Steve Payne
Why The Holmes Group ended their contractor referral program
Canadian Contractor ServiceThe Holmes Group has closed down its Holmes Referred Contractors program, citing a "reevaluation" of the group's priorities. It, instead, will refocus on other activities and sub-brands that Mike Holmes is championing.
We recently reported that that the Holmes Referred Contractors program is officially terminated as of July 15th.
We also said in the first version of that post that the Holmes Group had not responded to our request for information as to why the program was being ended. This was inaccurate: The Holmes Group had, in fact, offered to explain why the program was being terminated but we had not completed that interview when we published our story. We apologize to our readers and to the Holmes folks.
Here, then, is what the Holmes Group has to say about the ending of its contractor referral program, sent to us by Amanda Holmes…
“The decision to cease all operations regarding the Holmes Referred Contractors program was the result of the reevaluation of The Holmes Group’s priorities as an international brand and its respective divisions — Make It Right Productions Inc., HOLMES Communities, HOLMES Approved Homes, MIKE HOLMES Inspections, HOLMES Products, HOLMES Workwear and The Holmes Foundation.”
“Contractors and tradespeople involved in the Holmes Referred Contractors program exceeded client expectations and program standards through their skill and integrity to doing a job right. However, after weeks of discussions, research, strategic planning and analysis, the company decided that it was necessary to refocus its resources on education and on helping homeowners through its existing principal divisions.”
“The Holmes Group is dedicated to delivering quality and a level of service that goes beyond the minimum. We would like to thank all Holmes Referred Contractors for their commitment and for continuing to make it right.”
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HAVING KNOWN MIKE FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS A SURPRISE TO ME TO SEE HIM VENTURE INTO THE REFERRAL BUSINESS ,MY EXPERIENCE NOW FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN THE REFERRAL INDUSTRY HAS OPENED MY EYES
WIDER EVERY DAY AND MY SERVICE AREA IS WESTERN CANADA AND MORE
DOMINANT IN GREATER VANCOUVER. JUST THE VETTING AND CRITERIA
FOLLOW-UP IS A MAJOR COMMITMENT AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT OTHERWISE
YOUR CREDITABILITY WILL SUFFER. MY MENTORS OF THE PAST HAVE ALWAYS SAID DO WHAT YOU DO BEST AND WITH OVER 55YEARS IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY , 30 OF WHICH ON OPEN LINE RADIO (HOME IDEAS
HOME DISCOVERY HOST) AND HAVING MIKE AS A GUEST OVER THE YEARS
HAS PROVEN MY NICHE “THE HOUSESMART GUY”
The “referral model” while attractive to some big box stores and others is flawed and not sustainable. The costs are too high and the quality standards are not uniform. For example, 50 clients do not all have the same standards.
The best method of assessing quality along with price performance is crowd sourcing of client reviews.
YEAH. I KNEW A CONTRACTOR (GEORGE LEMONIDES) WHO SAID HE WAS GOING TO BE ON MIKE’ SHOW. FOR SOME REASON HE DIDN’T WANT HIS PICTURE ON TV. APPARENTLY THOUGH SOMETHING HAPPENED ..GEorGE SAID: AH I DON’T NEED THAT GUY TO HELP ME IN MY BUSINESS. WELL AFTER LETTING GEORGE ON MY PROPERTY –HE LEFT $10,OOO WORTH OF DAMAGE ON MY PROPERTY, THAT I NOW HAVE TO REPAIR OR SUE HIM FOR …I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY MIKE WOULD BE AFRAID TO GIVE ANYBODY A RECOMMENDATION. GEORGE PROBABLY DID HIS BEST WORK FOR MIKE. if mike actually used him. GEORGE CHANGED THE NAME OF HIS COMPANY ALSO.
Just a quick statement all Mike Holmes approved contractors don’t all live up to his make it right logo. I’m dealing with one now. And when you have a site supervisor say it’s only a television show. That don’t make you feel good about your choice.
Mike seems to be in the pocket of a bathroom renovator right now if radio commercials are any guide.
Hard to trust him if he sells out to one contractor.