Catherine Tham in Toronto

I would like to share an amazing renovation experience with a surprised outcome, which I did not expect. Like most Ontarians, we took advantage of the GreenON Installatons program and decided to replace our builder casement windows that are over 10 years old. We requested quotes from multiple companies and Eric Chan from Crown Windows and Doors offered us the most reasonable price with quick turnaround time. Eric also made a couple recommendations to us: for the main floor window, he suggested moving the open window from the middle to the side to give us better view, and he also suggested for one of the upstairs window, added a second open window to allow more air flow. In less than 4 weeks and ahead of schedule, windows were ready for installation. On the day of installation, everything went well until the installation crew brought in the last window for the main floor. We picked the Prairie style grill and when the window was brought in, there were an extra horizontal grill in between the two vertical grills on each side. We instantly thought it was the wrong window and told the crew. The crew confirmed that it was the right window and I immediately called Eric. He explained that due to the height of the window, the extra horizontal grill was added to ensure the two vertical grills would not bend or cave in. Since the window was here and Eric provided the rationale, we let the crew finished the job. After the crew left, my husband and I looked at the main floor window and did not like it. It was different from the rest of the windows and no longer had a consistent look when viewing from the outside. And more importantly, it did not look like the true Prairie style we picked. I called Eric the next morning and told him about our concern; he was very patient and even brought in the manufacturer to our call so I could understand the manufacturing process. I appreciated the manufacturing process however we see this window everyday and the cosmetic look became more important than the functionality. Eric knew that I was not happy when we finished the call; and he did something above and beyond his responsibility that I would not expect from anyone. A day or two after the call with the manufacturer, I received a call from Crown and I was told that a new window would be made for me without the extra horizontal grills and all warranty remains unchanged. I was not expected this call and I found out what Eric did. Eric discussed with the window manufacturer after our call and since our window height was just about the height that required the extra support, he requested a new window made and offered the same warranty. This new window is at no charge to us that means Eric picked up the cost to ensure his customer is truly satisfied. We will and have recommended Eric and Crown to our friends and neighbours, and with this superb after sales service we will be Eric’s customers for life. Another note on the GreenON program, Crown submitted the application for us right after the installation, and our application have already been approved and we are now waiting for the cheque. The administrative service is fast and accurate, and everyone from Crown is polite and return call promptly. This is truly an amazing experience that is above our expectation.

We have heard so many horrible renovation stories and when we decided to give our 11-year old house a face-lift, we were both excited and worried. We planned to renovate the whole second floor, including two bedrooms and a bathroom that was completely gutted. We requested quotes from 5 contractors. Evan Jiang from Jiangs Home Renovation Inc provided the most detailed quote with individual item breakdown and during the quotation process, visited us 3 times to provide various explanation and clarification. It was Evan’s sincerity, honesty and knowledge that won us over the other contractors. The renovation started on June 4, and it was finished on June 21, more than a week ahead of schedule. The crew included Louis, Daniel, Kelvin, Xiao Wu and Evan himself. The crew team was truly amazing. They are very approachable, courteous, knowledgeable and flexible. With us being first-time renovators, we had lots of questions and requests that one could even say more like demands. But no matter what we asked for, they would come up with ideas and I heard more than once from the crew, “doing extra work is not a problem, as long as you are happy with the result”. This is totally client orientated with a work attitude that is second to none. We believe we are very picky people and we found the finishing was exquisite and the attention to details and workmanship were meticulous. Other than the unavoidable dust, the crew kept our house reasonably clean. They would tidy up the place and their work tools at the end of each day. They were punctual and work hours were 9:30am to 7:30pm. As each payment was made, Evan would send the invoice immediately without being asked. The project was completed as requested, within budget, and ahead of schedule. I remember Evan said before the start of renovation that we had high expectations but the crew had exceeded our expectation. We would recommend Jiangs Home Renovation Inc to our friends and family, and we would definitely call them back for our next renovation.

The journey in finding an awning for our deck was bumpy and frustrating until we found Necker Canada Inc. and Cherry. Originally we bought an awning from a big box store. It was on sale and we thought it was a pretty good deal, but none of the big box stores provided the installation service and we found the quality of the awning was just okay. So our search for the installation began and we found Necker on HomeStars. All their clients provided positive feedback and we decided to give it a try. My husband called Cherry about the installation and she confirmed that Necker could provide the service. Since Necker also sells awning, we asked Cherry for a quote. After receiving a few quotes from other companies, we found Cherry’s quote was reasonable and she was very genuine while we talked to her so we decided to give the business to her and returned the big box store awning. Cherry came to our house later that day to take measurements to ensure we had enough space and recommended the right size awning and fabric to match our house. Her opinion was honest, straight to the point and the whole time we never felt pressured to buy any accessories or extra parts. As a matter of fact, when we asked for a cover for the awning, she stopped us from thinking of getting one as she pointed out the eavestrough was wide enough to provide the protection. I have met many sales representatives and they never turn away business and they will sell you everything under the sun. Not Cherry, she only sells you what you need, not what you think you need or want. Cherry is very professional, very friendly and definitely trustworthy. About a week later, Cherry called me one evening and told me the awning was ready and wanted to install it before Canada Day so we could enjoy our new outdoor living space. This was amazing customer service, the promised date was 2 weeks and they delivered in 1 week. The next day, Dennis and Terry the installation team came to our house right on time. They were very experienced and professional, and they thought about every little details. For example, they picked the perfect spot for the metal rod and they wired the electrical cord where it was the least visible. If you are looking for an awning, Necker is the place and Cherry is the right person to do business. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. I am so happy with the awning that I use it everyday. I am actually writing the review right now on my deck under the new awning. The awning is a lovely piece of furniture that is practical, good looking and adds value to our house. Now I can enjoy the outdoor anytime without worrying about UV and get the privacy we want.