RO from Mississauga

I needed to have wiring upgraded to replace an electric hot water heater that broke down. Being without hot water for any period of time is frustrating so finding a licensed electrician on short notice is challenging for such a 'small job'. I placed my service request here on Homestars and had 2 call backs. I also called 2 other electricians that I've worked with in the past. Jerry called me and I explained the situation, sent some pictures. His quote was reasonable but I still waited to hear from another electrician for peace of mind. Jerry was the first person to quickly respond and was available the next day to complete the work, and I was able to get hot water back the following day. His work was well done, neat, and safe. I will be calling him for the next repair for sure!

The wasps don't appear to be coming back after the chemical treatment which is a relief. I used Homestars to get some quotes and the response was very quick by Pesticon. I was able to book a time the next day. One minor note is that the technician was late for the appointment - so perhaps next time I could get a call letting me know there was traffic or an issue.

It was the long weekend with a major storm and in the night I heard a thunderous bang thinking that a tree must have come down. But my power was still on and when I looked outside, I couldn't see any damage. The next day, a neighbour in the back had a crew cleaning up a tree that had fallen (I found out later that the hydro line to their home was also damaged). It wasn't until a few days later while cleaning the deck that I looked up to see my hydro mast was broken and leaning at an angle. I was genuinely scared and immediately called Enersource (hydro provider). I found out that the mast was my responsibility and I would have to find an electrician to repair it. Trying to find an electrician on short notice that can do this work is difficult especially if you're like me and have issues trusting people. I called 6 companies and none were available. The 7th was Solutions and used their emergency line and spoke with Tony. I was able to send photos and got an estimate. The next day, Dave and Carmen arrived first thing in the morning. Enersource was contacted to disconnect the service line. The work was challenging because Dave had to remove deck boards to change the pipe that feeds the electrical panel in the basement. I was really concerned about damage to our deck but Dave did a fantastic job. He explained everything (a couple times because I'm a bit slow when it comes to this stuff) and in the end had the site all cleaned up. It took most of the day to have all the work done, and Enersource was back to reconnect the power. They commented on the great work done with the new meter and how neat all the wiring was. The biggest thing I have to note here is 'peace of mind'. When it comes to electrical, there is a level of danger that's always present and when you have professionals getting the work done the right way the first time, I feel safe and comfortable.

We live in a fantastic neighbourhood with decent sized yards and lots of mature trees. Our area is over 50 years old and I think the original 'chicken wire' fence is all that separated our neighbours in the back. We had to put in a fence as one of the neighbours was installing an in-ground pool and worked together to find the right company to put up the wood fence. Trying to make all the neighbours happy was a challenge but in the end, we're very happy with the outcome. Lorry measured the length that was to have the fence on our property and truly understood the challenges involved. The quote was prepared to our satisfaction. Perhaps the only area for improvement was being required to drop off the deposit cheque to their office; it's not far away but was inconvenient (Visa or e-transfer was not an option). Being that this was not a typical fence job, I was also not comfortable with the work schedule. Considering that it was October and the weather can be tricky, I would have preferred more advance notice. Once again, I do understand the coordination effort to be challenging. The final product is very well done. The posts were all plumb and aligned perfectly. I am skeptical as to how long the posts will stay that way given that the ground is quite sandy. I wasn't present to inspect the depth the posts were installed and trust their professionalism. We had a last minute upgrade to add lattice (not in the photo) and have to note that Lorry had the insight to know that the original 5 foot height was not going to be satisfactory. His recommendation was exactly what ensured all parties involved were accepting of the final product. The worksite was clean without leftover debris. And I was able to mail the final payment in. I know there are less expensive alternatives available. But in the end, I feel like this was a very good decision to go with Firm Fence because of their experience dealing with multiple parties.

The first project on our to-do list was to replace the old garage door for our newly purchased home. I think the door was at least 30yrs old and the opener was non-functional. I acquired 3 quotes and selected Dodds because of the thought and insight that Mike provided during the on-site quote. For an older home, there isn't access to the garage from the house so I couldn't get a direct drive opener. But the recommendation made and the quote process was thorough - I felt like Mike didn't recommend something he wouldn't have done to his own home. The Garaga door took slightly longer to manufacture but I wasn't in any hurry. The installer arrived on time and worked straight for 5hr through a -10'C windchill (thankfully it wasn't during that -30'C cold spell!). The operation of the opener, emergency key release, and tips for making sure the door lasts another 30yrs were all explained to me. The old door and opener were removed, and no other debris was left behind.

I researched online for about 2 weeks and came to the conclusion that the biggest risk with movers is damaged items and/or skyrocketing costs. There are moving companies that cost up to 50% less than Cargo Cabbie but have mixed reviews and therefore greater risk. For some people, it's worth the risk to save some money but for my family's personal belongings (including an antique record player cabinet), I wanted to feel confident in the company and people providing this service. They arrived early (in a clean and relatively new truck) and scoped out the items and pathway to move them. Despite my gross underestimation of the volume of stuff, they ensured the boxes were securely stacked in the truck and strapped down what was needed. It was clear they were focused on protecting my belongings and working at a safe rate. Even unloading the items was done with care and in an organized fashion. I felt comfortable and satisfied with the service provided. No surprises with the initial deposit and final invoice. The cost included an appropriate tip. It's true that you get what you pay for... and in this case, I feel like I received far more value for my dollar. I can't say enough about genuinely trusting a company to deliver on their promises and reputation.

Last year we almost purchased a home in Brampton but determined there were problems that we were not prepared to accept. By using the thermal camera, a leak was found from an upstairs tub yet nothing visible could be seen. This detail and care that was taken with the inspection and report impressed me so much that I specifically sought out Tom for our most recent home purchase. Since Holmes Inspections contracted out the work to Clearview, I knew it was worth using a second time. This year, I was able to book Tom the day after we signed the purchase agreement. Again, I made sure the inspection included the thermal camera - it's definitely worth every penny. Of course the home wasn't perfect being over 50yrs old but the only major issue was with the electrical panel. It was truly comforting to have had a few phone calls and emails with Tom to clarify the issue, which turned out to be resolved. The bottom line is that trust in this industry is a challenge because we hear and remember stories about home owners getting burned. Tom's approach to inspections places me at the focal point - it's going to be my house and my risk that I'm taking so being taking the time to answer all of my questions is critical. My experience with Tom twice has been excellent and consistent, thus giving me a sense of trust.