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We hired RJR Construction to rebuild part of a bathroom and shower that was destroyed as a result of a plumbing rupture behind the tiles; rebuild a large exterior staircase; install updates to an upper bathroom; and install two new interior doors. During a busy time in the renovation industry while Covid was still on our minds, the leadership at RJR did their very best to move our smaller projects along to completion. Gino is a fabulous, personable and experienced owner and leader of RJR. He was so easy to communicate with, both in person and via email. His designer Kaitlynd responded quickly and kindly to all our questions and concerns. We were incredibly fortunate to have Ian as our project manager as he came with years of construction experience, always took the time to work through things with us, was on-site frequently, and made sure the subtrades were on the same page as us. We had great subtrades Gio, Devon, Ken, and Jimmy brought expertise and professionalism whenever they were on-site. Every reno has its hiccups but one thing is for sure, at RJR there was not one person who didnt want to do a good job - no make that great job - and went to any length to make sure we were satisfied. Throughout our reno projects it was clear that our happiness and satisfaction in their work was their priority. And they achieved that goal.

We recently discovered a raccoon had given birth under our ground level back deck. With a large family dog we couldnt leave the raccoons in our yard. We were referred to Dan at Summit Wildlife Solutions as someone who would take great care to move mom and her babies while not harming her or her family. Dan took care to lift our deck boards and carefully plotted how to get mom to take her babies to another nearby locale. After having mom take one of her kits, she returned overnight to retrieve them one by one. Dan texted me in the early morning, having worried all night about the babies. He was very relieved and happy to hear all five kits were safe with mom. We were so pleased with how it all turned out. Thanks Dan.

Smithwerks has been cleaning our wool bedroom carpet, hall runner and stairs for at least seven years. They've also cleaned our upholstery, saving our sofa a few years ago after our young dog had an accident on it. Every year I get the same great service and professionalism. This year they will also clean a large wool area rug off-site for us. Always great for a home owner when you can rely on the same great service every year.

Thank you Kirby for giving my home an amazing spring clean-up. This was the fifth year in a row you’ve come to my home to power wash and clean windows. I so appreciate your attention to detail and your desire to make my home look fabulous after a long winter of rain and dirt build-up. The power washing made the deck, house, and gutters look great. The windows and the upper deck roof and glass rail are so clean. Your work will make hanging out in yard all summer just that much better.

Manjit and his crew member showed up on time with all they needed to install the fence. Even though it was a small job to replace three cedar panels on a retaining wall, they were professional, extremely accommodating, answered all my questions, were very careful around my plants, and were friendly, personable and approachable. The fence replacement was completed in a reasonable amount of time, the new fence looks great and they hauled away the old rotten panels. Thanks Manjit for making this easy!

I just want to express my profound thanks to both Marshall and Jeff for all their hard work, their easy and approachable manner, and their professionalism. Everything looks great and I so appreciate how conscientious they were in leaving my yard and gardens clean and tidy when they left. I’d have these two gentlemen back in a heartbeat. From my initial conversation with Daniel, to any emails being promptly responded to, to Marshall and Jeff being so great to work with, I thoroughly enjoyed being a Bur-Han customer.

This is the fourth year Kirby has given my home a spring clean-up. With his power washer and scrub brushes he cleans winter dirt and algae away from my exterior walls, windows and gutters, walkways, deck and deck furniture, and an aluminum balcony cover. He never forgets a detail – he even gives the birdbaths a clean. It really feels like spring is here after Kirby makes the outside of my house sparkle.

Easy peasy from the first email inquiry to the truck driving away with the job done. As we weren’t sure how much mulch was needed Kevin came by to confirm we required 20 cubic yards. Derek and his team arrived on time and did a really nice job placing the mulch in my gardens. They took great care not to step on the plants that were just starting to peek through the soil. My gardens now look rich and beautiful. Blowing in the mulch took only an hour and a half - so much easier than lugging in bag after bag of mulch like we did last year. Highly recommend Pacific Bark Blowers.

We are very pleased with both the service and the product we received through Door Ace. John responded promptly to our initial call, emailed a quote based on the size and style of door we wanted , and came to our home to talk to us in person to discuss installation and show us the colour palate. We obtained three quotes and his cost was much more reasonable than the other two. The Amarr door came in the colour we wanted so that too was a deciding factor. The door took three weeks to arrive and John called us promptly to set up an install date, which we made for the next day. John arrived on time, dismantled the old door which he took to recycle and dispose of, and installed the new door with skill and ease. He answered all our questions during all stages of this process and was always approachable and professional. We would recommend John and wish him well in his business.

Much thanks to Sean and Levon for their professional approach to cleaning the furnace, bathroom fan, and dryer ducts in my home. They worked tirelessly for three hours on a warm day. Sean answered any questions I had and explained everything he was doing along the way. He generously unpacked some hoses after packing up to go when I asked him to do one more small thing. Sean was extremely approachable, provided amazing customer service, and clearly wanted me to be happy with the results of the cleaning, which I was. Both men were a pleasure to work with and would highly recommend Modern Purair.

In March of 2018 we hired a handyman company to install 350 sq. ft. of polycarbonate roofing panels on a lean-to/garden shed. Unfortunately, the installation did not go well, it all had to be removed and we had to find another company to install new panels, and right away. We turned to HomeStars to find someone dependable who knew roofs and we are so happy we found Derek and his crew at Accountable Roofing. Even though this was a small job and it wasn’t a traditional roofing project for Derek’s company, when Derek and Dan heard our plight they wanted to do all they could do to make it right. Derek’s mission was to make sure we were happy, stress free, informed and entirely satisfied at all stages of the project and that the finished project went above and beyond our expectations. He accomplished that and more. Derek’s crew performed quality precision work, got the job done on time, and cleaned up when they were done. We’ve renovated two houses during the past two decades and in doing so have worked with hundreds of trades people. Derek is one of the best and easiest contractors and business owners we’ve ever dealt with. Doing business with him was an absolute pleasure.

I’ve had Kirby from A Glass Act come to my home for several years now to do an annual power wash and to clean the outside of our windows. Kirby makes this yearly clean-up all very easy. He can be depended on to show up on the day he was scheduled, he knows exactly what to do as he’s been here before, he knows exactly how I want things done, and when he’s finished, the exterior of my home, including every surface be it wood, concrete, glass or aluminum, is sparkling clean and the winter algae and dirt is gone. I love how my house looks when he’s finished. I end every yearly visit with an “I’ll see you next year” as I wouldn’t hire anyone else.

We hired House Appeal Pro to install corrugated polycarbonate panels on a 300 sq ft lean-to/garden shed. The owner did not match the handyman’s skill with the job nor did the handyman state at any time he didn’t know how to install these types of polycarbonate panels. The job was grossly underquoted as the owner did not have the knowledge of the materials or time required for proper installation. Not at any stage during the installation of these panels did the House Appeal Pro installer get it right. Even when we printed off the installation instructions for him to read he did not do one of the steps in the installation correctly. The installer’s errors voided any warranty that came with the materials and basically made an impossible mess of the entire installation – nothing was salvageable. We contacted the owner of House Appeal Pro and walked him through the nightmare installation. He agreed to return our deposit but wanted the same installer to return, at our convenience, to remove all the panels and closure strips in case they wanted to use them elsewhere. The panels were removed upon our request a few weeks later to make way for a roofing company to redo the entire installation and our deposit was returned promptly. In the end, the workmanship was wholly substandard but the owner of House Appeal Pro did what was required to return our money.

We hired Vancouver Perma-Glaze to refinish old green tub wall tiles and an ivory sink and vanity on June 13, 2017. Arrangements were made through Mike, the father, and the son, Adrian, did the work. The work went very well on the first day as Adrian prepped and sprayed. On June 14, Adrian returned to remove the paper and tape and caulk the tub. As there is large space between the tub and the first tile, Adrian was asked on the first day if he was confident to caulk such a large bead. We told him how hard it was even for skilled caulkers. He smiled quite self-assuredly and said he was. When Adrian was finished his work we noticed a small bit of overspray on the wall and the caulking bead was done poorly. When this was brought to his attention, he tried to remove the paint on the wall with nail polish remover which started to remove the wall paint so we asked him to stop. When we asked about fixing the caulk, Adrian said it was too hard to caulk our tub, was not happy listening to our concerns and left our home angry. The next day we found two small marks on the vanity, either fingerprints or cloth marks in the glaze finish. We contacted Mike to resolve matters. On June 18 both men returned. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do to remove the prints in the glaze. We gave up on fixing the damage to the wall paint. Adrian did his best to fix the caulk. It looked better but certainly not the professional look that he had promised. Mike disclosed to us when he was here that his son was stressed due to family matters and that this was affecting his work. Mike discounted the job by approximately 25% of the original cost and apologized profusely for his son’s work and behaviour. The next week our plumber put 2 tiny round chips in the glaze; less than a ¼ of an inch in size. We asked VPG to return and fix the chips, fully prepared to pay them for their work. Mike made arrangements to come 2 weeks later. Mike showed up on July 4, without Adrian, with a cheque for the total amount we paid. He no longer wanted to deal with us, telling us our expectations were too high, that we’d always be calling them to come back and do more, that his son was so upset he wouldn’t even come with him, and by refunding our money he was walking away from any further contact with us. We were shocked. When they had left our home on the last visit, everyone had been pleased with the outcome. Nothing we could say to Mike would convince him that we did not see fixing the chips as a warranty issue, that we were fully prepared to pay him for the full extent of the work, that the chips were no fault of ours or theirs, and that customer service should be a priority, more than the hurt feelings of his son. He would not budge, put the cheque on the table and walked out. There is no head office to call to get assistance as VPG is a franchise. We had to buy white touch-up paint for porcelain and patch the two spots. Mike and Adrian are not ethical, capable nor professional tradesmen. They don’t care about the finished product or follow-up customer service and satisfaction.

We bought peel and stick vinyl tiles from Lonsdale Flooring thinking we could install them ourselves in our small bathroom. We decided two days before the plumber was to finish up that we couldn't do it. We went to Lonsdale Flooring with a big request - can someone come the next day to install the flooring so we don't have to cancel the plumber. They made it work for us. Josh skim coated the floor in the morning and then came back in the afternoon and laid the tiles. Perfect. Thanks to all.

Every Smithwerks employee sent to my home over the years has been talented, courteous and professional. My wool carpets get a refresh and a good clean. Can always count on Dave and his dedicated and personable staff.

Had Kirby back again this year, this time with Michael. Power washed huge back deck, house and garage walls, gutters, all cement walkways, deck covers, deck furniture and exterior window. These guys do anything you ask them to make your home look fresh and clean. Looks amazing! Nice way to start spring.

Have had NS Pest Detective to our home in the past couple of years to battle both ants in the summer and this year, a minor invasion of fleas arriving in the fall. Ants were done in by the spray but fleas persisted. Next step is to treat the animals...Nicky from NS Pest Detective did an excellent job of getting the job done for us, was friendly, professional and great to work with. You never really want to call a pest control company but if you have to, recommend calling Pest Detective - they serve the whole lower mainland.

I've had Bruce from Houle Electric to my house in North Van 3 - 4 times in the past few years to perform a variety of residential electric work in the interior and exterior of my house. It is so nice having a professional, patient, knowledgeable tradesperson arrive on time, get to work, and do the work right. Thanks Bruce.

Hassan fixed a squeaking dryer that a previous service technician failed to fix. He listened to the sound of the squeak over the phone and got the model number so he knew what make and model he would be dealing with before he arrived. He was prepared with the part and the repair took about 25 minutes and now the dryer is working well. He showed me the damaged part so I could see the root of the problem. Hassan was extremely polite, personable and professional. Wish I had called Newtech first.

My 2007 Whirlpool dryer started making a screeching/squealing noise. I called Apex Appliance Repair and Ernie tried to fix it. It took him over an hour and I had to help him pull and push the washer/dryer in and out of their place under the counter top so he could open the back panel. After Ernie’s repair, the dryer started screeching the first time I used it. As the screeching sound abated in a few minutes I thought it just needed to spread around the lubrication Ernie had given it. The screeching sound returned, and abated, but by the third time, the sound was worse. I asked Ernie for a refund as a I called another repair service. He would only give me half of my money back. The other service man fixed the dryer by removing the front panel, so we didn’t have to pull the heavy washer/dryer in and out, and replaced a defective part. It took him about 20 minutes. Ernie charged $20 more than the next repair man without replacing any parts. I would not recommend Ernie and Apex Appliance Service.

Whenever I have a home plumbing issue, I call Kodiak Heating and Plumbing. Rudi is great plumber and is punctual, personable and professional. I'm always satisfied with his work and don't hesitate to recommend his services to others.

My house looks amazing and it’s because of the fabulous work of Kirby and Jim from A Glass Act. They cleaned a large wood deck that was covered in algae, all my concrete sidewalks, an upper deck and it’s glass railing, eaves, down spouts, fascia, exterior walls that had greyed from dust, the exterior of all my windows, and more. My house looks brand new. I believe they truly wanted to see me happy and satisfied at the end of the day. And I certainly was.

Smithwerks have cleaned the carpets and upholstery in my home now for at least 3 years. I would highly recommend their services. Dave, the owner, is extremely courteous and puts his customers’ satisfaction first and foremost. My dog had an accident on our sofa and a Smithwerks cleaner came the very next day to clean it and he left it like new. If you want prompt and professional service, cleaners who know carpets, and great customer service, then Smithwerks is the company you should call.

I called Adanac to get a quote to replace a small section of old torch on roofing. Dan gave me the quote right there on the phone and the work commenced within the week. He treated my job the same as if it was a full roofing project. Instead of torch on, Dan recommended TPO, which turned out to be a far superior product. Saul and his crew were amazing. Punctual, polite, organized, thorough, checked in with me when necessary, answered all my questions, checked my asphalt shingles to make sure all was well with them, and cleaned up after themselves. Saul commented that he treats each roof like it's his own, and I believe him. I would highly recommend Adanac Roofing and will have them back next year to do their annual roof check up and gutter cleaning.

At first Sam was a great worker and did exemplary work but as his enthusiasm for the job waned, so did the quality of his work. He stated several times as part of his work ethic that he would guarantee his work and come back and fix anything. For the most part, Sam did a great job painting the exterior of our stucco house. It was our new 600 sq ft deck that became a nightmare. On the last day of his work on the deck Sam asked us for more money than we had agreed upon suggesting he was worth more money. He did a poor job staining our deck and had to come back and do a lot of the work over again, which he was not happy about. The deck stain began to peel off within a few months and he wouldn't return to fix it. Two other areas of his paint work also failed and he didn't remedy those either. Sam may be a good painter but he cannot be trusted to do quality work all the way to the end of a project, not change his hourly rate, nor guarantee his work.

We have used Urban Rush movers for three small moving jobs (about three hours each) over the past year and each time we have been so impressed with the service, the care they took in moving our stuff, and how open the guys were to working with us to ensure we were fully satisfied. The guys are always so nice, respectful, friendly and obliging. They are so very, very careful (especially with the big, heavy stuff), plan and organize the move before they start, and pay attention to detail in how they conduct the move. Each time we've used Urban Rush, their movers have always been on time. They take all the stress out of moving because they know what they are doing - they treat moving furniture and appliances as the skill that it is. It was also easy organizing what we needed with Mike, the owner, through phone and email. We highly recommend Urban Rush Movers.

We had Walter Gray and his guys put a new roof on our home in North Van. They removed two layers of old roofing, put on new plywood, installed a rain proofing membrane, new asphalt shingles, vents, and decorative roof caps in two days. Cleaned up after themselves. Walter's price was $10,000 less than the quotes we got from two other large companies. When we ran into some problems regarding the colour of the shingles, Walter addressed the issue immediately and to our satisfaction. We recommended Walter to our neighbour and he went on to do one of their relative's roof too. Great prices and workmanship. thanks Walter.

We have done several major home renovations in the past fifteen years but this was by far the worst managed and performed. As the project manager, the owner of C & G was thoroughly disorganized, without a step by step plan on how to proceed, wanted to cut corners or proceed without the necessary information, and most of his crew did not have the skills or information they needed to do the work. We came home every night from our own jobs to find more and more problems and issues and spent hours online researching renovation (drainage, plumbing, heating, framing) so we could have a little knowledge to direct the workers and subtrades. We had to call in a drainage expert and a home inspector to get some advice. After two and a half incredibly stressful months, we fired C & G and finished the project ourselves, resulting in a 3 month reno stretching to almost eight, and the costs increasing by 40%. Work had to be taken apart or taken down because something else should have been done first or it was done wrong (for example, a window built lower than the future counter). All our exterior drainage had to be dug up and redone by professionals. Same with framing and plumbing. Working with this company was a nightmare - communication was a tremendous struggle, the project was wholly mismanaged and the workmanship lacked quality and attention to detail.

We have known Ted for at least ten years. He’s been our home inspector on several occasions and by listening to his good advice over the years, we changed our minds on three properties that needed a whole lot of work and money to upgrade or repair. Ted doesn’t just do a quick inspection – he takes the time needed to perform a thorough inspection and as the home buyers, we learned a lot from accompanying Ted on the inspections and through his written report. We’ve also had Ted come by our current home to give us feedback on a contractor’s work product and a roofing job. He is always there for us and we continually benefit from his many years in the home inspection and construction industries.