Shawn K.

You should feel entirely confident in hiring this company. Brian responded nearly right away to our request for a quote, and patiently responded to several rounds of follow-up questions by email. We didn't get the sense that any "upselling" was taking place, and in fact, at several points he made suggestions that would allow us to save money on our desired security setup. Once we decided to proceed, the appointment was scheduled to occur within days, not weeks. On the day-of, the Protection Plus crew arrived on-time, with all required materials, and treated the entire operation with full professionalism. One tiny example: Rugs were brought in to protect the floor as the work was being done (recall that the project involved changing locks and installing window film; these are not particularly messy endeavours) -- just one illustration of the above-and-beyond nature of the entire interaction. The locksmith, John, handled door reinforcement across two sets of double exterior doors and three single exterior doors. Door Safe strikeplates were installed, multiple Door Guardian interior protection devices were installed, and the lock was changed for a high-grade Mul-T-Lock product on the main set of double doors. We have neither the space nor the time here to say enough good things about John. He completed the work to perfection, and throughout several hours patiently answered dozens of lock- and security-related questions. At no point did we feel that the questions were annoying (they must have been) or that the job was being rushed. By the time the work was complete, we felt as though we'd received a free (well, nearly free) graduate-level course in home security. Let's add to this: After John had left, we noticed that there was a slight catch in the movement of one of our deadbolts (one that was already installed when the crew arrived; not a new one). We mentioned this to John via text message, and asked whether he could provide instructions on how to resolve it. Instead, he insisted on driving all the way back to Hamilton to fix it himself. He did so, and resolved the issued by installing an entirely new bolt mechanism. Call no one but John for your locksmithing needs. Marty & team were similarly patient and professional with the window security film installation. Marty visited us the day before installation day to measure all windows accurately, and pre-cut the film. This gave us confidence, and more importantly, reduced installation time and mess on the day-of. On installation day, as they moved from room to room, we hardly noticed a difference after each window had been completed -- furniture was moved back, any debris was picked up. The film, when installed correctly, is essentially invisible. However, we'd read horror stories about the possibility of large bubbles and wrinkles with improper (rushed, usually) installation. This was not the case here. In each of the ~15 windows, there's no sign of the film. Further, apparently the standard installation method of cutting the film exactly to size and then silicone-gluing it to the window can be improved upon. In our case, the window casings were gently removed, the film installed (slightly wider than it otherwise would have been), and the casings firmly placed back, tight with the film. This seals the film more firmly than a bead of silicone would, thus improving its security. Overall, an essentially perfect experience. Don't look further. Hire this crew, and rest easy.

Where to begin? Ed was an incredible 'find' -- extremely polite, professional, performed far beyond our expectations, and at a very reasonable cost. The work itself, the finished product, was excellent. You won't find a better taper in the region. We needed our basement ceiling finished in multiple rooms, and we needed to have a wall constructed around our furnace and water heater. Ed insisted on an initial in-person visit to properly assess the circumstances for the work. During that first visit, I'd estimate that Ed provided $500 worth of consulting for free: Suggestions re. how to construct the wall; suggestions for soundproofing options; recommendations re. how to deal with recessed lighting; things he noticed about our electrical setup and how to have them adjusted; even a suggestion about how to re-seal our shower. I was new to the drywall experience, and had no idea what to expect. I naively thought that it was a 1-day process, maybe 2. Ed explained that he'd actually need to return to the house a total of 5 times in order to complete the job to perfection -- 2 days to drywall and build the room; 1 day for the compound ("mudding"); 1 day to sand and re-coat as needed; 1 day to light-sand and finish. When I learned this, I expected a far higher quote. The quote was reasonable for a 2-day job; for a 5-day job, I thought it was quite low. In addition, Ed provided several opportunities for cost savings, in the form of tips re. certain drywall materials that were overrated or overpriced. He was also honest about the fact that he's not a professional framer, and offered us a choice of whether to bring one in or allow him to tackle the wall. We opted for the latter, and I don't see how a professional framer could have done a better job. The wall looks great, is accurate to the millimetre, and all beams are perfectly level. Ed even helped to re-connect our pot lights, which required some electrical diagnosis and reconfiguring, none of which affected his original quote. Ed was a pleasure to have in the house. He interacted in a friendly, joking manner with my wife, which made her comfortable about the work and the 5 visits, and he played with our two dogs. He insisted on cleaning up the drywall debris not only after the final day, but at various points in between. At no point did we feel uncomfortable, and at no point did Ed seem as though he was rushing the work. He rarely took breaks (we actually had to insist, a few times). It was clear from Day 1 that his priority was the quality of the work. And, of course, the ceiling and the wall both look spectacular. At this point I wouldn't be able to find a joint in the drywall if I was paid to do so. Ed's taping/mudding job was superb (which actually helped make my subsequent painting job look good, despite my deeply sub-par painting skills). When the job was done and Ed was gone, I found myself thinking that I'd likely call him first for any other work, drywall-related or not. Any framing, any electrical, etc. -- I think I'd rather have Ed's opinion first, Ed's attention to detail and commitment to quality. We have one room left in the house with an unfinished ceiling, and when the time comes to tackle it, we'll definitely be calling Ed.

I contacted Michael at 4Sight based solely on other HomeStars reviews, and was incredibly pleased with the choice. Not only was Michael amazingly thorough in his inspection (and subsequent report), but was friendly and helpful throughout the process. He didn't mind me tagging along and asking questions, including many not directly relevant to the inspection itself, and gladly provided home maintenance hints and tips which I'll undoubtedly use once we take possession. The process was not rushed, either; Michael spent well over 3 hours at the property. His report included photo evidence and detailed support, making it easy for me to request certain fixes and adjustments from the sellers. Overall, an excellent experience, highly recommended.