Chicks in Construction

Podcast Cary
  • 1.0 (1)
  • HOME & GARDEN

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. 3D AGO

    Navigating Contractor Chaos: Homeowner Horror Stories

    Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu of Chicks in Construction share a North Carolina homeowner horror story: a bathroom gut remodel budgeted at $75,000 went off the rails after hiring “Marcus,” who quoted $15,000 labor and $30,000 materials, claimed a license wasn’t required under $40,000 labor, and urged the homeowner to pull permits. After multiple failed plumbing and waterproofing inspections, Marcus charged extra for “fixes,” then disappeared once confronted about licensing and insurance, leaving a gutted bathroom and defective work. A lawyer advised recovery was unlikely; a licensed contractor found additional code issues and quoted $31,500 to finish, bringing the final cost to $95,000 and the timeline to nine months. The hosts stress never paying for rework, verifying licenses and insurance, and treating homeowner-pulled permits and repeated inspection failures as red flags. 00:00 Never Pay for Rework00:18 Welcome to Chicks in Construction00:50 Calling for Contractor Stories02:42 Michael B Jordan Moment03:22 Tourettes Documentary Discussion06:10 Fidelity Investment Scam Alert10:18 Fence Repair Update11:48 North Carolina Horror Story13:14 Meeting Marcus the Contractor14:18 License Requirements Lie14:53 Permit Red Flags16:09 Demo Begins16:36 First Failed Inspection17:52 Waterproofing Membrane Failure19:21 Stuck at the In-Laws20:50 Discovering NC Licensing Laws21:47 License Check Shock22:30 Confronting the Fake GC24:20 Worksite Vanishes Overnight24:35 Tool Leverage Strategy28:14 Ghosted and Legal Reality29:04 Damage Assessment Cost Spiral30:22 Reporting Dead Ends31:52 Hard Lessons Checklist33:48 Normalize Verifying Insurance37:26 Judgments Aren't Proof42:19 Portfolio and Review Sleuthing45:28 Secretary of State Checks46:34 Protect Yourself Next Time47:47 Share Your Story Outro 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!

    49 min

  2. 4D AGO

    From Digital Designs to Real Defects: Welcome Homes on Trial

    Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu of The Chicks in Construction discuss a homeowner horror story tied to alleged lawsuits against Welcome Homes, a PropTech startup founded in 2020 by DigitalOcean executives that promised custom homes built in about six months through an online design-and-build platform. Citing a vetted New York Post article, they describe claims of long delays, permit issues, construction errors (including flooded basements and hidden mistakes), and disputes over deposits and cancellation fees, including one couple who reportedly ended up with only cleared land and a pit. They note former HGTV host Anthony Carino joined as VP of Design but left in January 2024, saying leadership wouldn’t follow construction best practices, and that only one customer was living in a completed home when he left. The hosts highlight red flags like guaranteed timelines and inexperienced leadership, and advise homeowners to vet contractors carefully. 00:00 Experience Matters 00:27 Podcast Welcome 01:48 Pet Debate Begins 03:19 Cat Cafe Chaos 07:49 Allergy Aftermath 09:55 Babysitting Confessions 11:27 Water Cooler Horror 15:04 Legal Preface 16:13 Tech Meets Construction 19:58 Prefab Versus Hype 22:21 Six Month Promise 27:57 Welcome Homes Lawsuits 28:52 Price Too Good 29:57 Permits and Delays 31:04 Mud Pit Fallout 33:17 More Lawsuits Surface 35:14 HGTV Credibility Boost 40:16 Tech Bro Leadership 42:03 Business Model Pivot 48:27 Red Flags Checklist 55:57 Construction Is Hard 01:00:50 Final Takeaways 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!

    1h 2m

  3. MAR 31

    Caught in the Fraud: A Tale of Deception in Construction

    Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu share a personal update about a car crashing through Mikki's fence and guardrail, then dive into a North Texas construction scandal involving Christopher and Raquel Judge of Judge DFW LLC. Marketing themselves on social media as a Chip-and-Joanna-style design-build team, they allegedly offered below-market bids, collected deposits and installment payments, and left more than 40 families with unfinished or poorly done projects across 24 jobs, totaling about $4.8 million in losses. Investigators found Christopher was not a licensed architect despite claiming to be and despite warnings from the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. The case became federal due to wire fraud, large losses, and misrepresentation; both pled guilty, with potential prison time and restitution. The episode highlights key red flags and homeowner protections: verify licenses, avoid unusually low bids, use milestone-based payments, research history, and watch for communication breakdowns. 00:00 Contractor Scam Fallout 00:28 Podcast Intro and Format 01:06 Midnight Crash Story 04:50 Fence Damage and Insurance 09:00 Safety Concerns and Fix Ideas 15:04 Horror Story Setup 16:04 North Texas Fraud Case 21:37 Fake Architect Exposed 24:19 Scam Playbook Breakdown 25:15 Social Media and AI Fakes 26:59 Online Trust Collapse 27:48 Vetting Pros and Red Flags 30:34 Where the Money Went 31:14 Victims and Federal Case 34:50 Wire Fraud and Plea Deals 37:54 Restitution and No Money 42:15 Red Flags Checklist 51:06 Protect Yourself and Wrap Up

    59 min

  4. MAR 24

    Avoid Scammers with this Homeowner Horror Story

    Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu of The Chicks in Construction share a South Carolina homeowner horror story about a long-saved kitchen remodel that went wrong after hiring a contractor who seemed confident and came recommended. The project suffered from missed schedules, constant add-on invoices, delays that stretched an 8–10 week timeline to nearly six months, and failed electrical inspections that required reopening finished walls. The homeowner later discovered the contractor wasn’t licensed and ended up researching codes, confirming inspection requirements, and managing ordering and scheduling herself. The hosts warn viewers to verify licenses and business status, ask about contingency plans, confirm permits, watch for scam-like pressure tactics, and never pay for rework caused by faulty work or failed inspections. 00:00 Contractor Liability Truth 00:19 Show Welcome and Mission 01:51 Subscribe and Support 02:19 Scam Calls and Tax Threats 07:57 Anti-Scam Safety Tips 09:51 South Carolina Horror Story Begins 12:20 Kitchen Reno Dream Setup 14:03 Red Flags and Disappearing Act 15:36 Contingency and Code Talk 19:54 Change Orders and Inspection Fails 26:00 Cabinet Price Hike Scam 27:29 Code Upgrades and Licensing 28:19 Feeling Trapped Mid-Reno 28:57 High-Pressure Scam Tactics 30:54 Budget Creep and Delays 32:45 Living Without a Kitchen 33:24 Inspections Reveal Bad Work 37:07 Never Pay for Rework 40:11 Unlicensed Contractor Shock 42:29 How Permits Get Pulled 46:35 Deep-Dive Contractor Vetting 53:49 Wrap-Up and 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!

    55 min

  5. MAR 10

    Say Goodbye to Home Warranties

    Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu break down why home warranties often fail homeowners: denial loopholes, code upgrade exclusions, long delays, and contractors you can’t choose. They share horror stories including a mismatched HVAC replacement that forced costly auxiliary heat and a technician caught going through a homeowner’s underwear drawer. Alternatives include thorough inspections, maintenance plans, and building a repair emergency fund. 00:00 Creepy Contractor Story 00:46 Podcast Intro and Outfit Talk 01:47 Home Builder Show Recap 02:53 Vegas Chaos and Temu Elmo 05:42 Sticker Shock at the Expo 07:20 Orlando Traffic Meltdown 09:04 Home Warranties Are a Scam 10:50 What Warranties Claim to Cover 13:16 How Claims Get Denied 17:05 Code Updates and Aging Loopholes 20:12 You Don’t Pick the Contractor 21:38 HVAC Horror Story Begins 25:44 Warranty HVAC Scam 28:01 Why Contractors Cut Corners 29:17 Claims Delays No Coverage 31:21 Not Insurance Arbitration 38:11 Are Warranties Ever Worth 43:43 Safety Risks Bad Techs 46:42 Smarter Alternatives Inspections 51:15 Emergency Fund Maintenance Plans 56:03 Final Takeaways Call To Action 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!

    59 min

  6. MAR 3

    Bathroom Dreams to Nightmares: A Renovation Story

    In this episode of 'Chicks in Construction,' hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu share a gripping homeowner horror story submitted by a listener. The episode details Amanda's journey of being scammed by an unlicensed contractor who left her with a gutted, half-finished bathroom and nearly $90,000 poorer. The hosts discuss the importance of contractor research, recognizing red flags, and the emotional and financial toll of such experiences. Tune in to learn valuable lessons in avoiding contractor scams and ensure your renovation projects stay on track. 00:00 Emotional Breakdown in the Bathroom00:48 Introduction to Chicks in Construction01:29 Engaging with the Audience02:51 Dealing with Online Criticism07:46 Homeowner Horror Story: The Florida Bathroom Renovation21:24 Waterproofing Woes22:57 Inspection Failures and Financial Strain25:31 Standing Up to the Contractor27:24 Discovering the Deception32:58 Legal and Emotional Aftermath41:25 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts 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!

    42 min

  7. FEB 24

    Imagine Your Home Falling Apart

    In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki Paradis and her co-host Jessica Abreu dive into a jaw-dropping homeowner horror story. The hosts discuss the shocking experience of Jake and his family, who moved into their dream home only to discover severe structural issues due to gross negligence by their contractor and the county inspections department. With foundation failures, code violations, and a battle to hold the builder accountable, this episode highlights the importance of due diligence, third-party inspections, and understanding the limitations of legal and insurance recourse in construction. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on one of the worst-case scenarios in home construction. 00:00 Napkin Plans and Construction Realities 01:04 Welcome to Chicks in Construction 01:34 Super Bowl and Small Talk 03:50 Dog Tales and Special Trash 10:16 Homeowner Horror Story Introduction 13:08 The Chatham County Construction Nightmare 29:03 Builder Red Flags and Permitting Office Blunders 29:24 Accidental Email Exposes Structural Issues 30:35 Homeowner's Legal Battle Begins 32:33 Contractor's License Suspended and Fined 32:51 Licensing Board's Worst Code Violations Case 38:54 Homeowner's Insurance and Legal Struggles 45:16 Homeowner Recovery Fund Limitations 51:34 Advice for Future Homeowners 01:00:20 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action 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!

    1h 2m

  8. FEB 17

    Mastering Communication in Construction: Tips from Nicole Fella

    In this episode of 'Chicks and Construction,' host Mikki Paradis, with co-hosts Jessica Abreu and special guest Nicole Fella, jump into the communication challenges that arise in construction projects. The episode highlights the importance of clear communication between homeowners, project managers, and contractors to achieve better outcomes and fewer disputes. Nicole shares her unique experience as an interior designer and general contractor, emphasizing the significance of setting clear expectations and understanding communication styles. The discussion covers practical advice for homeowners, including the necessity of asking questions and ensuring detailed, specific contracts. Listeners are encouraged to use tools like DISC survey to improve their communication understanding. The episode underscores that respectful and clear communication is essential for successful renovation projects. 00:00 Introduction to Communication in Construction 00:23 Meet the Hosts and Special Guest 01:30 Nicole's Background and Expertise 02:54 The Importance of Communication in Construction 04:31 Common Communication Pitfalls 06:33 Setting Clear Expectations 10:09 Effective Communication Strategies 14:24 Managing Client Expectations 17:06 Balancing Communication and Flexibility 19:51 Handling Communication Challenges 24:18 Establishing Reasonable Communication Expectations 28:23 The Stress of Late-Night Texts 28:43 Respectful Communication in Business 30:12 The Mosquito Service Incident 32:55 Handling Disrespectful Clients 38:16 The Importance of Clear Contracts 40:08 Advice for First-Time Renovators 44:28 Understanding Quotes and Allowances 52:25 The Value of Professionalism 53:41 Conclusion and Final Tips

    59 min
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About

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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