Rob J. in Markham

As I stated in my review for Prime Decks last year, we would definitely consider reaching out to Alex for future deck services needed, and we did! Alex was our first choice for rebuilding our back deck. While we did get other quotes, we felt Alex was the best choice for us, and we were correct! Alex provided us with a comprehensive quote, he was always open to discussions and 'tweaks' to our original plans, and he executed the plan, the workmanship, and the wrap-up efficiently, professionally, and very much to our pleasing! He listened to our ideas, made appropriate suggestions, but never pressured us into making hasty decisions. He was patient, and he made sure that we were comfortable and reassured with every step of the design and construction process. He and his team always arrived promptly, worked late to reach personal daily goals, and his attention to detail and professional workmanship was tremendous! Alex created a beautiful, solid, and durable deck and privacy screen that will provide us with many years of enjoyment, and we would readily hire him again for any work. We have already recommended him to friends and neighbours. Thanks again, Alex.

When we were in need of a fence post/panel repair, Alex was the first to reply, show genuine interest in the project, note some challenges we had not considered, and he provided a very reasonable quote. So, naturally we chose him to do the repair. We are very pleased we did. On the day of the repair, Alex arrived promptly. He was very diligent in his workmanship, he was attentive to the surrounding garden beds, and he worked tirelessly to do an incredibly thorough job. He removed the old fence post, dug and set the new post, reattached the adjacent panel, and even offered to attach a brace to relieve some strain on another portion of the fence. When Alex left, the area was tidy with no evidence he had been there other than the amazing new fence post! Thank-you Alex for fixing a potentially hazardous situation with our fence. We appreciate your willingness to take on this job and your professionalism and workmanship. We will definitely contact you directly if we need your services again. With gratitude, Rob G.

It was a pleasure having Matt fix a leak that began in our upstairs bathroom that presented itself in our kitchen below. Matt was professional, responsive to our requests, and provided a reasonable, firm quote for the work to be done. Matt and Donovan worked efficiently, carefully, and professionally to make the repairs, clean up the work area, and even follow up with a text for feedback on the workmanship the following week. We would welcome Matt back to help us with other necessary repairs as needed. Thanks so much, Matt. We will take every opportunity to spread the word about 'Renovations by Matt'. Rob

We had a leak in our upstairs washroom, had it repaired, and then we were left with a beautiful hole in our family room ceiling. We tendered quotes on HomeStars, and Sebastian responded promptly and with a well-priced quote for the job. Sebastian was quick to respond, always available to answer questions, and he worked seamlessly around our schedule. For both visits, he was prompt and quickly prepared the area for work, ensuring our furniture and floors were well-protected. His workmanship/skill was excellent, he was very thorough, and he was happy to answer any questions I had throughout the process. To this day, I struggle to identify where the hole actually was before he repaired it. He's that good! Sebastian, you did a phenomenal job, and we will hire you again without hesitation if the need arises. Thanks again! Rob

GTA Home Repair was exactly who we needed to install our Wall Mount TV/bracket. William was prompt, efficient, and he did an excellent job. We would absolutely use GTA Home Repair again for our home needs.

After the violent storm a week ago, we found that one of our roof whirlybird vents detached itself from our roof. We solicited quotes for the repair through HomeStars. Warner Roofing responded almost immediately with interest and a very sound quote. I spoke with Sara about our needs, and she booked one of their installers to come out the following day to replace both whirlybirds with Max Vents. Drake did a great job: he was prompt, efficient, explained the process clearly, and once finished, he removed all waste materials. We are extremely pleased with the finished product, and we will have Warner Roofing at the top of our list for future quotes for any roofing needs. Thanks so much Andrew and Sara. You and your team were exemplary!

We could not be happier about choosing Infinity Gutter for work on our home. First, of three different quotes we put out for tender, only Miro actually came to discuss our needs. The other two quotes we received were based on Google Earth specs. Miro measured the footprint of our home for new gutters and downspouts, he answered any questions we had, and he offered suggestions for maximizing water drainage and runoff which we appreciated (suggesting another downspout on a section that should have already had one – just made sense). His ‘on the spot’ written quote was reasonable, detailed, and met our specific needs (new gutters, downspouts, and leaf guards). The turnaround time from accepting the job to the date of installation was quite good (2 weeks), and he and his crew arrived promptly on the day of installation (Tuesday of this week). Miro and his crew were diligent, very tidy, and were very appreciative of cold water we had for them throughout the day. When they finished the job, we were very impressed. The workmanship was amazing! It looked clean, no damage, and the gutters and downspouts blended in perfectly with the pre-existing soffit and fascia. Moreover, Miro installed some corner baffles in spots on the roof where water came together to drain – just an ‘added touch’ he likes to put on this type of roof. Together, we inspected the work, and he said that if there were any problems, he would return if needed. Again, we could not be happier with the workmanship and professionalism of Miro and his crew on this job. We would recommend anyone to meet with Miro to discuss their roofing needs. He’s the one with whom you should work! Thanks so much, Miro!

Wow! We are so pleased that we chose Uxbridge Tree Service to prune two trees in our backyard. When David, an arborist, first visited with us, he listened intently to our needs and hopes for two trees, and he was very knowledgeable about what could be done. Based on our questions and requests, he presented a detailed and very reasonable quote for the work to be done. Today, Todd, Mike, and Jeffrey came to prune our black walnut and crab apple trees. They did a fantastic, professional job, often checking in with us to ensure we were pleased with the work being done (which of course we were). Plus, our neighbour, on whose property our trees were overhanging, was ecstatic about the work done. Moreover, the guys did a fantastic job with the clean up and removal of branches, debris, and the many, many, many walnuts sacrificed in the pruning process. We are very pleased with the work done and the great service that Uxbridge Tree service provided. When we need this type of work done again, we will definitely have them back.

Atiar Rahman is a respectful, caring, and professional business owner who goes out of his way to meet the needs of existing and new clients. What a lifesaver! We needed our existing gas dryer disconnected in preparation for the installation of a new set of laundry machines. Atiar was quick to respond to our inquiry, going out of his way to meet our very tight timelines to get our dryer disconnected and then reconnecting our new dryer within a day of installation. He worked with our schedule, and he was prompt, efficient, and very helpful in sharing his knowledge and understanding of our new appliance. He assured us that if there were any problems in the next 30 days, we could call him to come and check our equipment. We would definitely call Atiar again for any appliance needs. We couldn't be happier with High Tech Appliance Service. Thanks so much, Atiar!

We found Peter's company here on HomeStars, and we are very happy that we continue to use HomeStars to research reputable and respectful companies who excel in delivering products and services such as Modern Appliance. I contacted Peter about an issue with a leaking washing machine. Peter replied promptly with a detailed, reasonable quote. He came to our home the next day, determined the problem quickly, and fixed the problem efficiently. He then proceeded to do an overall inspection of the stackable unit to give us an assessment of the condition of the unit. His invoice detailed the work, and we were extremely pleased with his workmanship and professionalism. We would definitely recommend others to seek the services of Modern Appliance. Thank-you, Peter!

What a pleasure it was to have Alec rebuild our decrepit deck and build a pergola for us. Alec listened to our ideas, and made suggestions that blended well with our needs. He was eager to try to make our dream deck and pergola a reality, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Alec presented a very reasonable quote, and all work was done to the specifications in the quote and within a very reasonable timeline. His very friendly nature and his team’s work ethic was evident and made the job an unobtrusive event in our lives. Thanks so much for helping create a wonderful backyard living space for us.

From the moment we met Kurt, we knew we had found the professional to turn our yard into a living space worthy of admiration by family, friends, and passers-by. He worked with us to design a front and backyard living space that we truly enjoy on a daily basis. He listened to our ideas, made appropriate suggestions, but never pressured us into making hasty decisions. He was patient, and he made sure that we were comfortable and reassured with every step of the design and construction process. If and when there were any issues that arose, he was always eager to listen and resolve any concerns. What transpired is a space we absolutely love. Our only regret is that we don’t have more friends to whom we can recommend him. We would work with him again in a heartbeat! Thanks so much, Kurt!

After having such a wonderful renovation experience in the spring of 2009 with Steve and Margaret at Creative Kitchen Gallery (see previous posting), we had no hesitation in getting a quote from them to completely renovate our outdated and badly-designed kitchen. Not surprisingly, Margaret helped us design a wonderful kitchen, and Steve presented us with a very fair quote for the entire renovation (which included removing a wall between the kitchen and the family room). As they did with our bathroom renovation, Steve and Margaret made us feel welcome and important. They took a great deal of time to listen to our design ideas for the kitchen space, they asked many important questions, and they ‘tested the water’ for design elements in which we might be interested. Although the renovation took a toll on our patience (living out of the make-shift kitchen in the dining room with only a fridge and microwave for eight weeks and doing dishes in the laundry tub), the job was very well done (by the same father/son crew who did our bathroom) and resulted in a truly beautiful, functional space of which we are quite proud. While we managed through the disruptions and a few unexpected ‘blips’ (which Steve quickly took care of at no cost to us), he and his team completed the job efficiently, and we could not be happier with our new living space. Thank-you again, Steve and Margaret, for creating such a wonderful and functional ‘showplace’ of a kitchen for us. We love it! Once again, job well done! Thank-you!

In the fall of 2008, we began searching for a company to renovate our ensuite bathroom. After months of extensive researching of companies and a discouraging sidestep with one prospective company, we had the opportunity to share our struggle with not one, but two colleagues who recommended Creative Kitchen Gallery in Markham as an excellent company to help us redesign and remodel a terribly outdated, inadequate space. From the moment we stepped into the showroom in Markham last spring, Steve (the owner) and Margaret (his designer) made us feel welcome and important. They took the time to listen to our design ideas for a new bathroom space, they asked many important questions, and they ‘tested the water’ for design elements in which we might be interested. Then, when they visited our home to get an idea about the current space, they took a great deal of time to explore, make sketches, and take measurements. After a short time, we were presented with a design and a quote for the renovation. It was a 'match made in heaven'. Steve presented a realistic quote that considered our budget, and Margaret listened to our design ideas and worked her magic in helping us create an oasis of luxury in a relatively-limited space. While we struggled through the disruptions and a few ‘bumps in the road’ that naturally occur during a renovation, Steve took care of everything, and his team ensured that our needs and concerns were always validated and treated with respect. Almost one year later, we still love our new bathroom, and we have Steve and Margaret to thank for this wonderful space we enjoy in our home. It was a very rewarding experience. Thank-you!

Last summer, we were referred to Binns for a bathroom renovation. We initially met with a designer in our home. We felt confident that he understood our budget for this endeavour. He assured us that he could design a bathroom that could fit within our budget. After a number of meetings, we felt confident that the designer understood and agreed that our design needs could be met within our budget. So, we paid a ‘Design Fee’ (retainer) of $2,500.00, based on ‘birds-eye’ concept designs and his verbal quote. Over the next month, we met with him a number of times to make design decisions with us always asking about costs to stay within the budget. The following month, we met with him and discussed the quote, but we were very surprised to find that we were looking at a quote of $55,000 to $60,000. He informed us that because of choices we made in materials, fixtures, etc. that costs had escalated, which we could not understand as we had been so mindful of keeping costs down (despite considering a more expensive fixture line). We then made significant adjustments to some of the designs we had previously chosen. We left disappointed that things were changing. In October, the designer presented the final quote to us. What we received was a one-page ‘Project Quotation’ which was almost $7,000.00 over budget (even after taking off a custom wardrobe). Moreover, another quote, which included pricing for alternate fixtures, turned out to be almost $10,000.00 over budget. We were not impressed, stating that we could not understand why the quotes were so far above budget (even considering the alternate fixtures). We were quite frustrated. We explained that regardless of a change in the fixtures, the costs for this project had continued to escalate, and it appeared that little consideration on the designer's part was given to our budget. We stated that we were concerned that he had misled us about the projected costs for this project. We also stated that we would have expected him to offer us suggestions and design ideas that would keep us within out budget. He said that he would not be doing his job if he didn’t present us with all the options. We disagreed. We informed him that we had decisions to make and that we would be in touch. Not surprisingly, we did not hear from him again. Although we appreciated the time the designer spent with us, we felt that the final quotes did not reflect the price or design aspects we had discussed at our first meeting. The designer had told us that he could complete our renovations within our budget. In reality, had we known that the designer was going to present a quote to us approximately $20,000. over budget, we would not have paid the design fee. The biggest frustration of all is that the designer has denied telling us that he could complete the renovation for $40,000.00 at our first meeting. He stated that “sometimes clients hear what they want to hear” and they think things are said. This was incredibly insulting to us as there was another person in the room who heard what he said when we first met to discuss the project. Our frustration lay on various levels. First, we do not understand how a company can give an estimate that is obviously so far from a final quote and consider this to be an acceptable way to conduct business. Furthermore, the high cost of the design fee certainly puts pressure on clients to continue with the process, despite having reservations as it is difficult to walk away from $2,500.00, which we ultimately did. To walk away was a painful experience, and we felt that the true lack of transparency of the process and being told that we were mistaken about the costs by being told that “sometimes clients hear what they want to hear” was unprofessional on the designer’s part. That was the breaking point for us! We did not appreciate being accused of being untruthful and him denying what he did, in fact, say. As per our request, one of the owners did contact us. However, after a lengthy conversation, he was not 'satisfied' that our recount of the events was accurate. He sided with the designer (a relative of his), the designer's version of the events, and he believed that they had done their job for the design fee. When asked about why his company did not provide more comprehensive quotes to clients before they pay the design fee, he stated that they chose not to do so because of the time involved in preparing a quote that might not lead to a purchase. He also made no effort to seek any sort of reconciliation (we requested at least half of the $2,500.00 back). We informed him that this type of customer service needed to be shared with other potential clients – to warn them of Binns’ business practices. He said that he had no problem with that, as long as it was the truth, which it is!