Shaky Foundations: A Homeowner’s Guide to Contractor Scams

Remodel Horror Stories & Contractor Secrets with  Erika Zimandy

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

Contractor Horror Story: The Countertop Nightmare

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 ________________ 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!

Unmasking Construction Scams: Homeowner Stories

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

Building Nightmares: The True Cost of Oversight

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 ________________ 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!

Caught in the Act: Shady Contractors and How to Spot Them

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 ________________ 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!