sundance-communications.com Forums Member Forums Phone Booth Holmes on Homes

Does anyone watch this show on HGTV?

"Renovation expert Mike Holmes believes in doing a job right the first time and is making it his mission to expose poor, substandard workmanship in the building industry..."

:thumb:

Some of the violations I've seen him expose on his show are just mind-blowing. The one on right now, there's like 17 outlets along one basement wall (overkill, but no code problems there), but buried splices, extension cord used as permanent wiring, concealed plumbing valves, notched floor beams in the center, etc, etc. - truly a bad job. I feel for the homeowners who get taken for shoddy work. More power to Mike Holmes.

Jack

Reminds me of a story I heard several years ago. One of my partners was out at one of the investment properties talking to the crew that was doing some of the renovations. This mature businessman pulls up in a BMW and asked if he could walk through the house. Thinking he thought it was for sale Ted walked over to see if he could find out what the guy wanted. The gentleman explained that he had grown up in the house back in the depression and just wanted to see the place again. As he walked around talking about the place and how they'd renovated it as a kid, one of the electricians asked if he might know anything about an outlet in one of the rooms that was hot, even though the meter base was pulled. The gentleman looked a bit perplexed, then smiled and said "Oh my God, is that still there?" He then explained that his mother was terminally ill and the electricity had been shut off to the house. To provide some warmth, he and his brother dug a trench from the house, through the back yard, and across the neighbor's back yard to his uncle's house two doors down. Then they buried an extension cord so his mom could have a space heater by her bed.

I love that show, albeit a bit unrealistic for most budgets. As I'm sure you know, with Mike's quality comes a hefty price tag. I particularly enjoy learning about the way codes are in Canada. It is truly amazing to see some of the crap that he comes across.

My favorite episode (so far) was where a woman had rented her place out to a bunch of pot growers who in turn had made the place into a grow house. The heat and humidity had caused the place to become infested with mold, hence a total gut job. The renters didn't want to give themselves away with the "hydro" (electricity) bill to be out of the ordinary, so they broke through the basement wall to gain access to the underground feeders before they went up to the meter. They then tapped into them (live, I'm sure) to feed an un-metered panel to provide free power for the grow lights. Simply amazing to say the least.

Trace, I must give credit where it is due: Your story reminded me of this episode.

Another of my favorite Canadian remodeling shows is "Income Property", where this guy goes around finishing people's basements into rental apartments. He (Scott) comes across some pretty wild messes in his travels as well. He's on HGTV late at night; well worth watching if you are into that kind of stuff. Take a look here

While we are on the subject, if you like house flipping shows, don't forget "Sell This House" on A&E, starring Tanya Memme Here\'s the link.



Need I say more?

Mike Holmes has a new series this year on HGTV Canada called Holmes Inspections. I think that it takes a season or two before it moves to the US HGTV feed.

In this series he goes into a house that has had a home inspection report done on it, and he comes through and finds all the major stuff that the home inspector missed.

Unlike Holmes on Homes you only see him at the start when he does the inspection and the end when he turns the house back.

All the rest of the show is watching his crew and trusted subs fix the problems he found.

Its amazing in the 4 shows I watched what the high paid inspectors missed. One common thing so far is they have all been recommended by the real estate agent.

When I bought my house I hired the inspector recommended by the real estate agent. He gave the house a clean bill of health.

I've got a real old (1903) house that originally had gas lamps. The electric looked old but serviceable and the panel in the basement was wired correctly.

I decided to just change all the devices - receptacles and switches - and call it a day.

When I pulled the first receptacle out I discovered that the installer had not put any connectors on the old 2 wire bx cable. He'd stripped the cable and left the conductors loose. So not one outlet in the house was grounded. The job now became a nightmare.

The switches were also wired to open the neutral (instead of the hot leg). This was the code in NYC in the 1920's so I couldn't complain and it would have been difficult for the inspector to find on a cursory inspection.

But the receptacles? All he needed to do was to plug in one of those little testers and it would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

Then there was the leak in the bathroom and...and... and....

I'm sure there are honest inspectors around somewhere. I don't know how you'd find them though.

Sam

Lesson learned the hard way. Accept the realtor's suggested inspector with the written and signed agreement that you will be with the inspector and he will answer questions to your satisfaction and/or the best of his ability. In other words, you will be inspecting his work and what he inspects, as well as anything else that you feel he inspected inadequately, or not at all. [In most states you are allowed to do the inspection yourself, with homeowners rep at your side. (So you dont steal anything, I suppose)] And he will not get paid if he does not do an adequate job. Definition of an adequate job being that you have to insist that he inspect every item. HAVE A CHECKLIST. DON'T RELY ON HIS! Been there, done that! Our 1st house in metropolitan Kansas City, Mo, built in 1937, purchased in 1973, had 30 Amp 110 service. TV and a couple of lights on, washer and dryer (GAS dryer) running, Fridge starts and house goes black! Breaker box consisted of two fuses(hot and NUETRAL) and A KNIFE SWITCH, all mounted on a ceramic support! All legitimate in KC in 1937!

When I bought my house I hired the inspector recommended by the real estate agent.

Real estate agent wants to make the sale. Real estate agent recommends a home inspector. Come on Sam, you're from NY.

-Hal

Yeah, Hal. My bad. Of course it was 30 years ago and I'd never bought a house before - but still.

So that's why I mention my foolishness here.

Sam

My referral group meets in a home inspection school....there is a national code course and certification.

Check for it....

It’s a really good show; just wish they added a lawyer segment to get the money back from the original guys who screwed it up. It’s a novel concept, a show about a guy that comes in and fixes another contractor’s mess… and does it correctly. A lot of members here do that quite often.