ASHI on Holmes

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by ASHI_President

Mike Holmes on ASHI

by David Tamny

Published October 2010

I had the opportunity to travel to Toronto and meet with Mike Holmes. Mike Holmes, for those who don’t know him, is the star of “Holmes on Homes,” which airs on HGTV. Most recently, a new series called “Holmes on Home Inspections,” airing on HGTV in Canada, is exposing home inspections gone wrong. Mike is a Canadian professional contractor who rescues homeowners from renovations gone bad. He is known for tearing into walls and exposing faulty workmanship. By his own admission, people either love him or they hate him.

Good workmanship exceeds codes

Holmes’ motto is “Make It Right,” and he advocates that building codes are minimum standards and good workmanship exceeds codes. As home inspectors, I believe we would agree that, unfortunately, much of the home improvement work that we see does not meet even minimum standards. After meeting Holmes, I would say that what you see is what you get. He certainly has a passion for excellence and is genuinely concerned about protecting consumers from contractors who don’t necessarily have their best interests at heart.

Holmes is both a philanthropist and a visionary. He has done work in New Orleans, and he created the Holmes Foundation to assist those who would like to enter the building trades, as well as those who have been the victims of bad renovations. Also, Holmes is developing Wind Walk, the first Holmes Community, which is an eco-friendly sustainable community being constructed in Alberta. This project is intended to be innovative and is LEED Platinum.

Raising the bar

His many other endeavors include books and magazines devoted to increasing consumer awareness. These are top-quality publications, written to help homeowners understand the remodeling process. An educated consumer is the key to raising the bar of the industry. He also has written “Holmes Inspection – Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy or Sell Your Home.”

Share commitment to excellence

In 2009, Mike Holmes started Mike Holmes Inspections, which is a home inspection company doing inspections in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario and Calgary, Alberta. He has been a featured speaker at CAHPI events and is interested in ASHI. In my conversation with him and his team, it is clear that we share a common commitment to excellence.

In other words....after a lengthy knob polishing by ASHI's President....Mike Holmes withheld his endorsement.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by jbushart

In other words....after a lengthy knob polishing by ASHI's President....Mike Holmes withheld his endorsement.

I have wondered a couple of times here whether Nick is hoping to "ride with Mike" as I don't think he has ever offered a comment on the actor HI!!

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

I know it's after cocktail hour, but I don't get it?

[rsmith24]

It means ASHI and its members are going to cash in on some of the Mike Holmes frenzy and the ASHI brand will synonymous with Mike Holmes.

[Billy Boerner]

ASHI and NACHI should both team up with Holmes. Could you imagine having a logo that stated your holmes certified? I don't miss his shows the man knows what he's doing. Just my two cents.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

No thanks, and no he doesn't. I have only seen his shows a few times. Each time, I have seen defects that they created (as least by U.S. standards) being closed up behind walls, and in basement slabs he tore up. Who comes back when Holmes screws up???

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bboerner

ASHI and NACHI should both team up with Holmes. Could you imagine having a logo that stated your holmes certified? I don't miss his shows the man knows what he's doing. Just my two cents.

He is not a home inspector. He only plays one on television.

He does an "invasive" sledgehammer inspection and the film is cut and edited when he misses the mark.

His producers go out in advance and set up the story. He goes out and pretends to find it, fixes it, and moves on.

He is to the legitimate inspection industry what the World Wrestling Federation is to legitimate competitive sport.

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by jjonas

No thanks, and no he doesn't. I have only seen his shows a few times. Each time, I have seen defects that they created (as least by U.S. standards) being closed up behind walls, and in basement slabs he tore up. Who comes back when Holmes screws up???

Such as?

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by jbushart

He is not a home inspector. He only plays one on television.

He does an "invasive" sledgehammer inspection and the film is cut and edited when he misses the mark.

His producers go out in advance and set up the story. He goes out and pretends to find it, fixes it, and moves on.

He is to the legitimate inspection industry what the World Wrestling Federation is to legitimate competitive sport.

James he can inspect a home just as good as anyone. Why do you think he would make a bad inspector? Yes the man tears down walls on TV however in reality if you read his home inspection website they do no such thing.

[Billy Boerner]

When it comes to code does US and Canadian code mirror each other?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bboerner

James he can inspect a home just as good as anyone. Why do you think he would make a bad inspector? Yes the man tears down walls on TV however in reality if you read his home inspection website they do no such thing.

He doesn't inspect homes. Others do, under his name.

He doesn't conduct a home inspection on television. His producers do, kinda, after people write in or call with the problem in advance...and send him out when they find a "juicy story".

He's just another contractor.

[Bobby Hamilton]

Originally Posted by bboerner

Could you imagine having a logo that stated your holmes certified?

That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Thanks!

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by jbushart

He doesn't inspect homes. Others do, under his name.

He doesn't conduct a home inspection on television. His producers do, kinda, after people write in or call with the problem in advance...and send him out when they find a "juicy story".

He's just another contractor.

Have you confirmed this James or is this your assumption. We don't see what he does or has done off the camera. The man would not be on camera doing what he's doing if he didn't have a clue about residential construction. Mike is well liked for a reason. He's knowledgeable it's just that simple. Did you see his structural show tonight? It was impressive to say the least.

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by bhamilton

That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Thanks!

Your welcome... I bet you money his trained inspectors get paid a decent wage with all the publicity Mike has. He's becoming very popular here in America as well.

Q: Are you ASHI certified?

[Bobby Hamilton]

Originally Posted by bboerner

Your welcome... I bet you money his trained inspectors get paid a decent wage with all the publicity Mike has. He's becoming very popular here in America as well.

Q: Are you ASHI certified?

I joined A$HI to see what the hype was all about. That's all it is, hype. My membership expired 8 days ago. They can't even come close to offering what InterNACHI does. Waste of $. If you want branding go run to them. You seem to have the desire to be like them or change InterNACHI to be like them ever since you joined and now your on the Mike is the best thing since sliced bread crusade. Have fun in Canada