{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Chicks in Construction","title":"Contractor Catastrophes: What Every Homeowner Should Know","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/65170b88\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3575,"description":"In this episode of Chicks in Construction, hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu discuss an Arizona case in which senior citizens Elizabeth Matthews and her husband hired Settlers West Home Builder in May 2022 to build a $1M custom home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills, then were persuaded to sign a separate $300,000 guest-house contract and pay large amounts in cash outside their construction loan. After paying $150,000 for the main project plus $150,000 and later $105,000 toward the guest house (and nearly $60,000 in upgrades), the couple saw major delays, received no refund when requested, and ultimately learned the builder filed for bankruptcy in December 2023, leaving two homes only framed. The builders had 18 license complaints before revocation in February 2024. The hosts stress red flags, not paying for uncompleted work, milestone-based draws, lien waivers, and retainage.\n00:00 Renovation Limbo Warning\n00:25 Podcast Intro and Horror Stories\n02:47 Why Contractors Dodge Consequences\n09:04 Time Optimist Tangent\n13:45 Hoarding vs Throwing Away\n19:01 Deep Dive Redemption Setup\n20:34 Dream Home Disaster Begins\n22:59 Meet the Matthews and the Contract\n26:08 Guest House Upsell Red Flags\n27:53 Discounts as Red Flags\n28:42 Cash Pressure and Markups\n31:02 Selling the House to Pay\n32:54 Delays and Sunk Cost Trap\n36:34 Overpaying for Bare Framing\n38:38 Complaints and Bankruptcy Twist\n48:13 Why Fixing Work Costs More\n52:39 Pay Milestones and Lien Waivers\n56:43 Retainage and Final Takeaways","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/U4RQe6qavAk3WxUWLiKdTLcjOSkCRvzyPPS1Dj1fGLU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hMWVi/MzVhNTA2ZjUwMWI3/YzA2MDkxZmU3Njlh/NzkzNS5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}