Holmes on Homes - Opinions on the show

[tboy]

Except if you post a bad review of a contractor they will sue the poster and the board operator.....

On exactly what grounds? If the poster tells the truth and doesn't embellish anything and the contractor is given an oppurtunity to refute the claims or respond, he doesn't have a leg to stand on legally.

It's called freedom of speech.....

 

[The Daulfin]

not in canada, the laws are much different in canada regarding "reviews". if you purely stated facts, that would be fine, but a remark like "the work was bad" which is opinion and not fact, could get you into legal trouble. our laws suck regarding this.

The way around that is to say that the contractor "did not meet agreed upon specification" (which can reach into the realm of aesthetic as well), so assuming there is some written record of what was supposed to be done and how, you make it an issue of specified direction not being followed and thus it is no longer an opinion.

 

[svtcobra]

My buddy was getting quotes for eavestrough on his new second floor and just happened to call up a guy who's on the Holmes show. This eavestrougher said he was busy for the next 6 to 8 months and wanted 10 THOUSAND dollars to put up a couple of lines of eavestrough! This was about 8 times the price of the people he eventually went with.

My friend and I felt this trougher was gouging because he could get away with it.

That could be right, but you also want to think that he didn't want the business, as he claims he was busy for the next 6 to 8 months. Although I don't know the business, and you said you're friend wanted him to put up a couple of (Lines) sections of eavestrough's. That shouldn't cost that much. 10 grand yeah ok. I don't belive that.

In other hands if that is true what you're friend said I would would tell the guy to shove the quote somewhere.

Look in all honesty it is a TV show. I'm sure there is scripted somewhere in the show. All in all in the industry Mike has taken allot of BS from others and I'm sure there are other industry contrators that hate him from what he is doing. When himself and some of his crew sat down with us and started talking, then time flew by fast. He is good guy in my book, even though he has his faults (Everyone Does) he is a business man.

 

[tboy]

That's just it, he isn't a businessman....his business was failing. See to be in business you HAVE to compromise sometimes because if you don't, well, you end uo OUT of business. (or it MH"s case, become a tv star lol).

I think what he should do on his show is admit that not all contractors are boneheads. That some are good. Constantly state the fact that his show is about dealing with the results of boneheads but he never does. EVER.

For the record, the 42.27% of you who voted who want to hire Mike to do your renos, I hope you have deep pockets because it'll cost you.....but then again, getting what you want always costs you....

 

[svtcobra]

That's just it, he isn't a businessman....his business was failing. See to be in business you HAVE to compromise sometimes because if you don't, well, you end uo OUT of business. (or it MH"s case, become a tv star lol).

I think what he should do on his show is admit that not all contractors are boneheads. That some are good. Constantly state the fact that his show is about dealing with the results of boneheads but he never does. EVER.

For the record, the 42.27% of you who voted who want to hire Mike to do your renos, I hope you have deep pockets because it'll cost you.....but then again, getting what you want always costs you....

Well You're right, there is no argument there Tboy. I don't know about his past adventures.. Unless you're related to him or was a business partner then you would know what is what. He is running a business still. and is a contractor etc etc.

Having deep pocket isn't an issue, it is the quality of work you get. Now I've found out that it work both ways. If you pay more you get a A+ jobs or vice versa, but paying less doesn't always make a job A+ work. It is all about the contractor you hire.

My aunt over the summer last year just had a new roof put on her house. I think she paid ed a little over 10,000. I Mean all shingles removed right down to the plywood and then all the plywood removed and new ones replaced. Her roof sags in one spot still even with new plywood and the plywood that he used wasn't even the proper thickness. Though the singles are a better quality. I still think the quality of work that was done to her home (a bungalow house) wasn't up to par.

Paying less or high doesn't always bring you happiness. It is the working relationship you have with the contractors, which in turn will give you a good turn out. I do admit I've come across some nasty guys out there. I've have lost some money but now. I have my ass covered with certain things now.

 

[newguy27]

For what it's worth, my friend used to work with Mike Holmes a little while ago and he said that MIke is exactly like he appears on tv and a great guy to work with and loves the work. I'm pretty sure i've seen many instances where he compliments good work when he sees it in a house, however, since he is only called in on the show when things have gone horribly wrong, it would naturally come across as contractor-bashing.

Most people cant afford the level of work HOlmes does, but if I am not mistaken, when you are picked for the show, the network pays a decent portion of the final tab so it's worth it to get the best materials.

 

[james t kirk]

That's just it, he isn't a businessman....his business was failing. See to be in business you HAVE to compromise sometimes because if you don't, well, you end uo OUT of business. (or it MH"s case, become a tv star lol).

I think what he should do on his show is admit that not all contractors are boneheads. That some are good. Constantly state the fact that his show is about dealing with the results of boneheads but he never does. EVER.

For the record, the 42.27% of you who voted who want to hire Mike to do your renos, I hope you have deep pockets because it'll cost you.....but then again, getting what you want always costs you....

Mike's not in the business of contracting any more. He doesn't need to be.

Maybe his business was failing, I dunno. I don't know how you know that, but it's irrelevant because he's found his calling now and struck it rich. So obviously, his ethic paid off in spades and good on him as far as I am concerned.

He has more times that I can count stated that homeowners get themselves in trouble by constantly hiring the guy with the lowest price rather than hiring quality. I would think that this would be enlightening the public and doing good quality contractors a favour.

 

[muscle lover]

That's the part I have a hard time with and frankly, don't believe the homeowner. I'll bet that they were told to remove it and chose not to. Most contractors are pretty good at identifying where work should be done.

Anyway, it's all academic now.

My original point of that show in particular was they they went way beyond the original scope of work.

It WAS O.K. way back when, but a few years ago the laws about underground tanks changed and ALL underground tanks, in use or not, HAD TO BE REMOVED by a certain date (which was extended several times). So yes the homeowner may have decided to leave it there legally when the conversion was done AND Mike removed it as a favour, because it had to go according to the new rules.

Like you said, it's academic.
Suffice it to say that most good honest contractors starve (or just work for wage) for years, sometimes forever, just to keep their integrity intact...and then there are those who drive Harley's and Porches.