Anyone see last weeks episode on sunday.... it may even be his new show "Holmes Inspection" not sure. But a owner of a newly remodeled home complained to Holmes about the uneven floors in his house and a host of other problems with it. So Holmes comes in and finds it's not structurely sound and decides to gut the place to the tune of $300,000 in repairs. What do we make of this guy...is he a "Human Wrecking Ball" or what?
Holmes On Homes...
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there's always two ways to do things: the wrong way and the right way.
Holmes chooses the right way.
Holmes chooses the right way.
Holmes works in the TV world.
In the REAL world, by necessity, compromises have to be made.
That's when things become difficult. it's a Grey area.
Imagine you have a car with a sludge problem, Holmes Garage says
"Your engine has sludge, you need a new engine" and you get a $8k bill for a new engine in a 2001 Toyota Camry.
In the real world, other less costly options might 'realistically' be the first approach.
In the REAL world, by necessity, compromises have to be made.
That's when things become difficult. it's a Grey area.
Imagine you have a car with a sludge problem, Holmes Garage says
"Your engine has sludge, you need a new engine" and you get a $8k bill for a new engine in a 2001 Toyota Camry.
In the real world, other less costly options might 'realistically' be the first approach.
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I don't like that show. It disgusts me. Holmes is cool, but the show is just a reminder of how little you can trust the general public. I already know that. I'd watch it if he could track down the contractor in every episode and give him a vicious beating.
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Holmes chooses the right way.
Yes, he does...but then again, it wouldn't be too good for ratings if he walked into a house and just found nit-picky stuff (sort of a Gordon Ramsey situation). I'm pretty sure Holmes could go through any house in Canada (or America) and locate something "dangerous" that requires an expensive fix; with as many serious issues as he finds, it's amazing we don't have houses collapsing and blowing up all over the place.
BTW: Yeah, I saw that episode. Pretty squirrely of the previous finish carpenter to use an inch of toe moulding to hide the gap between the floor and wall (not to mention, the interior doors were like two inches off the floor).
Holmes chooses the right way.
Yes, he does...but then again, it wouldn't be too good for ratings if he walked into a house and just found nit-picky stuff (sort of a Gordon Ramsey situation). I'm pretty sure Holmes could go through any house in Canada (or America) and locate something "dangerous" that requires an expensive fix; with as many serious issues as he finds, it's amazing we don't have houses collapsing and blowing up all over the place.
BTW: Yeah, I saw that episode. Pretty squirrely of the previous finish carpenter to use an inch of toe moulding to hide the gap between the floor and wall (not to mention, the interior doors were like two inches off the floor).
It's funny to watch him right the serious messups.
It does seem he picks the worst of the worst to renovate.
It would be nice to do it like he does on a house. Unfortunately it would be far too much money for not enough increase in value. Well, except value to me.
It does seem he picks the worst of the worst to renovate.
It would be nice to do it like he does on a house. Unfortunately it would be far too much money for not enough increase in value. Well, except value to me.
One of the best shows out there.
Yeah, it's an episode of "Holes Inspection". He overbuilds ANYTHING. I love that. But I felt so sorry for the people on this episode. These poor folks thought they bought their "dream home", only to get SCREWED, big time. Not right. Just not right. And that massive ditch they dug in the basement! What a mess!
300K in repairs. OUCH. They could buy 2-3 more houses with that!
Yeah, it's an episode of "Holes Inspection". He overbuilds ANYTHING. I love that. But I felt so sorry for the people on this episode. These poor folks thought they bought their "dream home", only to get SCREWED, big time. Not right. Just not right. And that massive ditch they dug in the basement! What a mess!
300K in repairs. OUCH. They could buy 2-3 more houses with that!
I've watched the show before. Shows how today's trades really lack the skills they need. Cheap work done by people who don't know what they are doing is disgusting. I built my own house in 1999 and had some issues with a few bad trades. I was lucky as I could upgrade a lot of materials and design without getting screwed by a builder
I did see that episode on Sunday. I watch it to learn what NOT to do when repairing my own home. I know most of what I see in terms of plumbing/electrical but some of the roof stuff and other items I had no idea.
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
Originally Posted By: Clevy
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
I'm not surprised. It's amazing to me how many people watch a television show and think that what they're seeing is real. Even "reality" television isn't reality.
I'm just glad that I don't spend much time in front of a television.
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
I'm not surprised. It's amazing to me how many people watch a television show and think that what they're seeing is real. Even "reality" television isn't reality.
I'm just glad that I don't spend much time in front of a television.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
well of COURSE he has advisers and a crew! I don't think anyone here thinks any different.
but he is not just some hired host, he IS a real contractor.
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
well of COURSE he has advisers and a crew! I don't think anyone here thinks any different.
but he is not just some hired host, he IS a real contractor.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
Of course. we already knew that!
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
Of course. we already knew that!
IMHO Holmes has more respect than many other "so-called" contractors out there, regardless of whether he's an airhead or not, reality shows or not.
Truth of the matter is, I've seen far too many unskilled/poorly trained tradesmen out there that claimed to be an expert in the contruction or reno fields, only to screwww the homeowners out when either they bailed out on them 1/2 way, put a lien on the owner's house when they didn't get paid for the lousy/incomplete work they have done, and the things along the way...
Case to the point: my house was built in 2004 by a bunch of xxxwhateverxxx constuction builder. As the 2nd owner of this house (Bought 3 mnths ago), I found out the hard way that the so-called licensed electricians cheated by doing all 38 AC wall outlets and 12+light switches using quick connect, which is an absolute no-no (I have friends into fire/water disaster recovery biz and they all shook their heads RE: quickconnects). And yet to all the homeowners out there, including our previous owner: they wouldn't know the difference until resistance increases on the contact between the wire and the quickconnect which leads to meltdowns or even fire.
You call it anyway you want but frankly I don't have much faith in most "so-called" trained/certified/schooled tradesmen out there. They have to work much harder to persuade me before I can lay trust on them.
Holmes is ok by my standards. He may portray himself bigger than who he is on TV but he does the society a good deed by raising the awareness of the lack of workmanship/quality in the trades. That you cannot deny.
My 2c's worth.
Q.
Truth of the matter is, I've seen far too many unskilled/poorly trained tradesmen out there that claimed to be an expert in the contruction or reno fields, only to screwww the homeowners out when either they bailed out on them 1/2 way, put a lien on the owner's house when they didn't get paid for the lousy/incomplete work they have done, and the things along the way...
Case to the point: my house was built in 2004 by a bunch of xxxwhateverxxx constuction builder. As the 2nd owner of this house (Bought 3 mnths ago), I found out the hard way that the so-called licensed electricians cheated by doing all 38 AC wall outlets and 12+light switches using quick connect, which is an absolute no-no (I have friends into fire/water disaster recovery biz and they all shook their heads RE: quickconnects). And yet to all the homeowners out there, including our previous owner: they wouldn't know the difference until resistance increases on the contact between the wire and the quickconnect which leads to meltdowns or even fire.
You call it anyway you want but frankly I don't have much faith in most "so-called" trained/certified/schooled tradesmen out there. They have to work much harder to persuade me before I can lay trust on them.
Holmes is ok by my standards. He may portray himself bigger than who he is on TV but he does the society a good deed by raising the awareness of the lack of workmanship/quality in the trades. That you cannot deny.
My 2c's worth.
Q.
I like the show, not for the repair or screwed up houses, they are hand picked and obviously not as common as them make it out to be.
But one thing that this show is good for is to show just how the whole system and laws are made to extract as much money as possible from the home owners, while protecting the contractors and builders.
Basically any contractor can come in, get a deposit from you, start some work and walk away from the job with the money, and if you try pursuing this guy the legal way, he will just fold his business and open another one the next day under a different name.
Holmes' message is not to give any deposits up front, or give very little, and pay the contractor as he completes certain mile stones with bigger projects.
That’s the way I take the show. I just purchased a new home and will be moving in this May. This show helped me a lot with realizing that unless you do your homework and inspect every single thing yourself, there is no one else that will help you. Even the so called “inspectors” are never liable for any defects found after the inspection, and often collude with the real estate agents for business. One hand washes the other type of deal.
For my PDI, I am coming in armed with a check list of things that must be caught during the inspection. Things like scratches, holes, missing trim, misaligned doors and windows,etc. if not caught during the inspection, will not be covered as you will be blamed for the damage.
But one thing that this show is good for is to show just how the whole system and laws are made to extract as much money as possible from the home owners, while protecting the contractors and builders.
Basically any contractor can come in, get a deposit from you, start some work and walk away from the job with the money, and if you try pursuing this guy the legal way, he will just fold his business and open another one the next day under a different name.
Holmes' message is not to give any deposits up front, or give very little, and pay the contractor as he completes certain mile stones with bigger projects.
That’s the way I take the show. I just purchased a new home and will be moving in this May. This show helped me a lot with realizing that unless you do your homework and inspect every single thing yourself, there is no one else that will help you. Even the so called “inspectors” are never liable for any defects found after the inspection, and often collude with the real estate agents for business. One hand washes the other type of deal.
For my PDI, I am coming in armed with a check list of things that must be caught during the inspection. Things like scratches, holes, missing trim, misaligned doors and windows,etc. if not caught during the inspection, will not be covered as you will be blamed for the damage.
There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow, there's always enough time to do it over.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
So what? I'd be TRILLED if he'd choose my house and do what needs to done correctly. BTW, he's a LICENSED contractor and he has advisers. What's wrong with that? It's great to get ideas from many people as possible. Options galore.
You guys don't have a clue what your talking about. I worked for real renos and Holmes on Homes about 6 years ago. He is a taking head with the right look. It was guys like us that did the repairs and fixed the problems. He has a team of advisors and engineers that tell US what to do. Then he comes in like a hero. Come on man. It's tv
So what? I'd be TRILLED if he'd choose my house and do what needs to done correctly. BTW, he's a LICENSED contractor and he has advisers. What's wrong with that? It's great to get ideas from many people as possible. Options galore.
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow, there's always enough time to do it over.
Who's to say that the do over will be done right? Most often than not, the do over will be screwed up as well.
There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow, there's always enough time to do it over.
Who's to say that the do over will be done right? Most often than not, the do over will be screwed up as well.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow, there's always enough time to do it over.
Who's to say that the do over will be done right? Most often than not, the do over will be screwed up as well.
Well, if you learned something from your first mistake, then you make sure you hire the right guy the second time...
In a big city though like T.O. I can see its a bit of nightmare sorting through all the hack jobbers... Paying almost nothing upfront though should filter out most of them though and once you find a quality guy, ask him for names he works with in other trades. That's how we hired all the trades that built our house, but we're out in the sticks so its easy to keep track of the hacks.
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow, there's always enough time to do it over.
Who's to say that the do over will be done right? Most often than not, the do over will be screwed up as well.
Well, if you learned something from your first mistake, then you make sure you hire the right guy the second time...
In a big city though like T.O. I can see its a bit of nightmare sorting through all the hack jobbers... Paying almost nothing upfront though should filter out most of them though and once you find a quality guy, ask him for names he works with in other trades. That's how we hired all the trades that built our house, but we're out in the sticks so its easy to keep track of the hacks.
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow, there's always enough time to do it over.
Who's to say that the do over will be done right? Most often than not, the do over will be screwed up as well.
Well, if you learned something from your first mistake, then you make sure you hire the right guy the second time...
In a big city though like T.O. I can see its a bit of nightmare sorting through all the hack jobbers... Paying almost nothing upfront though should filter out most of them though and once you find a quality guy, ask him for names he works with in other trades. That's how we hired all the trades that built our house, but we're out in the sticks so its easy to keep track of the hacks.
True, if you are the one learning from the mistake I can see that, but in GTA area it's hardly the case that the owners will be the ones doing the do over, usually it's the people that bought the house from them.
The mantra here is to buy something, quickly and cheaply renovate the kitchen, finish the basement or do whatever and flip that house. That's why there are so many hack jobs and bad contractors, as nobody really cares since they will be selling the house anyways.
If people were actually doing these renovations to improve their home and keep living in it, they would better scrutinize contractor's qualifications and work done.
So, couple customer ignorance with laws that make it very difficult to get your money back from a bad contractor and we have what we have. Holmes struck a gold mine that will not be depleted anytime soon.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow, there's always enough time to do it over.
Who's to say that the do over will be done right? Most often than not, the do over will be screwed up as well.
Well, if you learned something from your first mistake, then you make sure you hire the right guy the second time...
In a big city though like T.O. I can see its a bit of nightmare sorting through all the hack jobbers... Paying almost nothing upfront though should filter out most of them though and once you find a quality guy, ask him for names he works with in other trades. That's how we hired all the trades that built our house, but we're out in the sticks so its easy to keep track of the hacks.
True, if you are the one learning from the mistake I can see that, but in GTA area it's hardly the case that the owners will be the ones doing the do over, usually it's the people that bought the house from them.
The mantra here is to buy something, quickly and cheaply renovate the kitchen, finish the basement or do whatever and flip that house. That's why there are so many hack jobs and bad contractors, as nobody really cares since they will be selling the house anyways.
If people were actually doing these renovations to improve their home and keep living in it, they would better scrutinize contractor's qualifications and work done.
So, couple customer ignorance with laws that make it very difficult to get your money back from a bad contractor and we have what we have. Holmes struck a gold mine that will not be depleted anytime soon.
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