Chicks in Construction

Welcome back to another episode of Chicks in Construction! In this episode, hosts Mikki and Jess dive into smart renovation decisions with their guest expert, Lisa Houtman from Houtman Home Realty and Heights Construction. Learn how to avoid common homeowner pitfalls and get insider tips on making renovations that actually add value to your home. From spotting red flags in real estate advice to understanding what upgrades are worth your time and money, this episode is packed with practical advice you won't want to miss. Plus, enjoy some fun banter about personal experiences and unique home improvement stories. Don't miss out—subscribe for more insightful and entertaining episodes!

00:00 Introduction to Smart Renovation Decisions
00:55 Meet the Hosts and Special Guest
02:32 Special Trash and Personal Stories
05:57 Winning Raffles and College Memories
10:07 Real Estate and Construction Insights
16:38 Home Renovation Horror Stories
18:16 Tips for Increasing Home Value
23:19 Working Together in Construction
29:38 New Construction Insights
31:38 Crazy Construction Stories
38:37 Homeowner Tips and Advice
44:11 Fridge Scaping and Other Trends
50:11 Holiday Traditions and Tangents
53:15 Final Advice and Wrap-Up

Contact info for Lisa Houtman 

Lisa Houtman is the owner of Home Realty powered by Fathom Realty here in the Triangle and also part of her family company Heights Construction. Together they help homeowners looking to sell get their properties fixed up and sold. 

She came from a construction background has 10 years of experience in both commercial and residential combined, and when she moved to Raleigh 8 years ago, she started right in the residential trades in HVAC. From there, she worked her way up to Purchasing Manager for a local home builder before branching out into her own real estate and construction business. Today more than half of her business is new construction, so she has seen both sides: the builder’s perspective and the buyer’s perspective.

Real Estate Broker | Realtor®
[email protected]
www.HoutmanHomeRealty.com
@HoutmanHomerealty

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Welcome back to the Chicks in Construction! In this episode, our hosts dive into an exciting mix of leftover audience questions from their 'junk drawer,' explore the fascinating and wildly impractical trend of 'Fridge Scaping,' and share the do's and don'ts of DIY projects. They also cover when you really need a permit for home renovations and the challenges of living through a renovation. Tune in for heartfelt advice, hilarious anecdotes, and practical tips to navigate your construction and home improvement projects. Don't forget to subscribe, comment, and share your homeowner horror stories!

00:00 Welcome to Chicks in Construction
00:56 Introducing New Mics and Subscriber Appeal
01:48 Hot Topic: Fridge Scaping
08:59 Overflow Questions: Do I Need a Permit?
24:23 Unexpected Renovation Challenges
25:14 Living Room Kitchen Setup
25:29 Crockpot Cooking Amidst Chaos
25:48 The Never-Ending Dust Battle
26:41 Managing Renovation Expectations
28:41 DIY Disasters and False Confidence
29:39 Knowing Your DIY Limits
31:35 The Importance of Professional Help
38:08 Painting Nightmares
43:52 Final Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

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Welcome to The Chicks in Construction, the podcast where your hosts decode construction jargon and share laughter-filled stories. In this episode, we take a break from homeowner horror stories to discuss essential construction terms like change orders, submittals, punch lists, allowances, scope of work, and much more. Mickey and Jess humorously navigate through these terms, share personal anecdotes, and emphasize the importance of clarity in construction contracts. Tune in to learn and laugh as they offer invaluable tips for making your renovation projects smoother and more informed.

00:00 Welcome to The Chicks in Construction
00:49 Decoding Construction Lingo
01:57 Dog Tales and Vet Visits
05:46 Beach House Updates
10:19 Special Trash and Marriage Tips
12:59 Understanding Construction Terms
25:55 The High Cost of Kitchen Appliances
27:23 Dishwasher Dilemma: To Trust or Not to Trust
28:41 Understanding Construction Allowances
29:04 The Importance of Schedule of Values
31:59 Drawing Money from Contracts
33:24 Lien Waivers: Protecting Your Property
35:49 Retainage: Ensuring Contractor Completion
39:30 Load-Bearing Walls and Structural Changes
43:06 R-Value: Measuring Insulation Effectiveness
44:41 Scope Creep: Managing Project Expansion
49:32 Conclusion and Call for Homeowner Horror Stories

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Welcome back to the Chicks in Construction podcast! In this episode, we unravel a jaw-dropping homeowner horror story that started with a simple bathroom DIY and spiraled into a $26,000 catastrophe. Join us as we dive into the challenges, missteps, and unexpected expenses encountered during this renovation gone horribly wrong. From mold remediation to contractor woes, we share valuable lessons and tips to help you avoid the same pitfalls. Grab your hard hat and tune in for an entertaining and informative discussion that you won't want to miss!

00:00 Introduction to the Renovation Nightmare

00:48 Meet the Hosts: Mikki and Jess do the chitty chat

01:07 Small Talk and TikTok Trends

03:15 Dog Troubles and Vet Bills

08:22 Jessica's Busy Life with Kids and Softball

11:17 Homeowner Horror Story: The Moldy Bathroom

24:42 Wiring Woes and Bathroom Blues

25:57 Dog Drama and Family Tales

27:57 Tile Troubles and Contractor Chaos

30:03 The Costly Contractor Switch

33:11 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

49:08 Engage with Us! It's free!

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In this episode of Chicks in Construction, host Mikki and guest-host Allison King discuss the challenges and triumphs of working with general contractors (GCs) on home building projects. Allison, from Clarity Design-Build, shares her journey from starting in sales to becoming a project manager, and highlights the importance of knowing what you want in a custom build. They delve into details about site conditions, allowances, and how to protect yourself financially during a construction project. Both hosts emphasize the importance of having everything in writing and controlling the finances to ensure the project's success. Whether you're considering building a custom home or renovating an existing one, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate the process smoothly.

00:00 Introduction to Chicks in Construction
00:48 Meet the Co-Host: Allison King
01:20 Allison's Journey in Construction
01:55 The Challenges of Working in Construction
02:39 From Sales to Project Management
07:34 Building Spec Homes and Custom Projects
13:11 Understanding Home Building Costs
28:03 The Importance of Inspections and Surveys
31:28 The Importance of Licensed General Contractors
32:27 Getting References and Vetting Contractors
34:21 Financing and Construction Loans
36:40 Understanding Liens and Waivers
41:40 Managing Expectations and Budgeting
55:42 Custom Building vs. Production Building
01:00:40 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

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We debunk 12 common construction myths! From the truth about verbal agreements, exact project completion dates, and new construction home inspections, to whether higher prices always mean higher quality and the myth of being able to knock down any wall, Mikki and Jess have got you covered. They also share a personal project update, discuss the benefits of sourcing materials from local businesses, and dive into the complexities of contractor markups and insurance. Whether you're planning a renovation, building a new home, or just interested in the construction industry, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice. Tune in and get the real scoop on these pervasive construction myths!

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:53 Townhouse Painting Project
02:57 Challenges of DIY Painting
05:40 Supporting Local Businesses
07:48 Beach Trip and Shell Collecting
09:51 Debunking Construction Myths
11:27 Budget and Cost Myths
23:05 Timeline Myths
27:38 Quality and Material Myths
28:20 The Illusion of High-End Brands
32:41 The Importance of Home Inspections
33:49 Contractor Licensing and Quality
36:00 Insurance and Contractor Coverage
39:59 The Myth of Verbal Agreements
42:45 Design and Function Myths
50:03 Energy Efficiency: Worth the Cost?
52:27 Final Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

Prism Paint + Design -You’re Triangle, Triad, Piedmont Benjamin Dealer
6 locations - Raleigh - Cary - Chapel Hill  - Greensboro  - High Point - Winston Salem
The products used were Ultraspec 500 low sheen eggshell walls and Door, Trim & Cabinet Satin for the trim.
Contact info
Rich Kipp, Regional Manager
919-268-0935
[email protected]

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In this episode of Chicks in Construction, hosts Mikki and Jess dive into a harrowing North Raleigh renovation story that underscores the importance of hiring licensed general contractors, obtaining permits, and not prepaying large sums of money upfront. They highlight a homeowner's ordeal with a fraudulent GC who left numerous structural and compliance issues unchecked, leading to significant financial and emotional stress. Tune in to learn vital tips on how to protect yourself in construction projects and ensure your renovations don't turn into a nightmare.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:50 Upgraded Studio Setup
04:53 Summer Break and Camp A
05:29 The Nightmare Renovation Begins
07:46 Unlicensed Contractor Issues
08:29 Importance of Permits and Inspections
15:18 The Inspection Fiasco
25:34 Deck Disaster Unfolds
26:27 Crawlspace Conundrum
28:40 Kitchen Catastrophe
30:36 Inspection Issues
33:10 Legal Battles and Resolutions
44:18 Lessons Learned
47:33 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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What was supposed to be a clean, modern upgrade to the only full bathroom in a 1960s split-level turned into four months of dust, delays, and constant headaches. With a solid budget and a contractor who promised four to five weeks, this Rhode Island homeowner thought they were in good hands. Instead, they found themselves showering in a freezing basement with a garden hose while bills kept piling up.

Mikki and Jess walk through every misstep, from shoddy plumbing to crooked tile, and the money decisions that made a bad situation even worse. This story is not just about a failed bathroom reno, it is a cautionary tale about what happens when you lose control of your project’s budget and timeline.

Inside the Homeowner Horror Story:

• Demo dust covering the bedroom, furniture, and even inside drawers
• A tub pipe cut incorrectly, causing a $1,100 ceiling repair the contractor refused to cover
• Floor tile installed so poorly it had to be ripped out and redone for $3,000
• The risk of paying too much upfront and losing leverage when work goes wrong
• How a promised 4–5 week project left the homeowner without a real shower for four months and thousands over budget

If you are about to hire a contractor, this is your sign to protect your money, pay for completed work only, and never assume that will not happen to you.

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Most painters are disasters waiting to happen. They'll destroy your floors, paint over problems instead of fixing them, take your deposit and disappear for weeks, then leave you with a mess that looks worse than when they started. But how do you spot the difference between a real professional and some guy who thinks painting is easy money?

Elizabeth Mejía from Top Empire Painting has seen it all, from painters who literally paint over staples sticking out of trim to clients who lock contractors out mid-job and hurl racial slurs. She breaks down the warning signs, red flags, and insider secrets that separate legitimate pros from the disasters that give the industry a bad name.

What You'll Learn:

• The contract red flags that scream "this person will ruin your house"
• Why your dream paint color might look like garbage and how good painters prevent this
• What real prep work involves and why corners cut here destroy everything
• The deposit scams vs. legitimate payment requests
• Why that $6/sq ft quote might actually save you money in the long run
• The communication skills that separate pros from pretenders
• Warning signs during estimates that predict disaster

This is your complete insider guide to hiring a painter who won't ruin your house, steal your money, or make you want to burn everything down.

Connect with Top Empire Painting:
Website: www.topempirepainting.com
Instagram: @topempirepainting

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Mikki and Jess tackle one of the biggest problems in home renovations: homeowners going in completely unprepared for what construction actually looks like. After seeing so many horror stories from listeners, they realized many of the "disasters" could have been avoided if people just knew what was normal versus what was actually worth getting upset about.

They delve into common challenges faced during renovations, emphasizing the importance of hiring skilled professionals, anticipating delays, and effective communication with contractors. They also cover the necessity of having a contingency budget and understanding the true costs and processes involved in renovations. The episode highlights the need for realistic expectations to ensure a smoother renovation experience, sharing both homeowner and contractor perspectives on common pitfalls and best practices.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Understanding common construction realities like dust and delays
• What to expect when opening walls and encountering structural issues
• Why quality work requires time and proper scheduling
• The challenges of managing subcontractors and inspections
• Realistic budgeting and the problems with HGTV expectations

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