In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu dive into a homeowner story involving mold, excessive humidity, HVAC problems, poor ventilation, and major construction issues that eventually led to a lawsuit.

The homeowner discovered mold appearing throughout the home, including inside cabinets and around areas where water was stagnant. After testing, the source was connected to extremely high humidity and problems with the home's HVAC system. The home was reaching 70 to 80% humidity, the HVAC system was not properly removing moisture, and water was found inside the ductwork. The attic was also poorly ventilated, and the home was not fully weatherized.

The repairs quickly became expensive, with estimates reaching $60,000 to $80,000. The story eventually uncovered documents that allegedly showed the previous owners knew about similar problems before selling the home. The homeowners are now involved in litigation and say they have documentation supporting their case. The hosts discuss the importance of inspections, documentation, proper HVAC installation, ventilation, weatherization, and understanding what you are getting into when buying a home.

Mikki and Jessica also talk about why they want to hear stories from both homeowners and builders, including situations where homeowners may be contributing to construction problems themselves.

If you have a construction story to share, visit chicksinconstruction.com. You can also find Chicks in Construction on TikTok at @chicksinconstruction and on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at @chicksinconstructionpodcast.

00:00 Welcome to Chicks in Construction

05:00 How this homeowner story began

10:00 Mold found inside the home

12:00 Problems with the shower

16:00 Mold and stagnant water

18:00 HVAC and humidity problems

21:00 The HVAC installation issues

23:00 Poor attic ventilation

25:00 The cost of fixing the home

28:00 Why the homeowners went to court

31:00 Evidence and the legal case

34:00 Health concerns and living with mold

36:00 The homeowner's health improved

38:00 The seller disclosure issue

40:00 Discovering the previous lawsuit

43:00 Evidence in the case

45:00 A possible fight and win story

47:00 How to submit your story

In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu break down a homeowner dispute involving a new construction home, water intrusion, suspected mold, and questions about the home's construction and waterproofing.

The episode follows the homeowner's experience after problems reportedly began within six months of moving into the home. When repeated concerns about water intrusion were met with recommendations to use caulk and reseal grout, the homeowner eventually opened up her own shower to investigate what was happening behind the tile.

Mikki and Jessica explain why tile and grout are not the complete waterproofing system in a shower, how water can travel far from its original source, and why simply sealing the visible wet spot may not solve the underlying problem. They also discuss the importance of proper plumbing ventilation, keeping moisture out of attic spaces, and understanding what is behind the finished surfaces of a home.

The hosts are careful to point out that the homeowner's lawsuit is still active and that no determination of fault has been made. They also distinguish between the homeowner's reported health concerns and what can actually be established through medical evidence.

Along the way, Mikki and Jessica discuss what homeowners should do when they notice recurring water problems, including documenting concerns, getting the right professionals involved, understanding warranty implications, and avoiding unnecessary demolition before understanding the potential consequences.

The episode also highlights a larger lesson for homeowners: when something continues to go wrong, do not ignore it just because the visible problem seems small. Ask questions, document what is happening, and make sure the underlying issue is properly investigated.

If you have a construction story that could help other homeowners learn from your experience, you can submit it anonymously at chicksinconstruction.com. You can also follow Chicks in Construction on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram at @chicksinconstructionpodcast and on TikTok at @chicksinconstruction.

00:00 Welcome to Chicks in Construction

06:00 The homeowner story and the mysterious builder

08:00 The lawsuit and what happened

12:00 The homeowner takes a hammer to the shower

15:00 Water intrusion and reported health concerns

17:00 Can caulk actually fix a water problem?

20:00 Why homeowners should be careful with demolition

22:00 Understanding shower waterproofing

24:00 Why water finds its own path

26:00 Suspected mold and the inspection

28:00 The plumbing vent problem

31:00 The homeowner's concerns and the builder's response

34:00 How construction problems can stack up

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

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 Construction
02:00 What are Homeowner Horror Stories?
07:00 Disney's senior community in North Carolina
10:00 Why general contractors need construction experience
13:00 The Florida construction story begins
17:00 Imagine saving for years to build your dream home
19:00 How homeowners and subcontractors both get hurt
21:00 Why subcontractors can put liens on a property
22:00 What makes a custom home different from a production home
24:00 How homeowners' money is exposed during construction
27:00 How 15 families were affected
28:00 The three reasons homeowners didn't realize what was happening
30:00 What is a construction draw?
31:00 Why you should never pay ahead of the work
34:00 How construction liens work
38:00 Why finishing an abandoned construction project costs more
40:00 How liens can prevent you from selling or refinancing
41:00 The builder's sentence
42:00 $8.7 million in restitution
47:00 Seven ways to protect yourself
48:00 Lien waivers with every draw
49:00 Don't throw away scary letters
51:00 How much should a construction deposit be?
52:00 The danger of using new deposits to pay old bills
55:00 How to find out how bad the situation really is
56:00 Who should you call first?
57:00 The biggest mistake homeowners make
58:00 The one thing every homeowner needs to remember
59:00 Share your story and follow Chicks in Construction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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