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He wants to New HGTV show will focus on home inspections By Christina Commisso METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP age six Mike Holmes re-wired his family's home with some help from his dad and at 12 he renovat- ed his uncles basement. By the time he was 19, Holmes started his first contracting company with a crew of 13 employees and at 21, he founded his own renovation company. Now, the 45-year-old host of HGTVs highest rated show, Holincs on Homes, has surpassed the realm of contracting - he is a brand. - With two best-selling books, a clothing and boot line, a community of eco-friendly homes and a charitable founda- tion under his tool belt, Holmes' Make it Right philosophy is celebrated worldwide. But if you ask him what be thinks of a career that has exploded since debuting on HGTV eight years ago, he stays truc to his humble beginnings. "l'm not a TV guy, I'm a contractor," said Holmes from a Burlington home being fcatured in his latest projcct - Hohes Jnspetions. Holmes said the No. I complaint he hears from home- HOLMESI owners is about home inspections. So, as the seventh and promote his n final season of Holmes on Homes wraps up this spring, crences for Canada's favourite contractor will be hitting the airwavs then asked a] again in late 2009 with his new show. "There ha "Why isn't there a better inspection, why weren't pictures n't even kno taken, why isn't there a portfolio on this house to follow. Holmes exp That's what i'm trying to create - a new system in the home class, dean, inspection industry," said Holmes as he pointed out the There are numerous blùnders in the seemingly beautiful lakeshore lions for hon home. îu wbaî he "When Rick and Didi bought this house two years ago, furming bon they loved it. This was the one to buy," be said. Holmes bas The couple purchased the newly-renovated home after an "Ils a liîî inspector gave it two thumbs up. referring tu t "It's two thumbs down," said Holmes. "Electrically speak- "Viewers are ing, I am quite confident this house should have burnt down wbats going already" Hoîmes sa The previous tenants owned the house for four months, families look during which the home was flipped and sold to Rick and on bow mue Didi, who asked that their last names not be published. crs can lear "The ceramic tiles were loose on the stairway, there was a to appear on stain on the ceiling from water damage on the second floor series doesn' and the ventilation system over the stove didn't work," said home, it due Rick. But Holm Su the couple e-mailed Ho/mes on Homes for a lisî of ref- starting lu m; Home inspectors oi By Christina Commisso plaints fromn METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Meipoom Holmes' ne According tt the Ontario Association of Home home inspec Inspectors, the message they have always received from the tons. public and the govenment bas been "you guys are doing a When H good job, continue doing it," said spokesperson Aîrek destructive t Me"poom. flors, e sai In 1994, the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors bHouses e (OAHI) became a self-regulating body, granting the associa- înuse, lion exclusive rights tf define qualification requirements and visible, They grant the designation Registered Home Inspector. In recent The OAH yesrs, the OAHI bas spoken tu several governiment bodies, conferences including business and consumer services, about Iicensing per critiquin the profession. "We want "From a statistical point of view, we dont show up on the and what t radar, mesning we don't get complaints," said Meipoom. Meipoom. "I Home renovators, on the other hand, receive several com- Meipoom U.JESA KORTMANN / METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP NSPECTIONS: Mike Holmes, a familiar face as the host of HGTV's Holmes on Homes, was in Burlington recently to ew show, which will focus on home inspectors. contractors in the Burlington area. They were to be the next Mike Holmes," said the Halton His resident. bout appearing on the show "I think we're going b start to see better homes, beuer ve been things Mike has found since that I did- builders, better education. We'l get back tbat integnîy we w about," said Rick, who is very pleased with the lost years ago. erience. "They're a great group of guys, first- Holmes said he helieves changes in the industry ought to polite and professional in every aspect." start at the school level, where students should be taught the- no mandatory licensing or government regula- ories alongside practical training. "We are only teaching how, me inspectors in Canada. Holmes said this leads we need îo he teacbing why" believes to be some inexperienced people per- Holmes said he wants to stan a school for the trades, but me inspections. (See story below). That's why in the meantime hejusi might do some work in Kansas City high expectations for his new show. building bouses that would witbstand tonadoes. le bit of CSI meeting Mike Holmes," he said, As Holmes continues to shine a spotlight on innocent te sophisticated technology used in production. homeowners sometimes blind-sided by the cballenging really going to learn, through special effects, world of home inspections, he ais at improving the con on inside their homes." struction industry one episode at a time. id be receives about 100,000 emails a year from "Is supposed to be a good experience, dealing witb a ing for his seek-and-destroy touch. Depending personal contractor," he said, explaining bow contractors h the family needs his help, or how much view- and bomeowners need to work logether. "Its like a wbole from the project, Holmes picks 13 homeowners dating process." the show. The overwhelming response to the Tbe Holmes Group is looking for Milton bomeo ers to t surprise Holmes. "Its the same crap, different appear in the new HGTV series, Hohnes Inspecton. If you sn't matter where we go." bave purcbased a home within the last two years with the es believes the 'Make It Right' philosophy is approval of a home inspector, and you are noticing problems, ake a difference. "There are lîttte guys that want vMs wwwmaketnght.ca to submit your storyH ig a good job,' says association unhappy customers, he said. bone inspectors wo are part of the association, where said be was curious to see the angle of Mike members bave considerable experience, education and train- Hlshow Hoiges Inspections, sinee the conditions ing. tors typically work in involve numnerous ttstrio- The OAHI's website states: "No single source of informa- tion is sufficient lu launch a cmpetent practice in tiis field. tîmes performs an inspection, it's classified as Lt is a combination of ail. Meaning, along wit a solid under- sbing, for example, making holes in the walls or standing of the construction industry, home inspectors have tdttw n odn ct.ow t tobewversed in roofing, plumbing, heating, electrical and air aworl of hoe ineseto he aims condatontng systems." hoe ispetrcaonyomn Also, sf a gomeowner bas a bad experience with a mem- hooe for detos an inrpet thmet olem, ber inspector, he can file a complaint with the association 1 invited Holmes to speak at une of its annual and an investigation will follow g sfter he wrote an article in a large daily newspa- A spokesperson for the Ontario Real Estate Association g the home inspection industry. said realtors typically recommend several home inspectors to .ed to, educate him on what we do, who we are avoid a confli t of interest. "Home inspection p a profession e process is to, become a home inspector" said that s growing," said Bob McLean, director of communica- ie was quite surprised and pleased" tions. "We encourage full disclosure of information on a said the OAHI recommends that realtors refer bouse."