On Saturday, July 5th, Canadian superstar Mike Holmes made a special trip to Chestermere to help promote his "Holmes Approved Homes" program. I was thrilled when asked if I would be interested in meeting with him to write this article.
The private function was held on the second level of the Boathouse Landing which has been completely renovated for such special events. With temperatures hovering around 30 degrees and the lake bustling with boats, kayaks and paddle boards, there couldn’t have been a better way to welcome Holmes and his team to Chestermere. Holmes arrived to a roomful of prospective buyers, interested clients and a few home building representatives.
I was impressed by Mike’s personal approach to talking with everyone either individually or in small groups about his program and his efforts to create a better building model. Of course I was a little nervous at first… This guy’s been interviewed by the best of the best. I mean, he’s practically a regular on The Marilyn Denis Show, and has been a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. I just needed to get the first question out and ‘the pro’ took it from there.
Why Holmes Approved Homes? "Why am I doing this? I’ll tell you, all my life I’ve been teaching the next generation to build better. I teach them "why" not "how". It’s how my father taught me, and I believe that if you teach "why" the "how" becomes easier." He spoke with that compassionate tone that most of us know from at least one of his many TV series. "If we stop focusing on the granite counter tops and the floors, and start thinking about building the house from the outside in and not the inside out… if we can do that, we’ve done well." He also noted that a lot of the Holmes Approved builders aren’t making money with the program, they’re simply building better homes. They feel good about it and their buyers have a confidence that their home meets a higher standard. Mike’s tired of building practices that meet minimum code rather than serve the home buyer with a better end product. His team searches for only the best home builders to work with and promote, and then guides them through the program for better building standards of practice, for peace of mind for all parties involved. Mike has a defined plan to increase home owners’ awareness of the product they are investing in. "I’m on a mission… I’ve been on a mission since I was a kid."
So what is a Holmes Approved Home? The program started in 2011. Builders who are invited to partner with the Holmes Approved Program must meet or exceed certain standards of practice. All homes built receive 3 full home inspections, completed by an Approved Mike Holmes Inspector during key stages of construction with photo documentation. There are also other upgraded packages that can be purchased that may include even more advanced inspections, upgraded construction features, and high end products that are "green", energy efficient, and fire, mould, and moisture resistant.
I asked Holmes how he finds the time for family with everything he’s involved with. He explained, "I don’t have a life. My daughter over there is my oldest daughter, Amanda. I love her." Amanda told me earlier that afternoon that they travel as much as possible with their Dad to spend time with him, as he’s so often on the road. That’s a unique relationship. Mike shared that he’s producing yet another show called "Holmes the Next Generation".
I found this to be a truly informative meeting. Mike shared a great deal about the Holmes Approved Homes program. I’ve always been an advocate of better building practices and code compliance, and I believe that programs like this are well overdue. To learn more about "Approved Builders" or Mike Holmes, visit www.holmesapprovedhomes.com.
