Chicks in Construction

On this episode of The Chicks in Construction, hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu discuss how scammers exploit stress and access to personal information, including a story of a woman in the Raleigh area who was tricked by a caller ID–spoofed “Wake County Sheriff’s Office” into paying $4,000 to “buy out” a fake warrant. They explain why law enforcement doesn’t collect payments over the phone and advise hanging up and calling the non-emergency number directly. The conversation then shifts to an Arizona luxury pool contractor situation where homeowners paid large deposits for $80,000–$200,000 backyard projects that stalled, leaving unsafe excavation pits and unfinished work. They outline red flags like massive upfront deposits, loss of momentum, vague delays, and misleading social media, and recommend protections such as milestone-based payments, verifying suppliers, checking licensing/standing, and cutting losses early.

00:00 Contractor Scam Reality Check

00:31 Meet The Hosts And Mission

01:27 Jury Duty Sheriff Scam

04:37 Dark Web And Number Cloning

09:04 How The Scam Extracts Money

12:40 Aftermath And Safety Tips

20:22 Share Your Horror Stories

21:51 Arizona Luxury Pool Nightmare

25:52 Deposits Paid Then The Collapse

27:43 Pool Build Nightmare

28:43 Cashflow Collapse Explained

30:44 Upfront Deposit Red Flags

33:15 Permits Inspections Pushback

37:06 Branding Can Be Fake

40:06 Momentum Stalls and Demo Trap

45:17 No Crew Means No Pay

48:05 Protect Yourself With Milestones

51:43 References Research and Reality

56:09 Final Lessons and Call In

In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki and Jessica unpack another homeowner renovation nightmare — this time from Florida — involving an unlicensed contractor, endless delays, disappearing cabinets, surprise costs, and complete chaos inside a family home for nearly eight months. What started as an exciting kitchen renovation quickly spiraled into stress, financial anxiety, strangers showing up unannounced, and a growing realization that the contractor they trusted was never legitimate in the first place. Along the way, Mikki and Jessica go on several hilarious side quests involving jury duty scams, true crime energy, sketchy contractors, and why homeowners must verify licenses, insurance, permits, and registrations before any renovation begins. The episode is equal parts comedy, cautionary tale, and practical education for homeowners trying to avoid becoming the next construction horror story.

00:00 – The emotional reality of living through a renovation nightmare
00:45 – What Chicks in Construction is all about for new listeners
02:00 – Why shady contractors get angry when homeowners ask for permits
03:00 – Mikki’s “particular set of skills” rant begins
05:00 – Jury duty scams and fake warrants explained
08:00 – Mikki gets an actual jury summons and is way too excited about it
11:00 – Jessica explains how she got dismissed from jury duty instantly
12:00 – The insane burglar lawsuit story
15:00 – Bartending, over-serving, and legal liability stories
18:00 – Why listeners should keep submitting homeowner horror stories
20:00 – Callie the “non-consensual licker” dog side quest
23:00 – Today’s homeowner horror story begins: the Florida kitchen renovation
26:00 – “We thought we were doing something exciting for our family.”
30:00 – The contractor confidently claims he’s licensed
32:00 – The kitchen demolition begins and everything falls apart
33:00 – The homeowner discovers the cabinets were never ordered on time
35:00 – Delays, missing materials, and mounting frustration
36:00 – Random workers begin showing up without warning
38:00 – Why homeowners need communication and safety protocols during renovations
40:00 – The renovation budget spirals out of control
41:00 – Eight months without a functioning kitchen
42:00 – The homeowner discovers the contractor was never licensed
44:00 – Mikki explains why shady contractors hate permit conversations
45:00 – Why homeowners must independently verify licenses and insurance
48:00 – The hosts discuss possible delay scams and hidden costs
49:00 – Liquidated damages explained in large construction projects
51:00 – Why legitimate contractors don’t profit from delays
52:00 – Insurance verification and contractor credential checks
53:00 – The dangers of renovations completed without permits
54:00 – Why unpermitted work can hurt your home’s resale value
55:00 – Final lessons for homeowners before starting renovations

Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu discuss Bay Area reports of groups posing as contractors who target homeowners—especially elderly people—by showing up unsolicited, claiming urgent dangers like failing roofs or unsafe chimneys, and using fear to force quick decisions. They describe how scams often start with small quotes that rapidly escalate into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, including one reported $450,000 loss, and note these groups may operate across counties and states under frequently changing business names. The episode highlights red flags such as high-pressure urgency, shifting company identities, and sudden cost increases, and offers protections: never sign the same day, get multiple opinions/inspections, verify licenses and business registration via the Secretary of State, check addresses and phone numbers, and research local permit/inspection requirements. They invite viewers to submit stories at chicksinconstruction.com and share where to follow the podcast on social media.

00:00 Contractor Scam Cold Open

00:28 Meet the Hosts

02:04 Spicy Comments and Rage Bait

04:25 Inspection Rework Rule

08:23 Blocking Trolls and Staying Busy

10:41 Rental Setup Chaos

13:48 Special Trash Trim Haul

17:49 Send Us Your Stories

19:44 Traveling Contractor Scams

20:51 Door Knock Panic Pitch

23:57 Bay Area Scam Details

26:09 Scammers Look the Part

26:37 Fear Based Pitch

27:48 Pressure Sales Red Flags

30:22 Elderly Targeted Scam

32:26 Costs Spiral Fast

34:32 Rotating Company Names

37:13 Door to Door Reality

39:03 Verify People Not Brands

42:50 Organized Scam Networks

45:18 Common Red Flags List

50:16 Protect Yourself Checklist

53:30 Wrap Up And Share

In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki and Jessica sit down with licensed general contractor and real estate investor Erika Zimandy of Hilltop GC for an honest conversation about what homeowners really need to know before hiring a contractor. Erika shares her journey from public health into real estate investing and construction, offering a unique perspective from both sides of the renovation world — as both a homeowner/investor and a licensed GC. Together, they unpack contractor red flags, remodeling horror stories, pricing differences between bids, realistic timelines, deposits, permits, inspections, and the biggest myths HGTV has taught homeowners. The episode also dives into the controversial topic of contractors charging homeowners for failed inspections, whether homeowners should buy their own materials, and what upgrades actually provide the best return on investment. If you’re planning a remodel or simply want to avoid expensive construction mistakes, this episode is packed with practical advice and real talk from women working in the construction industry.

00:00 – Introduction to Erika Salgado-Zemandi from Hilltop GC
02:00 – Facebook contractor stories & homeowner horror stories
05:00 – Erika’s background in masonry, public health & real estate investing
07:00 – Starting Hilltop GC and becoming a licensed general contractor
09:00 – How homeowners can identify trustworthy contractors
10:30 – Why contractors using “big construction words” can be a red flag
12:00 – Green flags homeowners should look for when hiring a GC
14:00 – License lending and why it’s dangerous
15:00 – Biggest contractor red flags & overpromising timelines
16:00 – How many contractor bids homeowners should get
17:00 – Why contractor quotes can vary wildly in price
20:00 – Insurance, taxes & overhead: what homeowners forget about pricing
21:00 – Hidden remodeling surprises behind walls
22:00 – The controversial topic of charging homeowners for failed inspections
24:00 – What happens when homeowners request non-code-compliant work
27:00 – Realistic timelines for kitchens, bathrooms & additions
30:00 – Contractor deposits and payment schedules explained
34:00 – Should homeowners buy their own materials?
38:00 – Best remodeling upgrades for return on investment
40:00 – Kitchen upgrades buyers notice immediately
41:00 – Bathroom trends: tubs vs. giant showers
43:00 – What homeowners overspend on during remodels
47:00 – Craziest requests Erika has received as a contractor
49:00 – Biggest HGTV myths homeowners still believe
52:00 – The truth about staged HGTV renovations and furniture reveals

In this episode of Chicks in Construction, Mikki and Jessica dive into one of the hottest debates in the construction world right now: who should pay when a contractor fails an inspection? Mikki shares a wild personal story involving a fence contractor, disappearing work crews, and an explosive confrontation that proves shady contractors can target anyone — even experienced construction professionals. The conversation then shifts into a homeowner horror story from Connecticut involving a simple countertop replacement that spirals into a four-month nightmare involving delays, disappearing contractors, leaking sinks, surprise charges, and an unlicensed handyman posing as a legitimate contractor. Along the way, the hosts unpack contractor licensing, inspection failures, how homeowners can protect themselves, and why doing even a little research before a remodel can save thousands of dollars and endless frustration. This episode is equal parts hilarious, educational, and cautionary tale for every homeowner considering a renovation project.

00:00 – Mikki’s opening rant about failed inspections and contractor responsibility
00:45 – What the podcast is all about for new listeners
03:00 – Mikki’s insane fence contractor story begins
05:00 – The contractor repeatedly no-shows after demoing the fence
07:00 – Mikki fires the contractor… and he comes back anyway
08:30 – The confrontation escalates fast
10:00 – “Keep talking.” — Mikki pulls out the Southern energy
12:00 – Why shady contractors target homeowners they think won’t push back
13:00 – The controversial debate about contractors charging for failed inspections
16:00 – Why inspectors can sometimes be inconsistent or wrong
18:00 – The reality of code interpretation and inspector relationships
20:00 – Why experienced contractors build strong relationships with inspectors
22:00 – Mikki explains why homeowners should NEVER pay for a contractor’s learning curve
24:00 – Today’s homeowner horror story begins: “I just wanted new countertops.”
26:00 – The homeowner hires “a guy who knows a guy”
28:00 – Large deposits, disappearing contractors, and mounting delays
31:00 – The countertops finally arrive… with a terrible seam
34:00 – The leaking undermount sink disaster begins
36:00 – The contractor demands MORE money to fix his own mistake
37:00 – The homeowner discovers the contractor isn’t licensed
39:00 – The contractor disappears completely
40:00 – A real licensed contractor steps in to fix the mess
42:00 – “I should have known better.” — Why homeowners blame themselves
43:00 – Mikki explains how homeowners can better protect themselves
44:00 – Using AI and online tools to research contractors and permits
45:00 – Why multiple bids and contracts matter
47:00 – Final lessons from the story and how listeners can submit their own horror stories

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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Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu host an episode of Chicks in Construction about recurring homeowner scams where contractors fail inspections and try to charge homeowners to fix their own mistakes. They share a South Carolina story in which a homeowner hires “Travis” from Facebook to convert two closets into a half bath for $12,000 in three weeks, pays a $4,000 deposit, then gets hit with extra charges after failed plumbing and electrical inspections, including $1,500 and $800 fixes. After five weeks and $6,500 spent, the homeowner discovers Travis isn’t licensed, can’t provide receipts, and abandons the job. A licensed contractor finishes for $4,500, bringing the total to over $18,000 and four months. They emphasize verifying local requirements, licenses, and insurance, and promote their North Carolina “Pours and Plans” contractor-vetting events.

00:00 Drywall Ethics Cold Open

00:20 Podcast Intro Banter

00:53 Spicy Comment Clapback

02:25 Brain Fog And Tab Chaos

04:29 Vitamin Dealer And Birthdays

07:32 Contractor Scams Explained

13:14 Inspections And Who Pays

19:28 Seniors Panel And Aging Talk

23:03 Horror Story Begins Facebook Hire

24:10 Bathroom Reno Red Flags

27:02 Ask Questions Always

27:36 Confidence Isnt Competence

28:11 Permits And Failed Plumbing

29:13 Paying For Mistakes

32:20 Electrical Code Fail

34:37 New Crews On Site

36:17 Toilet Flange Explained

38:30 License Check Fallout

40:46 Receipts And Ghosting

42:08 Real Contractor Cleanup

43:27 Facebook Referrals Risk

45:22 Pores And Plans Events

51:28 Vet License And Insurance

54:02 Wrap Up And Share Stories

Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu of Chicks in Construction explain why permits matter and share a Denver homeowner horror story: Kevin and Noelle Collins hired Schwab Builders (run by Avi Schwab and involving his father Sean) for a major remodel of their 1950s bungalow, paying over $250,000 in installments. After demolition, progress stalled, communication turned vague, and they later discovered no permits were pulled and the contractor wasn’t properly licensed. A courtesy inspection led to a stop-work order and an engineering report declaring the home unsafe to occupy, forcing the family out after Thanksgiving 2023 and into two years of paying mortgage plus rent. Prosecutors found multiple victims, alleged over $1.1M in consumer fraud, and a jury convicted the builder on 47 felony counts; Avi was sentenced to 10 years. The BBB “Restoring Trust” program helped rebuild the Collins’ home for free, and the hosts highlight red flags like failing to verify licensing and skipping permits.

00:00 Permits Matter

00:13 Welcome and Submit Stories

01:42 Sneeze Talk Tangent

03:50 Tough Mudder Signup

08:59 Camping and Clean Freak

14:30 Back to the Horror Story

18:09 Denver Remodel Nightmare Setup

19:46 Schwab Builders Red Flags

20:55 Quarter Million Renovation Reality

22:22 Contracts and Payments

24:38 Demo and Dependency Trap

27:53 Delays and Ghosting

30:37 No Permits No License

35:30 Lawyer and Courtesy Inspection

37:45 Stop Work Unsafe Home

43:03 More Victims and Fraud

47:21 Trial Verdict and Sentencing

48:56 Restoring Trust and Red Flags

52:00 Final Takeaways and Outro

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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Subscribe to Chicks in Construction and share this episode with your friends because every homeowner, builder, contractor, and designer needs to hear this one!

Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu discuss how homeowners can still be scammed by contractors who seem legitimate, stressing that confidence can be a red flag and research is essential. They cover a fraud case in upstate New York (2019–2023) where a couple used multiple similar business names, contracts, and fake references—one was the contractor’s wife—to take large upfront deposits, stall or abandon projects, deliver poor work, refuse refunds, and spend victims’ money on personal expenses like casino trips and luxury vehicles; losses exceeded $1.5 million across more than a dozen homeowners. The husband received a 5–15 year prison sentence and the wife got six months plus probation. They outline protections: verify licenses and qualifiers, research names via Secretary of State and court filings, avoid deposits over 20%, tie payments to progress, don’t rush decisions, and visit active job sites.

00:00 Confidence Is a Red Flag

00:17 Meet the Hosts

00:48 Justice and Jail Jokes

02:55 Hector and the Purchase Order

06:16 Tech Adoption in Trades

08:15 Why Trades Beat AI

09:37 Research and Real Facts

11:23 Scam Story Setup

14:57 Fraud Case Overview

19:57 Multiple Company Names Warning

23:44 Fake References and Reviews

29:04 Verify Work on Site

31:32 Where the Money Went

31:51 Victims Count the Losses

32:15 Charges and Sentencing

33:51 How the Scam Looked Legit

36:03 Red Flags to Watch

36:07 Multiple Business Names Explained

39:49 Upfront Deposits and Overpaying

41:58 Work Stalls and Bad Workmanship

44:44 Protect Yourself With Research

47:58 Verify Licenses and Qualifiers

52:21 Progress Payments Not Pressure

57:17 Final Takeaways and Share Stories

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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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!

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

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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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!

Mikki Paradis and co-host Jessica Abreu of Chicks in Construction discuss their growing audience, pushback from trolls, and why homeowners should watch comment sections for shady contractors. They revisit a key rule—don’t pay in full until work is complete—and share a homeowner horror story about John O’Brien of “Traditional Masonry and Construction,” accused of running a door-to-door fraud operation from 2021–2024 across multiple states, largely targeting seniors and stealing roughly $1.9–$2.6 million. Using fear-based claims about foundations, chimneys, and structural danger, he took upfront payments, inflated costs (e.g., $9,500 to $80k–$95k), delivered poor or unnecessary work, and disappeared after collecting final payments. They outline major red flags: unsolicited visits, urgent structural warnings, sudden price escalations, large upfront payments, and avoiding independent inspections.

00:00 Payment Rules Upfront

00:21 Show Welcome And Growth

01:03 Trolls And Shady Contractors

05:03 Clapbacks And Vampire Joke

08:16 Gatekeeping Unlicensed Guests

10:55 Horror Story Setup

11:40 Chuck And Truck Scams

13:08 Door Knock Red Flags

17:00 John OBrien Scam Tactics

20:40 Fear Sales And Senior Targets

22:44 Millions Stolen And First Victim

25:42 Estimate Fluff Red Flags

28:06 How the Scam Scales

29:16 Doorstep Trespass Story

33:06 Paying Before Completion

35:08 Payment Boundaries Retainage

39:39 Wire Fraud and Paper Trails

43:44 Five Contractor Scam Signs

50:56 Final Takeaways and Call In

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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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!