreu break down one of the wildest homeowner horror stories yet: a Florida custom home builder who collected more than $8.7 million from 15 families while failing to pay subcontractors and suppliers. The homeowners did what most people would consider their due diligence. They hired an established builder, signed contracts, made payments, and waited for their custom homes to be completed. But eventually, the trucks stopped coming. Then the lien notices started arriving. The episode explains how construction draws work, why paying your general contractor does not necessarily mean the subcontractors have been paid, and how unpaid tradespeople can place liens against a homeowner's property. The hosts also explain why unfinished construction can become dramatically more expensive to complete and why homeowners can end up paying twice for work they already paid for. Mikki and Jessica also break down the warning signs homeowners should look for before and during a construction project, including lien waivers, notice letters, payment schedules, large upfront deposits, and third party construction escrow services. Most importantly, they explain what to do if your construction project has already gone wrong. Stop releasing payments, document everything, run a lien search, investigate the builder's history, and contact a construction attorney in your state as quickly as possible. This episode is a reminder that prevention is often the best protection when you're building or remodeling a home. Disclaimer: Mikki and Jessica are not attorneys. Construction lien laws vary by state, and this episode is intended for educational purposes only. Speak with a qualified construction attorney in your state for advice about your specific situation. 00:00 Welcome to Chicks in Construction02:00 What are Homeowner Horror Stories?07:00 Disney's senior community in North Carolina10:00 Why general contractors need construction experience13:00 The Florida construction story begins17:00 Imagine saving for years to build your dream home19:00 How homeowners and subcontractors both get hurt21:00 Why subcontractors can put liens on a property22:00 What makes a custom home different from a production home24:00 How homeowners' money is exposed during construction27:00 How 15 families were affected28:00 The three reasons homeowners didn't realize what was happening30:00 What is a construction draw?31:00 Why you should never pay ahead of the work34:00 How construction liens work38:00 Why finishing an abandoned construction project costs more40:00 How liens can prevent you from selling or refinancing41:00 The builder's sentence42:00 $8.7 million in restitution47:00 Seven ways to protect yourself48:00 Lien waivers with every draw49:00 Don't throw away scary letters51:00 How much should a construction deposit be?52:00 The danger of using new deposits to pay old bills55:00 How to find out how bad the situation really is56:00 Who should you call first?57:00 The biggest mistake homeowners make58:00 The one thing every homeowner needs to remember59:00 Share your story and follow Chicks in Construction

  3. 1 Sept

    Sinking Homes in a 55+ Community: Cracks, Soil, Retaining Walls & What Homeowners Must Ask

    Host Mikki Paradis, a longtime drywall and paint contractor and licensed North Carolina general contractor, and co-host Jessica Abreu explain the purpose of their Chicks in Construction podcast: sharing construction “shenanigans” and teaching homeowners what’s normal, what’s not, and how to protect themselves. After a personal “chickychat” about Mickey’s severe insomnia and strange social media feeds, they introduce a major construction defect story involving the Del Webb 55+ community developed by Pulte Group outside Las Vegas, where homeowners allege homes are sinking due to issues tied to soil grading and retaining walls. They discuss warning signs beyond typical settling—recurring cracks, separating patios, doors not latching, uneven floors—why homeowners should compare notes with neighbors, and why geotechnical reports, drainage, slopes, and retaining walls matter. They urge asking follow-up questions, documenting everything, and submitting stories at chicksinconstruction.com. 00:00 Meet the Hosts 00:20 Mickey Construction Backstory 03:09 Why This Podcast Exists 05:08 How to Submit Stories 07:06 Jess Homeowner Perspective 07:56 Podcast Style and Chicky Chat 11:12 Sleep Deprivation and Weird Algorithms 19:49 Del Webb Sinking Homes Setup 21:53 Cold Open Retirement Nightmare 24:57 Neighborhood Defects and Red Flags 29:21 Talk to Your Neighbors 30:13 Compare Notes Neighbors 31:21 Settling Versus Movement 33:56 When Cracks Mean Trouble 37:09 Ask Better Followups 40:12 From Facebook To Lawsuits 43:09 Why Soil Matters 46:01 Permits And Soil Tests 49:48 Retaining Wall Red Flags 51:12 Smart Questions Buyers 53:16 Protect Yourself Proactively 56:46 Document And Communicate 01:00:10 Share Stories And Subscribe 01:02:27 Final Wrap And Goodbye

  4. 25 Aug

    Airbnb Stolen Toilet Brushs & A Moldy House Mystery

    Mickey Paradise and co-host Jessica Abreu kick off the episode joking about accidentally matching in white button-up shirts, then dive into the realities of owning short-term rentals, including guests stealing a toilet brush and cutting board, rearranging an Airbnb kitchen, and bringing dogs without permission. Mickey shares a major incident where birthday guests without reviews triggered a noise monitor repeatedly, admitted to having 16 people in a small townhouse, and were ultimately removed through Airbnb after continued violations; afterward, the hosts discovered multiple towels and sheets drenched in blood and some blood on the carpet. The hosts respond to a listener from Washington asking about acting as their own GC and advise using scheduling/permit tracking tools and gaining experience working for a GC first. They close with a Maryland flipped-house nightmare involving floods, mold, sweating ductwork and wood, humidity issues, and ghosted contractors, asking viewers to help diagnose the root cause and directing submissions to chicksinconstruction.com and their social channels. 00:00 White Shirt Twinning 00:42 Short Term Rental Reality 02:16 Stolen Toilet Brush 03:16 Kitchen Organizer Guest 04:53 Noise Monitor Party Bust 09:50 Eviction and Blood Towels 12:28 Book Ideas and Fan Stories 13:27 Cora Builds as GC 16:48 Advice on Permits 18:11 Jobsite HR Reality 18:50 Permits Scheduling Tools 19:44 Get GC Experience First 20:57 Maryland Flip Disaster 23:52 Mold Humidity Clues 25:23 Ghosted By Pros 26:55 Egress Window Chaos 29:49 Root Cause Hunt 31:20 Crowdsource The Fix 32:46 Share Stories Follow 33:52 Wrap Up Goodbye

  5. 18 Aug

    Medication Mistake Killed My Dog + $80K Kitchen Horror Story (Worcester, MA)

    This podcast’s goal is to educate homeowners through submitted “homeowner horror stories.” Mikki shares a personal warning after her English mastiff, Optimus Prime, died from a drug interaction: carprofen and progesterone were prescribed together, leading to a catastrophic GI bleed, and she urges viewers to verify medication interactions and pursue accountability through reporting and complaints.  The episode then covers a Massachusetts kitchen remodel disaster: a homeowner hired a contractor from a mailbox flyer, paid half up front without a written contract, faced unlicensed electrical work that failed inspection, erratic scheduling, long disappearances, and ballooning costs, ultimately spending about $80,000 after hiring a licensed company to finish properly and learning to verify licensing, get everything in writing, and protect themselves contractually. 00:00 Welcome and New Setup00:31 What the Podcast Does02:22 A Personal Story Begins03:05 Optimus Prime and Mastiffs07:35 The Medication Mix-Up13:18 Aftermath and Accountability20:28 Transition to Horror Stories20:57 Worcester and Budget Reality25:49 COVID Prices and Greed28:29 Red Flags With the Contractor29:58 Demo Fast Then Stalls31:06 Permits Licensing and Chaos32:33 Wicked Stressed Realization32:54 Calling the Inspector33:55 Electrical Work Fails34:27 Costs Spiral and Disappear34:58 Contractor Vanishes Six Weeks35:30 Feeling Lost and Ashamed36:00 Why Homeowners Don't Know40:50 Consumer Affairs Game Plan43:17 Firing the Contractor43:54 Airbnb Side Quest Chaos46:51 Hiring a Licensed Remodeler48:17 Final Bill and Lessons49:26 How to Vet Contractors50:52 Facebook Recs Ask for Photos53:27 Contracts Protect Homeowners54:42 Wrap Up and Where to Find Us

  6. 11 Aug

    Dream Home to Construction Nightmare Part 2

    In Part 2, Chicks in Construction hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu continue examining the ongoing dispute involving Minnesota attorney and content creator Dylan White, known as The Dad Chats, his wife Suzanne, and the builder of their custom home. According to allegations discussed in the lawsuit, the Whites reported recurring drywall cracks, nail pops, floor movement, subfloor deflection, elevated moisture readings, and other concerns they believed went beyond an ordinary new-home punch list. The builder disputes the allegations.  But this episode is really about what happened after repeated repairs didn't provide answers. Mikki and Jessica explain why fixing the visible damage isn't the same as fixing its cause. When a drywall crack keeps returning, moisture keeps appearing, or the same problem requires repair after repair, it's time to ask a different question: Why does this keep happening? That's what Dylan and Suzanne reportedly began doing. Instead of relying solely on the builder's warranty process, they brought in independent specialists to investigate specific systems—including flooring and possible water intrusion. The episode explains why homeowners may need a flooring specialist, building-envelope expert, structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, or forensic inspector rather than expecting one person to diagnose everything. According to the lawsuit, the Whites allege that after they began bringing independent experts to the property, individuals associated with the builder appeared when inspections were taking place. The complaint includes allegations that an inspector was photographed or recorded from across the street and that members of the White family were photographed or recorded without their knowledge. These allegations form part of an invasion-of-privacy claim and are disputed by the builder.  The episode closes with lessons homeowners can take from the dispute regardless of its eventual outcome: recognize patterns, bring in independent experts when necessary, document recurring problems, keep important communication in writing, and don't confuse repairing damage with identifying its cause. This is an ongoing legal dispute. The claims discussed in this episode are allegations, the builder disputes them, and the court has not made factual findings establishing the allegations discussed. 00:00 – They believed they were being watched00:35 – Welcome back & Part 1 recap05:00 – Inside the lawsuit08:00 – Why recurring repairs matter09:00 – Moisture & mold concerns10:30 – Did they fix the cause?14:00 – Looking for answers16:30 – Hiring independent experts19:00 – Moisture testing20:00 – Why specialists matter23:00 – Independent experts vs. the builder26:00 – Don't diagnose your own house29:00 – The story takes a creepy turn30:00 – Surveillance allegations33:00 – Photos of the family34:30 – Invasion of privacy claim38:00 – When trust breaks down40:00 – Document everything42:30 – Is contractor licensing enough?45:00 – The single-point-of-failure problem49:00 – Are homeowners adequately protected?51:30 – What homeowners should learn54:00 – Share your construction story

  7. 4 Aug

    Dream Home to Construction Nightmare

    In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu dig into the ongoing lawsuit involving Minnesota attorney and content creator Dylan White, known online as @TheDadChats, and the builder of his family's custom home. The episode begins with a bigger question: How much experience should someone need before they're trusted to build a house? Mikki and Jessica discuss contractor licensing requirements, why a license doesn't necessarily equal experience, and why homeowners should investigate who's actually building their home. Then they get into Dylan's story. According to allegations discussed in the episode, what initially looked like typical new-home issues—drywall cracks, nail pops, and cosmetic defects—eventually grew into hundreds of reported concerns. Mikki explains why individual problems may be completely normal, but several systems showing recurring problems can warrant a much closer look.  Then came the moment that changed everything: Dylan has publicly said his children were playing in a small bounce house in the basement when his wife noticed movement upstairs, including rattling pictures and objects moving on shelves. The hosts discuss why that experience, combined with the other reported issues, raised bigger questions about what was happening with the house.  Mikki also breaks down the difference between normal settling and a pattern of potential warning signs. A drywall crack, squeaky floor, sticky door, or nail pop alone may have an innocent explanation. But when multiple systems repeatedly show signs of movement, homeowners should start looking for a common cause rather than treating every symptom separately.  Because this litigation is ongoing, the claims discussed in this episode are allegations and have not been established as fact. The builder disputes the homeowners' characterization of the issues.  And this story isn't over. Part 2 is coming next. 00:00 – When house movement becomes a red flag00:45 – Welcome to Chicks in Construction04:00 – Mikki’s $5,500 vet bill09:00 – Jess’s dog attack story12:00 – The contractor debate goes viral14:00 – Does a GC need experience?16:30 – Contractor requirements by state19:00 – States without statewide GC licensing21:00 – Why experience matters24:30 – The $1.2 million lawsuit30:00 – Who is Dylan White?33:00 – The first problems appear35:30 – Nearly 500 reported defects38:30 – Normal settling vs. warning signs41:00 – Doors, floors & recurring cracks44:00 – Stop fixing symptoms46:00 – The bounce house moment50:00 – How much should a floor move?52:30 – Multiple problems create a pattern53:30 – To be continued

  8. 28 Jul

    Flipped Homes, Hidden Damage & the Truth About "As-Is" Sales

    Welcome back to another episode of Chicks in Construction — the true crime podcast, construction edition! This week Mikki and Jessica kick things off with some Chicky Chat: Hector's international gallbladder surgery adventure in El Salvador (complete with translation app fails, gloveless procedures, and Juan Carlos saving the day), plus travel tales from Jess's European cruise. Then it's on to the main story: why the prettiest flipped homes can hide the ugliest secrets. Fresh paint, brand-new floors, and gorgeous quartz countertops can conceal water damage, mold, missing permits, and structural problems that don't show up until months after closing. As always, we're not attorneys or doctors, and this isn't legal advice — but these real cases and lessons can help you avoid becoming one of our future stories. Got a story of your own? Share it with us at chicksinconstruction.com — we'll always keep you anonymous, even if you don't check the box. Follow us: Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram: @chicksinconstructionpodcast TikTok: @chicksinconstruction #ChicksInConstruction #HomeBuying #HouseFlipping #RealEstate #TrueCrimePodcast #HomeInspection #RenovationRedFlags Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Chicky Chat (Hector's El Salvador surgery, Jess's cruise) 27:03 Getting to today's story 27:17 The dream home that's hiding secrets 29:50 The bidding war & waived inspections 36:48 Johnson v. Davis and seller disclosure law 41:41 When the inspector misses it 45:58 "As-is" doesn't mean anything goes 57:12 Rapid-fire red flags to watch for 1:01:59 Where to find us Submit your homeowner horror story:www.chicksinconstruction.com Follow on Social Media:www.instagram.com/chicksinconstructionpodcastwww.facebook.com/chicksinconstructionpodcastwww.linkedin.com/company/chicksinconstructionpodcastwww.youtube.com/@ChicksInConstruction ________________ Love what you hear?Subscribe to Chicks in Construction and share this episode with your friends because every homeowner, builder, contractor, and designer needs to hear this one!

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You plan your renovation with excitement, trust your contractor, and hope for the best...until things start going sideways. That’s when most homeowners realize they didn’t know what they didn’t know. From permits that were never pulled to “contractors” who ghost after demo day, the construction world can feel like a maze of hidden costs and shady shortcuts. Too many homeowners end up confused, overwhelmed, and out of a lot of money. The Chicks in Construction Podcast is here to change that. Hosted by Mikki Paradis, a licensed general contractor with 20+ years of experience, and Jess Abreu, a homeowner turned construction content creator, this show breaks down real renovation horror stories and teaches you how to protect your time, money, and home. After building a multimillion-dollar drywall business and helping countless homeowners recover from construction nightmares, Mikki is on a mission to make sure you go into your next project informed, not blindsided. And Jess brings the perspective of someone who’s been in your shoes and now knows exactly what questions to ask. Submit Your Construction Horror Story: https://chicksinconstruction.com/

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