Home Renovator Recommendations?

[VladtheImpaler]

Didn't see this discussed previously. Any recommendations for a high-end renovation (i.e. basically where you replace your house with a new one with high-end finishes, etc.) general contractor? Already met with Pinnacle and Ultimate. Curious to see if there is anyone else people can suggest. Again, the important points - must be very high quality and must be capable of doing the whole job (i.e. not interested in a kitchen guy). Thanks in advance.

[ranchlandsselling]

Albi Renova?
City Core developments?

[habernac]

avoid City Core at all costs. They've made a mess of my parent's home. Incompetent.

[undercoverbrother]

Alec Williams Construction

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by habernac

avoid City Core at all costs. They've made a mess of my parent's home. Incompetent.

I've heard stories of their trades not being paid as well.

[Methanolic]

Sent you (Vlad) a PM

[Northendzone]

Mike Holmes, Bryan baumler.......

[Bigtime]

My folks used Albi Renova, they do great work.

Also check out Lynn Donaldson and Associates.

[CaptainYooh]

Go only with reputable firms. Ultimate Renovations has won numerous industry awards for high-end renovations. That's all they do and they do a good job. Their prices will be reflective of that. McKinley Masters has also been known for quality renovations. Renos are very expensive. Whatever your initial budget is, it will cost you 15%-30% more, almost guaranteed, depending on the surprises you are going to encounter.

I would also recommend going with a Renovations division of one of the established homebuilders (e.g. Avi Renovations, Albi Renova etc.). They have the buying power that renovations companies don't have plus they have the name and reputation they want to protect.

[gasman]

I went through a major renovation a couple of years ago.

I used The Christian Contractor

Goes by a bunch of different names:

Kerry Wiebe developments
Christian Contractor
Spirit Kitchens

I wouldn't recommend

I know, I should have known better based on the name, but he had done some renos in my neighborhood and I was quite impressed with his work, he was a great salesman, but as soon as I signed the contract he handed the project off to a series of "project managers" and was rarely available to deal with any of the problems that came up.

Work was average, used terrible subs, and tried to screw me in the end with almost double the agreed upon lump sum price (no change orders). Worked out in the end, but he won't get my business again.

I blogged the entire reno, if your interested in the link, PM me, I'm not sure if I am allowed to post the link here.

C

[Bigtime]

Agree with gasman 100%.

[CaptainYooh]

Our friends hired a one-man-show guy doing renovations based on the reference from someone. He took deposits, gutted their house, then realized that his quote was low, demanded more money and then disappeared without refunding their deposits. He also filed a lien on their property, causing issues with their mortgage bank and additional expenses of having the lien taken off and suing the contractor, who, at the end, will not have a penny under his company name to pay off their damages. They are now working with a reputable contractor, to finish the job and it will cost them almost double the amount they had in mind when they'd started with the first guy. Beware of one-man contractors for big scale jobs. They are not set up for them properly and they have nothing to lose usually.

[Coach]

Also accompanied by...

[Locke]

I fired you a text with the contact info.

We used Stonehenge Homes recently and cant say enough good things.

[cupofjoe]

I am part of a business referral group (BNI). Our home builder has JHinnovations has a very good reputation in our group. I highly recommend them.

jhinnovations.ca

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by habernac

avoid City Core at all costs. They've made a mess of my parent's home. Incompetent.

Can you elaborate?

[Dr_Hook]

I know the construction manager at Revolve Renos and have used him before, highly recommended. http://revolverenos.com/

Very high quality and they can do the whole job.

[MyFlamesFirst]

Just want to reiterate that you shouldn't use city core. I know some reputable people in the industry who say they will underbid everybody and then demand more momey half way through the project.

[calgarywinning]

I honestly have to say that reviewing negatively without providing proper information or two sides of the story behind a userid gets my goat. I would dismiss negative reviews that don't honestly tell both sides of the story as well. There are always two sides?

I am not a developer or related to any of the above companies, but I do not like online commentary that is negative without any form of positive as a review to deter business which is either third hand or not elaborated on with fact.

For example; if you want more work done than you initially planned on, which in reality is what most homeowners want, then why wouldn't it cost more money then you were initially quoted. Even the banks know that homeowners spend way more then they intend on home renovation or building.