United States Women In Real Estate Investing California w/ Jody Costello of contractorsfromhell.com

The Woman Who Refused to Be a Victim

The journey to real estate success isn’t always a straight path—it can be filled with costly lessons, broken promises, and unexpected legal battles.

For Jody Costello, a San Diego native, the road to real estate wisdom began with a devastating experience that would shape her life’s mission: protecting homeowners from predatory contractors.

Appearing on United States Women in Real Estate Investing, hosted by Jeune Ortiz, Jody shared the gripping story of how she transformed her own personal nightmare into an industry-changing mission.

A Simple Home Renovation Turns Into Chaos

What started as a heartfelt plan to renovate her childhood home and bring her ailing mother under her roof quickly spiraled into a legal and financial catastrophe.

Jody and her family fell into the hands of an unscrupulous contractor—one who left them entangled in a nightmare of unfinished work, broken contracts, and an expensive legal battle.

“It was a hard learning curve—an expensive one. We ended up in litigation. It was three years of stops, starts, attorneys, and frustration.”

But Jody didn’t just fight back—she won.

She took her case to court and emerged victorious, reclaiming her home and her confidence.

The experience opened her eyes to a larger issue: homeowners everywhere were falling victim to similar schemes, and most had no idea how to protect themselves.

A Reluctant Advocate Steps Into the Spotlight

Jody didn’t just walk away from her ordeal—she became an advocate. Her victory led her to work as a consumer advocate with the California Contractors State Licensing Board for 17 years.

She advised homeowners, testified before the state senate on consumer protection laws, and became a voice for those who had been silenced by unethical contractors.

“I had people reaching out to me, desperate for help, and I could feel their pain because I had lived it. I knew exactly what they needed to do, and I knew the hard road they were about to walk.”

Through this work, she discovered a critical flaw in the system: homeowners were left defenseless because they didn’t know what they didn’t know.

They didn’t know the right questions to ask. They didn’t know how to vet a contractor properly. They didn’t know their legal rights until it was too late.

The Birth of Contractors From Hell

Fueled by the passion to prevent others from enduring the same struggle, Jody founded Contractors From Hell—a platform designed to educate, empower, and arm homeowners with the tools they need to avoid renovation disasters.

Her Home Remodeling Bootcamp became the blueprint for homeowners and investors alike, teaching them how to navigate contracts, enforce accountability, and avoid the devastating financial losses that can come with a bad contractor.

“You have to know what you’re doing. You have to understand the process, the contracts, and the hidden traps. Otherwise, you could lose everything.”

Real estate investors, in particular, found her teachings invaluable. When flipping properties or managing large-scale renovations, the stakes are even higher.

A single misstep could mean tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of dollars lost.

Secrets Every Homeowner Should Know

Jody’s mission was clear: educate homeowners before they made costly mistakes.

During the conversation, she shared some of the most critical lessons that every homeowner and investor should take to heart:

• Never trust a contractor based on reputation alone.
  “Just because someone comes recommended doesn’t mean they’re the right fit. You need to dig deeper.”

• Always verify insurance, licensing, and past lawsuits.
  “A contractor might look good on paper, but it can take up to 18 months for disciplinary actions to appear on their record. You need to do your homework.”

• Understand contracts inside and out.
  “Most contractors use generic, one-size-fits-all contracts that don’t protect the homeowner. You have every right to modify and add protective clauses.”

• Know how to handle unexpected costs and change orders.
  “If a contractor starts adding extra work and surprise invoices without your approval, you need to have written protections in place.”

• Have clear communication expectations from the start.
  “How often will we meet? How will progress be tracked? Who will be managing the project? These details must be agreed upon upfront.”

An Unstoppable Force for Change

Jody’s message wasn’t just about avoiding bad contractors—it was about taking control of the process and refusing to be a passive participant in one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

Her Home Remodeling Bootcamp has already saved countless homeowners from falling into financial ruin.

Beyond the legal protections and contracts, her work sends a powerful message:

“You don’t have to accept disaster as part of the process. You don’t have to be the victim of a contractor’s incompetence or greed. You have the power to protect yourself.”

From Survival to Success

Jody Costello’s journey is one of resilience, empowerment, and triumph. She turned devastation into purpose, loss into education, and frustration into advocacy.

Her story is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is an opportunity—not just to survive but to thrive.

And for homeowners and investors alike, her message is clear: knowledge isn’t just power—it’s protection.