The Chicks in Construction Podcast
The Chicks in Construction Podcast
Podcast Description
With over 20 years of experience in construction host Mikki Paradis is pulling back the curtain of the world of construction, sharing sage advice, ridiculous antics, personal experiences and stories shared by others to help the average homeowner or future homeowner navigate the world of construction with a different perspective.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various themes within the construction industry, including contractor experiences, homeowner tips, and industry innovations. Episodes like 'How a Bad GC Turned a Mold Mess into a Disaster' explore real-life construction challenges, emphasizing moisture management and the impact of mold on health, while also highlighting the newest solutions in waterproofing technology.
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/
Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu open with a “chicky chat” recap of Mikki babysitting Jess’s kids, including an Uno-cheating incident and the kids texting their parents throughout the night. They then share a homeowner horror story from Sam in South Carolina, who hired a referred contractor to enclose a patio into a sunroom for $42,000 without getting other quotes or verifying a license. After failed inspections, repeated upcharges for rework, delays, and being asked basic planning questions on site, Sam discovered the contractor wasn’t licensed and was allegedly “working under” someone else’s license before ghosting. Sam hired a licensed contractor to redo and finish the project for $28,000 more, stretching the timeline to nearly a year, and the hosts stress that verifying a contractor’s license is the bare minimum step to avoid being scammed.
00:00 Verify That License
00:34 Babysitting Chaos Recap
04:28 Uno Cheating Meltdown
06:58 Kids Texting The Parents
10:21 Dogs Yes Kids No
10:47 Homeowner Horror Stories Setup
13:14 Sam Sunroom Plan Begins
14:27 Contractor Jargon Red Flags
19:36 Deposit And Demo Start
21:45 Footing Inspection Fails
23:08 Inspectors And The Double Dip Scam
30:10 Paying For Rework No Way
30:39 Call the Inspector
31:33 Framing Red Flags
32:05 Failed Header Inspection
35:15 Engineered Beam Upcharge
36:05 Delays and No Shows
39:07 Subs Asking Homeowner
41:40 License Check Discovery
44:39 Confrontation and Ghosting
48:14 Damage Control Strategy
50:34 Hiring a Real Contractor
52:48 Costly Finish and Lessons
54:25 Verify Licenses Always
56:32 Qualifier License Explained
01:01:21 Wrap Up and Share Story
Submit your homeowner horror story:
www.chicksinconstruction.com
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