Real Estate & Renovation: Insider Tips from Industry Expert

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Chicks in Construction

Mikki Paradis

26 episodes

1 day ago

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 Aper, 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 This isn’t just another DIY podcast or contractor interview show. Mikki and Jess pull back the curtain on what goes wrong in home projects, translating industry talk into plain English and giving you practical steps to avoid common (and costly) mistakes. 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 perspective of someone who’s been in your shoes and now knows exactly what questions to ask. Want to renovate smarter and spot red flags before they wreck your project? Hit follow and get ready for real talk, expert advice, and stories that will make you say, “Thank God I listened to this first.” Submit Your Construction Horror Story: https://chicksinconstruction.com/

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Real Estate & Renovation: Insider Tips from Industry Expert - Lisa Houtman

Chicks in Construction

57 minutes

1 month ago

Real Estate & Renovation: Insider Tips from Industry Expert - Lisa Houtman

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®
Lisa@houtmanhomerealty.com
www.HoutmanHomeRealty.com
@HoutmanHomerealty

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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