Chicks in Construction

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 per

Chicks in Construction is a leisure podcast hosted by Mikki Paradis, with 58 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mikki Paradis hosts Chicks in Construction, a leisure show with 58 episodes published.

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  Episode #59

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

  Aug 18, 202655 min

  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 Setup 00:31 What the Podcast Does 02:22 A Personal Story Begins 03:05 Optimus Prime and Mastiffs 07:35 The Medication Mix-Up 13:18 Aftermath and Accountability 20:28 Transition to Horror Stories 20:57 Worcester and Budget Reality 25:49 COVID Prices and Greed 28:29 Red Flags With the Contractor 29:58 Demo Fast Then Stalls 31:06 Permits Licensing and Chaos 32:33 Wicked Stressed Realization 32:54 Calling the Inspector 33:55 Electrical Work Fails 34:27 Costs Spiral and Disappear 34:58 Contractor Vanishes Six Weeks 35:30 Feeling Lost and Ashamed 36:00 Why Homeowners Don't Know 40:50 Consumer Affairs Game Plan 43:17 Firing the Contractor 43:54 Airbnb Side Quest Chaos 46:51 Hiring a Licensed Remodeler 48:17 Final Bill and Lessons 49:26 How to Vet Contractors 50:52 Facebook Recs Ask for Photos 53:27 Contracts Protect Homeowners 54:42 Wrap Up and Where to Find Us

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  Episode #58

  Dream Home to Construction Nightmare Part 2

  Aug 11, 202655 min

  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 watched 00:35 – Welcome back & Part 1 recap 05:00 – Inside the lawsuit 08:00 – Why recurring repairs matter 09:00 – Moisture & mold concerns 10:30 – Did they fix the cause? 14:00 – Looking for answers 16:30 – Hiring independent experts 19:00 – Moisture testing 20:00 – Why specialists matter 23:00 – Independent experts vs. the builder 26:00 – Don't diagnose your own house 29:00 – The story takes a creepy turn 30:00 – Surveillance allegations 33:00 – Photos of the family 34:30 – Invasion of privacy claim 38:00 – When trust breaks down 40:00 – Document everything 42:30 – Is contractor licensing enough? 45:00 – The single-point-of-failure problem 49:00 – Are homeowners adequately protected? 51:30 – What homeowners should learn 54:00 – Share your construction story

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  Episode #57

  Dream Home to Construction Nightmare

  Aug 4, 202654 min

  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 flag 00:45 – Welcome to Chicks in Construction 04:00 – Mikki’s $5,500 vet bill 09:00 – Jess’s dog attack story 12:00 – The contractor debate goes viral 14:00 – Does a GC need experience? 16:30 – Contractor requirements by state 19:00 – States without statewide GC licensing 21:00 – Why experience matters 24:30 – The $1.2 million lawsuit 30:00 – Who is Dylan White? 33:00 – The first problems appear 35:30 – Nearly 500 reported defects 38:30 – Normal settling vs. warning signs 41:00 – Doors, floors & recurring cracks 44:00 – Stop fixing symptoms 46:00 – The bounce house moment 50:00 – How much should a floor move? 52:30 – Multiple problems create a pattern 53:30 – To be continued

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  Episode #56

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

  Jul 28, 20261h 3m

  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/chicksinconstructionpodcast www.facebook.com/chicksinconstructionpodcast www.linkedin.com/company/chicksinconstructionpodcast www.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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  Episode #55

  What Homeowners Insurance Actually Covers

  Jul 21, 202654 min

  In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu explain what homeowners insurance actually covers, why construction defects and long-term water intrusion are frequently excluded, and how homeowners can protect themselves before something goes wrong. They also discuss the surprisingly low barrier to becoming a licensed general contractor, the difference between a home inspector and a building inspector, and why a contractor can be responsible for an entire home without completing the apprenticeship or experience requirements expected in many individual trades. Through real court disputes, homeowner stories, and firsthand experiences, Mikki and Jessica explain why insurance is not a home warranty, contractor warranty, or maintenance plan—and why identifying the cause of damage is often more important than proving the damage exists. You’ll also learn what documents to save, when filing a claim may increase your future costs, what to do after a denial, and why hiring the cheapest contractor can become the most expensive decision you ever make. 00:00 – General contractor licensing 00:45 – New podcast setup 02:00 – European vacation recap 03:00 – Gluten-free travel in Italy 05:00 – Six countries in one trip 07:00 – Venice: worth the visit? 10:45 – Viral builder lawsuit 14:00 – How easy is contractor licensing? 16:00 – Home vs. building inspectors 18:00 – Social media backlash 21:00 – Homeowner horror stories 26:00 – What insurance really covers 28:00 – The burned fence claim 29:30 – Stolen car insurance story 32:00 – Why claims raise your rates 33:30 – Insurance is not a warranty 34:30 – Challenging a denied claim 37:00 – Hidden water damage 38:00 – Find the leak first 40:00 – What caused the damage? 41:30 – Documents homeowners should save 43:00 – Roof damage vs. normal wear 45:00 – When filing a claim makes sense 46:30 – Faulty workmanship exclusions 49:00 – The cheapest contractor trap 50:00 – How to verify a contractor 51:00 – Understanding your policy 52:00 – Documenting your belongings 53:00 – What to do after a denial 54:00 – Public adjusters and experts 55:00 – Final homeowner advice

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