Holmes Spot Light Addition

Found this funny, thought I would share.



:) Happy Saturday, everyone!

Holmes Spot Highlight Reel - August 22 Live Chat

The August 22 live chat was a great one! Lots of very interesting questions, lots to pick apart and dissect, and lots of new information about Mike and his new show, Holmes Makes It Right. Here are some highlights from yesterday’s chat with Mike.

First, I guess I’ll do a little self-aggrandizing and report that Mike did (sort-of) answer the question that I submitted. Well, actually, he didn’t really answer it at all, he just kind of commented about my question... Which is OK with me, it’s his chat, he’s allowed to take any kind of tangential twist or turn that he likes. And any time I get to “chat” with Mike is a happy time for me!

My question to Mike:

Hi Mike, happy birthday! Glad to see you had a nice celebration with your friends and family, and I hope you got your fill of cake and got lots of presents! I’m the girl who made the Mike Holmes cartoon – it was a lot of work, but I had so much fun doing it. Animation has been a hobby of mine for years, and it made me wonder if you had any new news on the “Mighty Mike” cartoon? I know you’ve been talking about doing it for some time now. I think a Mike Holmes kids cartoon is a great idea! A lot of young kids already watch your shows and are inspired by you, it would be a terrific way to get the next generation excited! (Big kids like me would probably watch it too!) Have a good one, Mike :) Much love and respect, Raquel

Mike’s answer to me:

Raquel!! Thank YOU for the cartoon!! I loved that. Showed to everyone who would look at my phone. It's great--we're getting all kinds of great response from people who see it. YOU are a very talented young woman. Keep making it right.

That was very sweet of Mike to say. I think sometimes he gets so busy, his ADD kicks in. Maybe next time I'll submit a shorter question, LOL. Alright, now that we’ve got that out of the way…

 

1) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT HOLMES MAKES IT RIGHT
 

Mike is BUSY BUSY BUSY (did I mention BUSY?) filming episodes for his new show out this fall, Holmes Makes It Right. Lots of people asked questions pertaining to the new show, and Mike revealed some interesting things! He started out the session by saying he and his crew were working through “record-breaking heat doing renovation rescues like you've never seen.”

One person asked Mike about new episodes of Holmes on Homes, and Mike responded by saying that Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection were all wrapped up, but

“Holmes Makes it Right is going to air soon--and it's like Holmes on Homes on steroids. You'll love it.”

Another person asked about when the new show was going to air in the US, and if it would air at the same time as in Canada. Mike responded,

"Not the same dates--US is one week later. Date and time still TBA”

One person asked a question about the Jamie Bell Playground build (see Now That's A Castle! for details), and Mike stated that

“the playground rescue is going to be the first episode airing on the new series. You'll be able to see it in Canada on October 16 at 9:00pm, and in the US the following week--not sure the day or time.”

Mike told one person that the crew on Holmes Makes It Right would consist of...

“Pretty much all the same team, with a couple of new guys for extra help.”

Someone asked if Damon would be on the new show, and Mike responded,

“Oh yes, better believe it. In fact he's working now...as I sit here typing...”

Along those same lines, another person asked about MJ (Mike Jr.) making appearances on up and coming episodes of Holmes Makes It Right.

“Sure! MJ is on every job site, working with the crew. You just don't always see everybody in every episode…He's always there--just maybe working on another site.”

 

2) OTHER INTERESTING QUESTIONS

 

There were a ton of REALLY great questions asked to Mike. A lot of new and interesting factoids shared (or at least new and interesting to me!)

Someone asked Mike what kind of IR camera he uses.

“I use a FLIR camera, and so do all of the home inspectors who work in my company.”

(By the way, I took a peek at the FLIR website, and I can see why Mike likes them. Not only are they high tech, but they also work with your iPad!)

One person asked if Mike had a college degree, of if he was just  smart. Great question!

“I am just that smart. haha. (Thank you)”
 

(Actually, Mike has two honorary doctorates from two different universities. Granted, he didn't earn them by sitting in a classroom, however, he was awarded these honors because of his exceptional life experience and service.) 
 

One person had a two part question. Part one was about whether Mike had an old home or a new home, and part two was about his mad drumming skills and something about Neil Peart (Canadian drummer/song writer for Rush. -- I think it's some kind of law in Canada that you MUST love Rush, or else).

“My home is an older one--built in the 70's as far as I can tell...I might just bring my drum set out soon…I think I might just play a set. We'll get some pictures onto the website.”

A couple of people asked about episodes of Holmes on Homes such as the infamous Lien on Me, and when would later episodes of Holmes on Homes be out on DVD. Mike’s answers made me enormously happy!

“It will be available on iTunes in the next few months--keep checking our site and we'll let you know.”

“…We're just in the process of getting all of Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inpsection [sic] onto iTunes. I hope that in the next couple of months you'll be able to complete your set (but they won't be DVDs--they'll be downloads).”

One person asked Mike if he had any youthful regrets. Mike responded,

“Yes, like any grown up, I've got some regrets: about maybe I shouldn't have trusted some people like I did, or maybe been a better saver, or made better investments--that kind of thing. But I know myself well enough to know that my younger self wouldn't have listened to my advice. I'm a Leo, what can I say? But on the whole, I'm pretty happy. I've got great kids, a job I love, good friends--it's all good.”

Lastly, Mike was asked who his inspiration was growing up. His answer is no suprise any any Mike Holmes fan, but it was touching nonetheless...

“My dad. Always and forever.”

 

3) MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

Some other interesting things Mike said during the live chat is that he is currently “exercising with a trainer.” Nice! My fit tip for Mike… try the Paleo diet. You’ll buff up and trim down, especially if you’re as active as you are. (Mike looks fantastic just the way he is, in my opinion. Any kind of fitness plan is just going to put him that much more ahead of the curve!) As far as being a Canuck hosting All American Handyman, he feels just fine about it. In fact, he considers himself “an international judge,” just like the Olympics! Mike doesn’t have a lot of free time, but the time he does have, he likes to spend on his boat on Lake Ontario, “On the water, beverage in hand, good company all around, music playing. I don't even leave the harbour!” No surprise, Mike admitted to being a "construction geek" who wishes he had more time to research all the latest and greatest advances in the building world.

Well, that’s the Holmes Spot Highlight Reel for this chat. I think it’s really awesome that Mike takes the time to sit down for several hours every couple of months to answer some questions for his fans. Very cool! I’ve sat through several of these chats, and this one was by far one of the more entertaining ones. Lots of really thoughtful questions, and equally thoughtful answers. Thanks Mike!

24.5 x 2

It was a really special day for Mike yesterday... after all, you only turn 24.5 x 2 once in a lifetime. It looks like Mike had a pretty sweet birthday party with all his staff, family, and friends in attendance, complete with cake and presents. Hope your day was all smiles Mike! You most certainly deserve it!




Oh, and by the way... what an honor! Apparently the cartoon was noteworthy enough to make the makeitright.ca news feed. Totally blown away by that one! Don't know what to say, so I guess I'll just say thank you! Some of the feedback I'm getting is rendering me speechless. I don't deserve it... It's a tribute to my hero, and he was the catalyst behind all of it.

Better Than Explosives?

Wow, we beat out explosives! Sweet! Thanks Mike, you are awesome!

And FYI -- Damon is awesome too! We were just poking fun :)

Happy Birthday Mike!!!

Happy Birthday, Mike! Here's my birthday present to you... six months in the making, and worth every second!

A Few Things...

I think it's time for another end of the month recap on the state of all things going on around the Holmes Spot.

1) Holy Stats!

When I originally started this blog, I couldn't imagine who my audience would be. I figured I'd just keep it for my own mental health, and whoever wanted to participate and read it would. Well, here I stand, three months down the road, and I'm amazed. Over 3,000 readers for the month of July, more than triple the number of readers in June, and growing every day! Not bad for a silly little blog about a contractor from Canada, eh?

2) The Holmes Spot YouTube Channel

We have a YouTube Channel! Visit it at http://www.youtube.com/user/theholmesspot to view our small but growing number of original videos, and see some of our favorited videos we've found from around the web.

3) Mike's Birthday Surprise

Three...count 'em 1-2-3 days until Mike's massively awesome amazing epic birthday surprise! It will debut right here August 3, 2012 at Midnight PST on the Holmes Spot. Don't miss it!

4) A Random Picture of Mike

Why? Because he's so handsome and we can never get enough pictures of our favorite Canadian contractor :) Enjoy!

Canada's Busiest Contractor - A Blast From The Past!

What can I say? It's been a pretty slow news week in the world of Holmes. There are no more playgrounds being built, and I'm eagerly awaiting Mike's birthday next week so that I can post his super awesome birthday present. Mike's also been taking a Facebook hiatus for the last week, which has kind of left a void of new content for the time being. But never fear! We here at the Holmes Spot have hopped in our time machine and traveled back in time to the year 2008. The article is from the Edmonton Journal, and discusses Mike's busy life as Canada's most trusted contractor. Not a whole lot has changed from then to now. Mike's still a pretty busy guy.

In 2008, Americans were just starting to get to know Mike through his show Holmes on Homes. Of course, today he's just as much of a hero here in the good ol' USA as he is up north. (In fact more than half of the readers of this blog are American!) And of course, Mike's biggest fan (me!) is American as well. It only goes to show what a few short years can do.

The article also talks about Mike's books and his side job as host of Handyman Superstar Challenge, the Canadian forefather of All American Handyman, which is ironically hosted by two Canadians (Mike and Scott McGillivary).
Get your flux capacitors in gear and enjoy this Holmes Spot BLAST FROM THE PAST...

Canada's busiest contractor

Canada's most trusted contractor is also Canada's busiest contractor.

By The Edmonton Journal February 25, 2008

Canada's most trusted contractor is also Canada's busiest contractor.
As if being inundated with requests to fix shoddily built homes on this side of the border didn't occupy enough of his time, Mike Holmes is filming two different shows for HGTV Canada, writing a second book, and being called upon to help Americans make sure that their homes are also up to snuff.
Somewhere else in his 24-hour days, Holmes is moving forward with his plans to build Holmes-approved new houses across the country and attempting to get more young people into the homebuilding sector.
Like the Energizer bunny, he just keeps on going and going and going.
After a number of successful appearances on the Los Angeles-originated Ellen DeGeneres Show -- he is the talk show's resident contractor having already helped one Ellen viewer who was left with a contractor on the run, a huge new mortgage, and construction bills piling up -- Holmes will soon pop up on ABC's 20/20 news magazine.
"I just got back from New York and was on 20/20, which will air at the end of September. They came here and filmed me here, I went there and filmed in the studio and I went to a homeowner's home devastated by a contractor," says Holmes. "It's all about how do you get into this position and how do you get out of it."
And Holmes notes that builders on the other side of the border can be just as bad as the ones that he finds problems with here.
"Most definitely, the home construction is just as bad there. I think the show is what makes everyone aware of it -- Holmes on Homes is climbing very fast in the States," says Holmes.
On this side of the 49th parallel, Holmes is busy filming a new season of Handyman Superstar Challenge with Jim Caruk -- he notes that they started with 20 contenders and on the first day there were just 10 left -- and season seven of Holmes on Homes. New episodes will debut in the beginning of October, with six new shows from season six followed by the beginning of season seven.
One of the highlights this year was a plan to take the Holmes on Homes crew across Canada and try to fix at least one home in each province, but to Holmes' chagrin that didn't come about.
"The whole hope was to go right across Canada, but we needed an extra $3 million to do it -- so we ended up settling to do four outside of Toronto. It's not what I wanted, but at least I got to do some (work) outside of Toronto," says Holmes. "It's too bad it wasn't more."
Two of those four shows have been filmed, the first in Saint John, N.B., and the second in Calgary. After shooting on Handyman Superstar Challenge wraps up, the Holmes on Homes team will head to Northern Ontario and then Vancouver to finish the four non-Toronto shows.
"When we filmed in Saint John, the mayor came out, and we got the red-carpet treatment. They gave me a 'building inspector of Saint John' award -- I could not believe the number of people that came to the site. In Calgary, the mayor came out and I got the key to the city, which was a hat," says Holmes, referring to the traditional white cowboy hat given to honoured dignitaries.
In between all this, he's about three-quarters of the way through penning his second book, which is about selling your current house and buying your next one.
"The first book (Make It Right, Inside Home Renovation) is doing phenomenal. It's still as strong today as it first came out. I wish I could give everyone in the country a book -- it's all about the homeowner, it's not about me," says Holmes.
But even with all this on his plate, Holmes continues to fight to get more women into the business and is working with Canadian colleges to get more young people into the construction trades.
"I have two full-time female apprentices on the show. They're very eager, very hard workers. I'm impressed with the women I've met across the country: electricians, carpenters. I love it. It's really going to wake up the men (in the industry) and keep them honest," says Holmes.
And as far as his mantra of doing it right and the stunning amount of shoddy construction work he has had to repair, Holmes had one last thing to add.
"I can't say it enough: you steal a pack of gum, you get arrested. If you steal $100,000 from a homeowner -- and just because you've done a week's amount of work -- the legal system says you can't be charged with fraud, which means you won't get arrested and nothing is going to happen with you," says Holmes. "Let's fix this now.

© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.

Mike Holmes Birthday Surprise... SHHHHHHH (It's a Secret!)

Yeah, I know. It's a HUGE secret, posted on the internet for all to see.

We here at the Holmes Spot have a very special birthday gift for Mike, but we can't say what it is yet, because it's a surprise! Oooh, I'm so excited. No really, I am! Because after six months of work, it (whatever IT is) is complete! Done. Finished. Perfect. Nobody has seen it except me, and I can't wait to post it for all to see. But I can't!!! I think I might go bald pulling out all of my hair in between now and next week.

I figured I'd post another teaser to hopefully make you all as crazy as I am. Visit the Holmes Spot blog, August 3, 2012, Midnight PST to see my epic homage to Mike Holmes!

Mike Holmes Birthday Surprise - Audio Preview

As I've previously posted, I'm creating a very unique birthday present for Mike Holmes this year, and I've been working furiously to complete it by the deadline. It's something I'm been putting together in my studio for the last six months now. Although I'm keeping the project hush hush until August 3, I'm putting out some teasers to pique the interest of all you readers. Here's some more to confuse and baffle you. You've seen the photos, now here's a short audio preview. Can you guess what it is? I'll give you a hint, it's going to be an epic homage to Holmes. The project will premiere right here on Mike's birthday, 8/3/12. SHHHHHHH... nobody tell Mike!!! It's a secret!!!!

Mike's Birthday Present (Audio Preview)

Something Special In The Works...

For the past six months, I've been working in my studio, creating a very special birthday gift for Mike. What it is, I can't say just yet, but I can give everyone a little sneak peak...

I've been working diligently these past couple of weeks to get this project done on time. Log onto the Holmes Spot on Mike's birthday, August 3, for the unveiling of something very, very cool! It's going to be wild! The countdown to awesome begins.