Well, you’ve had your say about what the show Holmes Makes It Right has done to our industry and your reputation. Now the host of the show, Mike Holmes, will get a chance to answer back. Last week, I did a 30 minute interview with Mike that we will be posting over the next few weeks on canadiancontractor.ca.
I was impressed with Mike during the interview. He was very, very forthcoming while we talked, and didn’t shy away from any of the criticisms you leveled at him. I’ll confess, I didn’t directly quote some of the more personal attacks we received (like, “I wouldn’t let Mike build my doghouse!”) but I did zero in on the three objections that came up again and again; that he doesn’t have a ticket for any of the work he does, that he gets the benefit of sponsors supplying product for free and that he is destroying the reputation of the industry to fill his own pockets.
Now that we have begun a dialogue with Mike, I expect it to continue. At the end of the day, Mike considers himself one of us, and wants to make the relationship between him and the industry right. The only way that happens is if we talk, you you need to continue to send your comments. It would be very interesting if you could send comments that were specific to a particular episode of the show. Just comment on this post to continue the dialogue. In the mean time, stay tuned to this website for more from Mike.
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Rob Austin
January 30, 2013
A few years ago I was lying in bed watching an episode of Mike Homes.
He a was repairing a leaking bonus room above a garage, that of course was not done right in the first place, and he was on a ladder wiring a new receptacle for a garage door opener, Then later it showed him installing the garage light fixture and installing the receptacle, there was no mention of an Electrician, permit or doing it right by a qualified tradesman, what he showed his viewers was if you need some electrical added to your house get your carpenter to do it!
I was appalled! I found an address to the show and emailed the producer.
I did receive a response which surprised me, and the response read something like this. “We only have a half hour show and have no time to mention those issues”
I had replied again and had stated that it would have been better not to show any wiring being done than wiring done by Mike himself. I have not watched his hypocritical show since!
Most qualified Electricians, qualify as a Builder, but no qualified Builders qualify as an Electrician!
Robert Koci
February 2, 2013
Rob: The reality is, homeowners and others are allowed to do their own electrical. There is no provision in law that an electrician MUST do all electrical in the home. So, actually, Mike is perfectly right in doing what he did.
Don Sturm
February 27, 2013
Absolutely not !
Mike would be allowed to do the wiring in his own home if he took a home owner’s permit…… not in anyone else’s home.
Don Stum PEC
Master Electrician
ps. PEC = Professional Electrical Contractor
Ben Kuypers
January 30, 2013
I realize “Holmes Makes It Right” is making consumers aware of the pit falls of renovation work. But it seems slanted toward the extreme cases, and doesn’t balance a view there are many reliable and honest contractors out there, and this gives a false impression of the industry. In many of the cases the home owners should be made more aware they are half the equation. Did they do their due diligence in checking out the contractor they hired (references, licenses etc) did they talk to multiple companies or trades to compare one from the other, did they have a proper budget to have everything on their wish list, or did they proceed with mostly wishful thinking. Where the show takes a real dive is when it comes to the repair and final fixing of the original project. All of a sudden there’s an unlimited budget to not only do it right but over and beyond whats needed. This also gives consumers the false impression that anything and everything should be done, but where does all this extra expense get balanced out (this is never explained). This scenario is more true for the renovation business and doesn’t give the overall right impression of our industry. But I do feel Holmes should be harder on New Home Builders, because the cost driven market gives the building industry the imperative to build as cheap as possible to be able to maximize profits and this has lead to extremely cheap building practices. There are many examples of single homes and multi family complexes that need expensive repairs or are unlivable in a short period of time after construction. This is a result of a price driven market, so the consumers need to be reminded they are half the equation.
Robert Koci
February 2, 2013
In my interview with Mike I asked him about the emphasis on bad contracting in his show. He acknowledged that good contracting doesn’t make good TV, and that’s when he softened his definition of “BAD” contractors. You’ll see the clip soon when we post it.
EZDimensions - Erin Zagar
February 1, 2013
I admit that I have been frustrated watching ‘Holmes on Homes’ and don’t watch it often. The solutions and sometimes the projects are to me over the top and frankly not cost effective for the issues the client faced in renovating.
But I am a fan of the show in the respect of at least shedding light on the less glossy aspects of construction and design. Explaining the shoddy work they find at least causes pause for some do it yourself-ers and allows me as a designer to convince clients to allocate at least some of their budget on structural integrity and the like. When discussing the show with clients I caution them to understand that media, marketing and entertainment have been mixed in large parts to ‘the solutions’ by the end of the program.
I believe a client wants a home they can feel safe and comfortable in. Its perhaps human nature to place faith in ‘if it ‘aint broke don’t fix it’ or ‘well if its lasted this long’. Or for the handy homeowner ‘ it doesn’t look that hard’ and ‘I could do that at half the cost’. Unfortunately I feel the show sometimes brings in the contractors approach of – lets rip it all out and start from scratch and then it will be right.
The overall ignorance with the public and frankly the industries perspective is that there isn’t a middle ground or at least its sometimes very hard to find. I work with residential clients in designing the projects that they have to pay for and live with. I try to focus on the critical elements such as structural, health and safety and dance with the budget around the finish expenses in lieu of doing it right. In these times of economic there has to be a better way for the industry to work together to make it right, safe and affordable.
I applaud Mr. Holmes for the role he has taken in attempting to educate the public and ultimately taking shots from those of us who can’t appreciate the risk involved in taking the spotlight. I’ve met and worked with Mr. Koci and Mr. Holmes in Habitat for Humanity circles and give them both kudos taking a lead in the media to bring some perspective and education to the public.
Robert Koci
February 2, 2013
You’re the first person that has suggested that Mike’s show puts too much emphasis on the “rip it out” approach to renovation. In fact, there are many times when you can fix something with a lot less drama. But again, it doesn’t make for great TV, does it?
Dieter Kirshbaum
February 2, 2013
In response to some of the comments here I would like to point out that Mike constantly mentiones that people should do their homework. Check references, ask to see licenses & insurance coverage, don’t pay excessive amounts up front. Watch for red flags.
As far as tearing everything apart is concerend, take a recen episode of Holmes Inspection where the people had spent 80 000 dollars to have new heating & duct work installed because many areas in the house were very cold.
The ductwork was wrong, there were gaps, aluminum pipes, improper connections etc. In order to fix the problems walls had to be opened up which revealed other problems like a leak from the top bathroom, which meant more walls had to opened to determine where the leak was coming from.
The bouncy floor in the bedroom was the result of using inadequate 2×8′s for a span they were not desiogned for. There were untold plumbing & electrical problems.
Now, when it becomes neccessary to open up walls to to fix a problem & in the process you discover more problems, what do you do? In Mike’s case, because he has the means, he does what needs to be done.
That does not mean that other contractors, without Mike’s resources should do the same thing. But the least that should be done is to make a home owner aware of the problems & let them decide if they want to live with it or if they want to spend the extra money to have it fixed.
To jump on Mike that he tears everything apart & gets most of his materials from sponsors or for free so he can go over the top when it comes to the job, well, that’s a red herring.
Whether you use expensive or cheaper material, it should be installed properly.
Yes, Mike has bitched about lousy contractors for years & keeps complaining about minimum code. If we had proper laws that would proscecute shoddy contractors instead of terming it a civil matter, forcing people to live with the rip-off.
Judging by some of the scathing & insulting posts on any number of contractor forums, mostly by people who have never met Mike or really know him it would seem Mike has managed to pull the wool over peoples head for 10 years. Does anybody honestly believe that he would’ve lasted that long if he was a grand standing faker?
That’s a lot of Baloney as far as I’m concerned. I think a lot of it is more based on envy and/or jealousy. Any of those critics would jump at the chance that Mike had if it came their way.
Whatever he has achieved so far he has worked damned hard for it and is still doing it.
Disclaimer: I was (unpaid) senior moderator of the Holmes Forum for nearly 10 years & know Mike better than all these naysayers.
Jundee
Erni O'Hara
February 4, 2013
A few years ago, Mike did a segment on an addition to a home which had a Hi-Velocity System (manufactured by Energy Saving Products Ltd.) spec’d and installed. At the beginning of the segment, he made it clear that the original design to the home had been changed considerably, however the changes were never submitted to the HVAC design department. As a result, not only was the Hi-Velocity System undersized for the application, it was also installed poorly. As the manufacturer of the Hi-Velocity System, we would have looked forward to the opportunity to comment on the install and even take the necessary steps to correct the errors. Although Mike corrected the deficiencies, an alternate manufacturer’s equipment was used, leaving viewers with the false impression that the original equipment was substandard.
Robert Koci
February 4, 2013
That’s a big deal. I imagine i must have been very frustrating to watch. I’ll ask him about that one.
Merv Snyder
March 27, 2013
First I will give you my back ground and experiance , I am Alberta trained SAIT Journeyman Plumber/ Red Seal , Class 1 Gasfitter , Building Superintendant with a Building opperator A Certificate . I was self-employed 20yrs. as a subcontractor and also with my own Business . At present I am retired beause of Economic and Heath problems , hopping to be able to go back and do some work later this summer .
With regards to Mike Holms , I like to watch his show , BUT there are things that I question . Watching his show there are always things he dose that I learn from , inreguards to renovations , as that is what I did as a service plmbg/gasfitter , as there are differant ways of doing things and staying with in code and there where things that I did that I was better at than Mike !! The down side and I think this has been mentioned a few times is the tearing out and starting over ? Cupboards smashing and throughing into dumster , why not be careful and take things out and reuse or give to some of the recycle places , same with 2×4′s and other lumber , recycle is good for the environment , people use recycle .
Mike is very big on himself , nothing wrong with self confidence , BUT , Mike is more on doing it his way . With Mike not being a trades person , I guess thats where I would question some of his dog- matic- ness . Going to trade school there are things that you learn , little things , that you won’t learn out side of school , the school stuff is your foundation , from there you then start your learning , but you have got to have your basics . I had a chance to skipp first year plumbing school , I’m glad I didn’t , because I learned things that I needed to know for later on . Any ways I keep watching !
Merv Snyder