House Calls Renovation Advisors

My wife and I recently purchased a new home and were planning to start several renovations, some of which were very aggressive including the removal of structural walls. Given the magnitude of planned work we were not comfortable to proceed on our own. We engaged House Calls for advice and were very pleased with the content and scope of advice provided by Jay. The advice we received was without pressure and gave us the confidence we needed to move forward in a calculated and planned pace that we feel has ensured that we will be making the right design decisions and at the proper time to give us the best bang for out contracting dollar. House Calls also brought to focus home inspections to be carried out that we would not have considered otherwise.

House Calls provides a critical element to any home owner contemplating a renovation project. That element is confidence.

I found Jay Charendoff on HomeStars when I was considering how to update my 65-year old, mostly original bungalow. I was loathe to spend money piece-meal on a bathroom then a kitchen, then ventilation... and everything seemed tied to everything else. i just didn't know where to start. It also dawned on me that I have absolutely no expertise in how to "buy" major construction services and I needed an expert "in my corner". With Jay at the helm, we now have a clearer picture of what will happen - including moving the kitchen to the back of the house - something I would simply never have considered!

I'm a firm believer in planning up front - especially if you're going to spend big bucks on a project. Planning saves costs and helps maximize value. Jay has already saved me thousands on the kitchen project by evaluating vendors and ranking them by cost/performance. I know once we get to the construction phase, it will be money well spent - all with proper engineering drawings, city permits, and inspections.

I now expect to get exactly what we designed. I can spend with confidence. If you're like me and not quite sure where to start with your home reno, you should call Jay and chat about your project. I recommend him without reservation.

Very Satisfied Customer,
Thierry J

Smart planning that saves money and delivers the best results

We have a variety of big and small projects, some more pressing than others, but because of our inexperience, we had no idea how and where to start. Jay has been an incredible resource. He got to know us, reviewed both our "necessities" and "wish list" and then helped us prioritize the work in manageable pieces. He also came up with innovative options that we couldn't have imagined on our own. And even though our wish list will have to be implemented in stages, his hourly rate (as opposed to a percentage of total job) has made it affordable and practical. He has also helped us find excellent contractors who have done high quality work at reasonable prices. Our investment in House Calls has saved us numerous headaches and false starts and has been worth every penny.

Thank you, Jay!

- Pam & James
Toronto, Ontario

I’ve wanted a bigger bathroom for a while, but it just seemed like a lot to take on and not knowing where to start I was worried I would get stuck in one of those horror stories of Reno’s gone wrong so I kept it on the wish list. I came across an article about House Calls while doing some reading and thought it was a great concept that might help me to get started. Although we are only at the beginning of the project, Jay has been very helpful in providing a place to start and in breaking things down into small manageable steps that make it easier to think of it as something that can be accomplished with a reduced level of worry and stress. At this point I think it has been and will continue to be a wise investment.

My wife and I in the midst of planning a substantial renovation to our home – a 2-storey extension, a complete redesign of the 2nd floor, as well as an update to the entire outside façade. For a project of this magnitude we decided that we needed help to determine what would be practical, affordable and would make optimum use of the space while suiting our tastes and preferences. While have some experience with renovations, the complexity of the project was such that we weren’t comfortable going it alone.

We made the decision to meet with Jay from Housecalls, and we are very thankful that we did. Jay proposed a reasonable, phased approach to tackling our project and set out a clear schedule that would get us to the point of construction. The input and advice we have received thus far from Housecalls has been invaluable – from determining what is allowable based on city zoning requirements, to the design of the new space, and even in determining a budget for the project. Jay has done an excellent job of helping us through the initial stages of the renovation process, and most importantly he has spent the necessary time with us to help crystallize our thoughts and desires, and transform them into a reality.

Jay’s creativity in designing our new space (and problem solving) were excellent. We asked him to think outside of the box and he did. He provided some suggestions for additional features and uses of our space that we never would have thought to consider. Most importantly, Jay is always mindful of cost and continually suggests creative ways for us to achieve then ends we desire, via less expensive means.

We are extremely excited about our project, and we are happy to have Housecalls on our side. Jay definitely feel as though Jay has our best interests in mind.

We had a rather complicated project involving water management around our detached home. Due to some unusual aspects of our property, it became necessary to undertake creative solutions. The project came to involve a number of different pieces, including stonework, carpentry (new gates), eaves-trough replacement and modification and some additional drainage capacity via trench drains. We were not comfortable trying to organize a project that would involve a number of different sub-contractors so decided to retain a renovation advisor. I had run across Jay in an online article one or two years earlier and made contact earlier this year.

We met with Jay to review the problems and possible solutions. Jay focused on the outcome (improved water management) and walked us through the design process; produced detailed drawings of the work to be done; oversaw the tendering process to contractors (by reviewing the bids and helping us choose the best one); and oversaw the work done, ensuring that it was done according to the original plans and specifications. I note as well that Jay will refer clients only to companies that he believes provide good quality work at a reasonable price. Issues arose along the way (naturally) and Jay was available by telephone, by email or in person to help us resolve these.

I was very happy to have the involvement of an independent person who acts as your advocate in this process, particularly given the amounts involved (more than $50,000 for the entire project) and was very pleased with Jay himself. I would unreservedly recommend both this model and Jay himself to anyone who is considering a large, expensive renovation. (Note: Jay is compensated by an hourly rate, which may not make sense for smaller projects. This serves to ensure that he is unbiased in his advice to the client and is able to act as a true advocate, as there is no financial connection between Jay and the contractors.)

Jay also helped us with an indoor project, built in bookshelves that were custom designed and custom produced by a builder for our living room. We were also very pleased with the outcome on this project.

Upon purchasing an old home that required a significant amount of work, we quickly realized that we would need expert help to aid us in figuring out all that needed to be done and how best to go about it. After some research we decided to work with Jay based upon his reputation. From day one, he helped us conceptualize our ideas into what has ultimately become a plan for our ideal home. Throughout the whole process he was professional and patient making sure that we understood all the work that would be needed. Once we had decided on exactly what we wanted, he helped us find a contractor. With Jay going over the contract with us, we had the comfort of knowing that we were being quoted a fair price. I would definitely use House Calls again and recommend them to all my friends.

I called Jay to ask him to make a house call to discuss a construction issue. He really listened as I told him my story, offering advice and guidance and steering me in the best direction re: potential next steps. He was honest, thorough, and timely in returning my call. Just a delight to deal with. WOW!

We identified a musty smell inside our house, along with some wear and tear on our flagstone steps and the brickwork on our garage. We didn't really know where to start, but knew we needed to diagnose the problem prior to retaining a contractor to address the issues. Jay provided exactly the service we needed and more! He completed an assessment and identified several exterior and interior issues he believed needed to be addressed and then put the job out to tender. He assisted us in evaluating the proposals and we are thrilled with the results. Through Jay's extensive contacts, we retained a contractor who was extremely diligent, professional, and a pleasure to deal with, and who was very helpful in scaling down the scope of work required, and thus coming in at a very reasonable price.

Jay was very reliable, continued to check in with us and came on site to ensure that the work was progressing as planned.

We will definitely use Jay for any home renovations we do in the future and would highly recommend him to others!

From the time we moved into our narrow inner-city house seven years ago, we began to contemplate converting our grungy basement laundry room into a combination laundry/bathroom.

We wanted to maximize our tiny 110 sq. ft. to include: a washer, a dryer, a laundry folding table, more built-in storage space for bedding and towels, a utility closet, ironing board storage, clothes drying rack, space for the dehumidifier, display shelving for art glass, an up-scale shower, a toilet, towel racks and, yes, a large sink too.

We had some ideas to begin with, but neither of us could crystallize them into something realistic. We knew we needed professional help, and found Jay.
Within days of our first on-site meeting, he was able to produce scaled drawings, and thus gave us a great opportunity for a reality check.
And he quickly helped us evolve a final plan, containing all of the above, that we then put out to tender.
The formal bids came in over our budget, so following Jay's advice, we were able to become our own contractor, and save on costs.
Jay's gentle insistence that we follow his suggested sequence of steps for the renovation saved us a lot of money and heartache.
And he’s been very accessible throughout this process, which is still underway.

We highly recommend Jay Charendoff and would use him again.