House Calls Renovation Advisors

Water was seeping into the front room of my Victorian house but I could not establish from where the moisture was coming. I wasn’t certain where to begin in terms of getting it repaired. Jay did a thorough inspection and identified the areas on the outside of the house that could be causing this problem. He provided a detailed report of the problem issues, the types of repair required and suggested tradespeople who were experienced in undertaking such repairs. I was more than satisfied with his service. It saved me time, money and a lot of frustration. I also appreciated his continuing follow up.

Minor flooding in our basement after heavy rain caused enough damage that the insurance company ripped out flooring and removed a few feet of drywall. I've consulted Jay a couple of times for fairly minor problems in the past, and had excellent troubleshooting advice, so I called Jay immediately for advice.

Jay did what he's done before: looked around carefully, asked a bunch of questions, came up with a bunch of possible causes and solutions, analyzed the problem, and advised on a clear sequence of actions. He recommended three different contractors for three different activities, all of whom have been outstanding.

We now have interior weeping tile and a sump pump, with very high confidence that we'll have no more water problems in the basement. We also took advantage of the partially demolished basement to remove a no-longer-needed bathroom, move the laundry area and create an artist studio. Jay's help on all of this was invaluable.

All the work was done at a very modest cost and totally painlessly. Thanks, Jay!

We have only a small hall cupboard and needed a main floor bathroom.
Our plumbing stack is on the opposite side of the house.
Using the only space possible, Jay advised us on how to make it work, referred us to an excellent contractor, directed us to the right places for appliances and flooring. We then used the same amazing contractor to install new hardwood flooring throughout the main floor. We followed Jay's advice on the type of flooring to purchase. He supported our project all the way through. I highly recommend this company for both practical and aesthetic advice.

Jay came up with an excellent solution that no one had suggested and
engaged a contractor who completed the work quickly and inexpensively. We needed to relocate the rabbi from the administrative area into a space providing privacy for pastoral duties. An innovative idea allowed us to create private access from the rabbi's new office to an existing washroom. In proposing the design for the renovation, Jay also incorporated additional storage spaces for both the rabbi and the office in general, which we very much needed. Everyone is happy.

I needed a professional unbiased solution -- a rare commodity -- on moisture and insulation in the basement. After a long search I called Jay at House Calls Renovation Advisors. Jay responded quickly and visited the site the next morning. He did a thorough study of the situation, pointed out and patiently explained the issues involved well beyond my expectation. And that was all in his friendly, professional, and unintimidating manner. What I liked is that Jay’s solution was practical and also affordable. I am writing this review because only five working hours after my first phone call to Jay I had a solution. Thank you, Jay.

Jay Charendoff - Principal, House Calls Renovation Advisors provided clarity, guidance and perspective when we reneeded to replace the flat roofs of our house. With his background in architecture, he looked at both the big picture of our project and the individual details we needed to pay attention to. We highly recommend Jay to others who are trying to make sense out of renovation decisions.

Having interviewed several roofing companies that claimed expertise in flat roof construction, we were overwhelmed by the differences in their recommendations and the price difference of over $40K for similar work. We did not know who to believe or trust. Flat roofs require specific expertise. They are expensive and important investments in a home.

Jay recommended a roofing company with expertise in flat roofs that he had worked with in the past and had referred his clients to who gave him positive feedback. With winter approaching, we needed to make a decision. This roofing company promptly provided us with a quote.

Jay reviewed two of our quotes. One of the biggest and most stressful decisions was whether or not to modify the current water drainage system. We had areas of water pooling on each of the two roofs that needed to be addressed. These two quotes recommended removing a parapet wall on one side of each of the roofs and replacing them with an eavestrough and downspout.

Jay provided thoughtful technical advice using non-technical language so that we could understand the pros and cons of making these and other changes. He offered additional water drainage options to discuss with the companies we were considering, questions to ask and price points to clarify.

Jay took away the fear factor and gave us strategies to ensure that the information we were given was clear and that we were making informed decisions. Jay's perspective regarding the two extreme ends of the price quotes was helpful. He suggested that they were red flags that something was not quite right and that the middle price range was probably the most reasonable and fair.

We chose the roofing company that Jay recommended for a variety of reasons including their expertise in flat roof construction, feedback about their integrity, taking the time to answer our questions, and the trust we place in Jay. It was a mid-range price quote. Jay later provided valuable perspective mid-way through construction when decisions about enhancements to the original project plan needed to be made.

We also included Jay's recommendations that will make future roof maintenance simple, including during extreme winter weather.

Jay did a site visit and went up on the roof to see the progress of the work firsthand and then provided additional feedback. He took photos of the work to share with us.

Now that we are on the other side of roof construction, we are very grateful for Jay's advice and hand-holding. Having had rainstorms in the past week, the eavestroughs that were installed have made a noticeable improvement in water drainage. And an added bonus: the new roofs have improved our home's appearance and curb appeal.

Thank you Jay! D & D

House Calls assisted us through an unexpected and essential job of removing a garage and building a new retaining wall- garden terracing. They gave sound advice on legalities, design and referred to an excellent construction company to do the work. Their involvement with the project was both practically and emotionally supportive. Cost was very reasonable, our calls and emails were answered promptly and we highly recommend working with them.

Severe damage was caused to our home. Mold from faulty plumbing, unlevel floors, to name a couple. Yes this was the contractors fault; however,In our opinion, this company did nothing but protect the contractor that was hired. We suggested firing the contractor half way through when the negligence became evident. We were
convinced not to, and things got worse. In retrospect we feel that we should not have listened to their advise.

We were planning to renovate the basement but not this fast! Sewer backed up with roots in the pipes, and our 25 year old furnace died. So we called Jay at HCRA and needed a plan fast. Jay helped us create a plan, did drawings and helped organize contractors to quote the job. We did a full basement reno - down to the studs, new plumbing and electrical. Everything went smoothly. All the contractors were great! All the work was done professionally and on time. It was a pleasure working with Jay! Now we're doing our kitchen with him!

Jay Charendoff of Housecalls Renovation Advisors was recommended to us when we were looking for help in renovating our three bedroom condo. We wanted to update our kitchen and guest bathroom and replace our master bathroom tub/shower with a walk-in shower.
We met with Jay to discuss our needs . He drew up plans of our condo as is and then a set of plans with the proposed changes. The final plans allowed us to widen the master bathroom and put in the walk-in shower we wanted. In addition space was arranged to give us a larger reach-in closet and another small storage closet. We were also able to update our guest bathroom, and renovate our kitchen, removing a half wall to open things up.
Jay had us complete a “Finishes Schedule” which was so handy when construction began and I needed to buy fittings and fixtures.
Because he works in the commercial and residential fields, Jay was also able to recommend contractors for us to consider.
We chose to have Jay visit the condo during construction. His reports assured us that the work was progressing on schedule.
We have now been home in our renovated condo for about six weeks and we love it! We are so pleased with how everything turned out. Jay and Housecalls did a “top notch” job!!