We Need More Shows Like Holmes On Homes

Mike Finley

I've read a lot of comments here on these forums about this guy and his show, it seems like a lot of them are negative. I finally saw his show this morning and I must say we need more shows like his on the air. Show like his only benefit our industry in my opinion.

If I had to choose between shows that show people building homes in 7 days or shows that try to pretend that anybody can buy a dump, cover up the problems and do all the work illegally and sell if for a small fortune, or shows that make over rooms using cheap ass Behr paint and by putting fabric over everything

or

If I had to choose a show that teaches consumers that what's pretty and whats on the surface isn't all that matters, a show that teaches the lesson that not all contractors are going to deliver the same result, that the lowest price might have consequences. That's the shows I think benefit our industry. A show that teaches consumers there actually is a lot more to it then slapping sh*t together and just making it look good. That there is a reason to spend money for what's behind the walls too.

So far I like the show, I've only seen one episode so I don't have much to judge it by, but from what I saw he's doing everybody in our trades a favor.

BKFranks

Agreed

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Bill

I watch it too. My problem is this, while it does give the HO the insight that all contractors are not what they seem to be, it also gives them the idea that all are not to be trusted.

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GregS

Watch a couple of seasons. "Everything's a catastrophe!"

It has been stated many times before, if homes were built the way Mike wants them built, then they would cost 10x as much and no one would be able to afford them. I dunno if that's a good thing.

Mike Finley

Personally I think everyone should think that is a great thing. Teaching consumers to realize there IS a difference in the way you can build is nothing but beneficial to all of us.

We've had show after show on TV that has subtly and wrongly taught consumers that no matter who they hire, the outcome is going to be the same, there will be no consequences, so what does it matter? This stuff is easy, it's all built by low paid illegals and morons who couldn't make it doing 'real' jobs like they do. It's just banging sh*t together and covering it up to make it look pretty.

How many of us have had customers where you are in the middle of a project and you find something hidden that needs to be fixed and you bring it to the attention of the customer their response is "Doesn't suprise me, I've found other things like that in this house, this house was built like crap"

I've experienced that attitude from customers in 100K house and 1 million dollar house. I've actually gone out of my way to point out if it was the case and I found evidence of things that showed that their house actually was built with care to them.

Homeowners are all pretty much have been programmed that their house is a piece of Sh*t and that is the way it is. This lowering of the bar mentality is NOT good for our industry at all! Homeowner's expecting sh*t and accepting it are not good for our industry.

Bill

no doubt, there should be shows like this to show that. My point is there ought to be more mentioning that EVERY contractor is not like that. HO's see one bad apple, and think all of them are spoiled.

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Mike Finley

I think I see your point. I think what you are saying is you don't like the idea that in order for Mike Holmes to be good another contractor has to be bad.

I kind of feel that you're worrying about closing the barn door after the horse has already ran out.

mickeyco

What are you talking about, I've watched Trading Places, they were able to re-do a house in a couple of days and it was all top notch.

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mickeyco

That's why we have Angie's list, you can spot the good plumbers, they'll walk the dog. If anyone doesn't know that ad annoys the living crap out of me.

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Bill

There you go. Now, if Mike would just ease up a bit and say well, this is wrong, most framers would do this, no, he has to say DAMN, Look at this crap! What idiot would do that? And then just rambles on.

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Mike Finley

You probably are right, I've only seen the one show. My point is only a broad one in regard to educating homeowners about doing it right. He's only one of a handfull of shows that I think are focused on this.

Home Time was, and This old House was. The rest are not and seem to be doing more harm then good.

Bill

These shows are like walking a fine line. On one side I totally agree, hell, if I had the money its a great advertising tool. These shows do show the HO that there are a lot of professionals who care. BUT as with everything, there is a dark side. the side that says all are bad and not to be trusted. I think what is needed is for HO's to be educated on HOW to check up on potential contractors. I always give them my license number and the website link to th Virginia Department of licensing. I tell them to please check it, I have nothing to hide. No one I know tells HO's of this info, so what are they hiding?

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Carport King

My new up and coming site will have a Spotlight called Home Improvement Time TV. This will be on 5 days a week and it is there to promote working with contractors and all types of home improvements.

We will be doing 15-20 minute mini shows and interviews with contractors all around the country and there current projects. This is designed for the contractors to speak out about there business and to promote working with only license contractors and to display there work.

They will also have a link back to there website also. I am still working on everything but should launch in late September or October.

Mike Finley

Well, licensing and insurance are a base line in my opinion. They are easy to get so it's just one of those things that without it, it should be a huge red flag, but with it, it's just a given.

I started a thread about what you do that sets you apart -- so far out of 28 reply I counted really on 8 that had anything to do with craftsmanship. While I'm not trying to slight any other reply, just pointing out the lack of construction replys, I think that the reality in our world is that everybody thinks they are Bob the builder, but few really are. When it comes to construction, I think there are far, far, far more people out in our trades winging it everyday and very few real professionals. I also think it's a self-fullilling prophesy in that reinforcement is too easy to find in customers who just aren't willing to pay what it takes. (But is that chicken or the egg thing?)

So while we might cringe and not like Holmes pointing this out, he seems to have no lack of homes to work on with shoddy construction. Perhaps he really is pointing out the harsh reality that few of us what to admit?

Dan_Watson

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley I started a thread about what you do that sets you apart -- so far out of 28 reply I counted really on 8 that had anything to do with craftsmanship.

Maybe we just take the "over and above" other contractors for granted. We do it every day, and its all we know, we don't realize that it isn’t common practice. I see the big difference in manors and professionalism. Although I have seen my fair share of hack jobs and butchered houses, I do not think that my craftsmanship and construction practices are anything special, I do it right the first time (usually) and that shouldn’t be special. If it is that is sad. My jobs are almost exclusively referrals, so I know I am doing it right. Or to cheap .

I mostly do remodels; especially kitchens and bathrooms. I always keep my jobs clean, cover floors and door openings. I make sure the framing is correct for the plumber and electrician, add nailers for the drywaller, and plane the walls, so they are not all wavy from the old framing. I pack out for outlets and switches, so the electrician doesn’t need to go trash picking for a 2x. I use quality products, and work with the customer from the design stages to the end, and if there is a problem, even if it’s a sub the HO hired I check it out. I had a HO hire her own granite guy, he was referred by a friend and she wanted to use him because she fell in love with a slab in his yard. He butchered her job to the point she was in tears calling me. I drove out in 18” of snow (up hill both ways), met with her, set up another meeting with the granite installer, and had the problem resolved. We have since done her master bathroom, and are currently doing another bathroom in the house, along with a bathroom and some other work at her daughters.

Mike Finley

Could be in your area there are just more professionals then in mine. I definitely am sensitive to keeping aware of it, I see, hear and experience it, we talk about it between trades --what is and what isn't code, what is considered standard, what is above and beyond, what is considered short-cutting, what used to be considered acceptable and what isn't anymore. We work in homes that are 100 years old and 1 years old and in between, this makes me aware of the clealry defining eras of building and how things have evolved from dimensional lumber sub-floors, to plywood to osb. Plaster and lath to green board to cement board. You see the aluminum wiring era. I see the defects that were installed during new construction 5,10 or 20 years ago by a plumber, electrician, framer etc... all like time bombs waiting to cause a problem to finally surface some time later when the perfect storm of outside influences coincide together. We work in many different building dept jurisdictions. What is acceptable in one is not in another. The examples are endless for me. We also do exclusively remodeling so we are continuously tearing out what others have done before and see all levels of craftsmanship, materials and techniques spread across the decades of different building eras. We also sell based on diffentiation from the competition. I guess that all adds up to a different experience.

mickeyco

How often do you open up a wall (bathroom) and find tons of razor blades, the ones that you'd slip through the slot in the old medicine cabinets. I opened a wall once and it was packed, and I mean packed, never seen so many razor blades.


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Magnettica

I totally agree, Mike!

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Mike Finley

I remember you posting that on here a long time ago, I've kept my eye out for that but have never seen anything close to what you found!

I do like finding the old copies of the Rocky Mountain News, our original Denver newspaper and reading the stuff that was going on back then.

Mike B

I agree with your comments Mike......Holmes is a little over the top sometimes, but it IS Television, for the most part he promotes doing it right....and that costs money, sometimes homeowners IMO forget that.

His show and others like it are part of the reason I am entering into a new business venture providing Home Inspections........I see it (as Holmes has said many times on various shows) that home owners are getting a raw deal from many Inspectors, Contractors and Realtors alike....frankly I'm kind of sick of going in to patch bad work when it should be obvious to any Pro from a mile away.