House Calls Renovation Advisors

Renovation Advisors
Toronto ON
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Renovation Advisors
House Calls Renovation Advisors
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Reviews for House Calls Renovation Advisors

Average customer rating:
9.7 10 (82 reviews)

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Simon and Sheryl
Simon and Sheryl
3 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Basement flood remediation and renovation

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!

Approximate cost of services:
$250.00
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Company Response

Thanks for your trust and for this review. You were a pleasure to work with. I hope the new studio helps you to produce lots of beautiful art.

karen
karen
10 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Main floor: Powder Room and New Hardwood Flooring installation

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.

Approximate cost of services:
$30,000.00
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Company Response

Thanks for your positive and thoughtful comments Karen. It was a pleasure working closely with you.

Joanna in Toronto
Joanna in Toronto
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Office renovation

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.

Approximate cost of services:
$7,000.00
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Company Response

It was my pleasure to help you all on this one. And, thanks for the excellent review. Much appreciated!

Alan in East York
Alan in East York
3 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Basement Insulation

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.

Approximate cost of services:
$0.00
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Thanks for your honest review Alan. House Calls Renovation Advisors was created exactly for owners like you: to be of helpful service by providing valuable technical advice and guidance before starting a renovation, no matter how small.

D & D in Toronto
D & D in Toronto
3 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Making Sense out of Flat Roof Quotes: Sound Advice and Peace of Mind

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

Approximate cost of services:
$0.00
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Company Response

Thanks for this fantastic and very detailed review! It was a pleasure working with you. I'm glad to see that you are happy with the roof and the roofer.

karen
karen
10 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

RETAINING WALL RECONSTRUCTION

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.

Approximate cost of services:
$45,000.00
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Company Response

Glad to have been able to help out. Please feel free to call anytime.

Familyhome in North York
Familyhome in North York
2 reviews Toronto, ON
0/10

House reno

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.

Approximate cost of services:
$0.00
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Let this be a WARNING to all who provide consulting, design or construction services: CHOOSE YOUR CLIENTS WISELY.

Jordan in Toronto
Jordan in Toronto
3 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Full Basement Reno a complete success! On budget and on time!

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!

Approximate cost of services:
$75,000.00
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Company Response

Thanks for the great review Jordan. It was a pleasure working with you too. I'm very pleased with the final outcome and glad that we were able to identify serious problems with two very important, but less visible systems.
Amongst the obvious improvements to the space planning and the improved finishes throughout, the project included removing and replacing the old drainlines and installing a new high efficiency boiler (with integrated hot water). You will now get many years of enjoyment from your improved basement family room, laundry, gym and upgraded bathroom. Thanks again, Jay

Linda in Toronto
Linda in Toronto
1 review Mississauga, ON
10/10

Top Notch Job

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!!

Approximate cost of services:
$5,600.00
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Thanks so much Linda. Naturally, I'm pleased that you are so happy with this project. I find myself saying more often that a truly successful project also needs a great client too, and that was definitely you. Again, all the best, and enjoy your "new" home.

Olga in Toronto
Olga in Toronto
5 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Main floor renovation

We are planning a full main floor renovation which includes removal of several walls, installing a structural beam, re-working the kitchen, and other odds and ends.

We hired Jay to help us get our project off the ground. We had never done any major renos before, so short of having a so-so proposed layout (done by someone else) we didn't have a clue of how to get going.

Jay immediately took our project as though it was his own house. At our first meeting he really took the time to get to know us and our needs, he reviewed the design that we had come up with and helped us identify the problems with it. He then helped us come up with an awesome layout that we feel is really going to work well for our family.

Once we were happy with the layout, he helped us put together a scope of work. He brought in a structural engineer (Amir) who drafted all the blueprints and got a permit for us. We are now in the process of interviewing potential contractors, and Jay's feedback and support have been invaluable.

Thanks Jay, we are looking forward to our continued working relationship.

UPDATE: Our renovation is complete, and it is stunning! The new layout is perfect. On Jay's recommendation we added 5 (!) sun tubes and now have a tun of much needed natural light throughout the house.

Jay helped us find the perfect contractor - Hossein from Ideal Dream Homes - and we couldn't be happier with his workmanship and work ethics. We also asked Jay to do regular house visits while we were away. He came regularly to check on the progress and sent us detailed reports. The contractor was amazing, and Jay's presence gave us additional security that everything was going well.

All in all, we have been extremely happy with every stage of this project, and we wouldn't have done it any other way.

Approximate cost of services:
$6,500.00
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Thanks Olga. It was my sincere pleasure to have helped you and David on this exciting re-visioning of a 1960's dwelling. I'm so pleased to hear you are thrilled with the results. Best regards, Jay.

The reviews on this page are the subjective opinion of the Author and not of HomeStars Inc.

More about House Calls Renovation Advisors

House Calls is a multi year award winner on HomeStars for good reasons.

By far, your biggest risk comes from hiring the wrong people to complete your project.
Why take that risk?

BEFORE you hire any contractor, contact us to LEARN how to minimize or completely avoid renovation risk.
We will COACH you on how to SCREEN and VET contractors, eliminating those who are not suitable or qualified to do the work.

We pride ourselves in working closely with you and your family at all stages.

We help smoothly navigate the complexities of construction, while helping avoid many of the costly pitfalls that lurk in the renovation minefield.
With years of experience and hundreds of successfully completed projects, House Calls Renovation will expertly guide you through the many challenges of your project.

If you are already involved in a difficult situation with your non-performing contractor, House Calls can help here too.
In disputes, we have acted as an Arbitrator or Mediator. When necessary, we have represented them in Court as an expert witness.

House Calls offers 1) many years of professional construction industry experience, 2) one of the highest client ratings on Home Stars, 3) several "Best Of" annual awards, 4) the successful completion of hundreds of residential projects of all types and sizes, 5) the ability to provide practical, 6) cost effective design solutions with your budget in mind, building permit drawings and permit applications to the City, and project management services during construction.

For more information, please connect with us at www.jay.charendoff@sympatico.ca OR call: Jay Charendoff Mobile: 647-889-4357

CATEGORIES
Renovation Advisors and Design/Project Management
SERVICES
COACHING homeowners before, during and after home renovations or construction.
SPECIALITIES
COACHING homeowners before, during and after home renovations or expansions.
WEBSITE
https://housecallsrenovationadvisors.com
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2007
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
1
PAYMENT METHOD
Electronic transfer, cheque or cash
MEMBERSHIPS
LEED AP, Canadian Green Building Council, 2008
DIPLOMAS
B. Architecture, UBC; B. Science, York University;LEED Accredited Professional
WRITTEN CONTRACT
Yes
Company profile information is not moderated by HomeStars. Ask the contractor to verify before hiring.