{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Chicks in Construction","title":"From Digital Designs to Real Defects: Welcome Homes on Trial","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/e04ae257\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3717,"description":"Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu of The Chicks in Construction discuss a homeowner horror story tied to alleged lawsuits against Welcome Homes, a PropTech startup founded in 2020 by DigitalOcean executives that promised custom homes built in about six months through an online design-and-build platform. Citing a vetted New York Post article, they describe claims of long delays, permit issues, construction errors (including flooded basements and hidden mistakes), and disputes over deposits and cancellation fees, including one couple who reportedly ended up with only cleared land and a pit. They note former HGTV host Anthony Carino joined as VP of Design but left in January 2024, saying leadership wouldn’t follow construction best practices, and that only one customer was living in a completed home when he left. The hosts highlight red flags like guaranteed timelines and inexperienced leadership, and advise homeowners to vet contractors carefully.\n00:00 Experience Matters\n00:27 Podcast Welcome\n01:48 Pet Debate Begins\n03:19 Cat Cafe Chaos\n07:49 Allergy Aftermath\n09:55 Babysitting Confessions\n11:27 Water Cooler Horror\n15:04 Legal Preface\n16:13 Tech Meets Construction\n19:58 Prefab Versus Hype\n22:21 Six Month Promise\n27:57 Welcome Homes Lawsuits\n28:52 Price Too Good\n29:57 Permits and Delays\n31:04 Mud Pit Fallout\n33:17 More Lawsuits Surface\n35:14 HGTV Credibility Boost\n40:16 Tech Bro Leadership\n42:03 Business Model Pivot\n48:27 Red Flags Checklist\n55:57 Construction Is Hard\n01:00:50 Final Takeaways\n\nSubmit your homeowner horror story:\nwww.chicksinconstruction.com\nFollow on Social Media:\nwww.instagram.com/chicksinconstructionpodcast\nwww.facebook.com/chicksinconstructionpodcast\nwww.linkedin.com/company/chicksinconstructionpodcast\nwww.youtube.com/@ChicksInConstruction\n________________\nLove what you hear?\nSubscribe to Chicks in Construction and share this episode with your friends because every homeowner, builder, contractor, and designer needs to hear this one!","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}