Holmes Makes It Right Microsite Launched

For the last couple of weeks, the official website for Mike's new show, Holmes Makes It Right, has been a ticker countdown, counting down the minutes and the hours until today, October 16.

The hour is finally upon us, and as Mike and his look-alikes walk the streets of Ontario looking for fans to take pictures with, everyone else is checking out the brand new Holmes Makes It Right website, launched today with some very interesting content, including a hilarious video preview of the first episode, "A Case of Shingles."



 

Wowsers... Mike is looking buff and trim!!! And damn sexy! Just some bonus commentary, courtesy of the Holmes Spot.


Even amidst the excitement, Mike still managed to squeeze in some air time at a local TV station a couple hours ago to promote the new show...

Just finished up on The Morning Show. What a great team. Thanks for having me on.

SUPER HOLMES!

Mike and his super look-alikes on the streets of Toronto, October 16, 2012.

 

From HGTV Canada's Facebook page:

Not sure who to look for in Toronto for the "Spot a Super Holmes Contest" today? Here's a pic of Mike Holmes and the 'Mike-alikes' suited-up in their Super Holmes gear, ready to hit the streets of Toronto. Fans who get their picture taken with them are being entered into a chance to win $5000. The new series Holmes Makes It Right premieres tonight at 9pm ET/PT. http://www.hgtv.ca/holmesmakesitright



From Mike's Facebook just a couple of minutes ago...


I've hit the streets in Toronto. Come find me!




























And apparently the crowds in Toronto are out of control!

HGTV Canada Premiere of Holmes Makes It Right - October 16, 2012

Today is the big day, for Canadians anyway. People in the US will have to wait a while before they get to see Mike's new show, Holmes Makes It Right, which makes its debut on HGTV Canada tonight at 9PM EST.

The first episode of Holmes Makes It Right will be called "A Case Of Shingles."

A Case Of Shingles

 Tuesday, October 16 9:00 AM PDTMike Holmes and his team get on top of a bad roof that has plagued a family for 40 years. The damage Mike uncovers proves they have been coping with leaks for nearly half a century. There’s mold in the attic, barely any insulation and as a result, heat loss like Mike has never seen. Mike and his team conquer the scorching heat and accomplish...

Sounds pretty exciting! I know Mike's excited about it for sure. Yesterday morning, he was busy promoting the new show on a slew of radio and morning programs in Canada. I wonder if he'll do the same kind of promotions in 2013 for the US premiere.

Today in Toronto, Mike Holmes look-alikes wearing overalls and superhero capes will be roaming the streets. Mike put out a video today explaining why... Spot a "Super Mike," and you could win $5,000. Pretty sweet deal!




Yesterday on Mike's Facebook, with only hours left until the new show premieres, Mike updated his cover photo with a scene from a future episode of the new show:

Major roof reconstruction from the premiere episode of Holmes Makes It Right!
Don't miss it. Tuesday October 16th at 9pm on HGTV Canada.
 http://holmesmakesitright.com/

HGTV Canada has also been counting down the hours until the new show with a daily Mike Holmes trivia question. I've posted the previous five questions, but in the last couple of days, the final two questions, question 6 and question 7, were officially posted on the blog.

How Well do You Know Mike Holmes? Fact or Fiction Quiz 6

Posted by Tina Taus, Web Producer Sunday, October 14, 2012 9:30 AM EDT

Two more days until the premiere of Mike Holmes’ new show Holmes Makes it Right on Tuesday, October 16th at 9pm ET|PT. And our Fact or Fiction countdown continues with the reveal of yesterday’s quiz which stated “Mike’s favourite music genres are R&B and Reggae.” This is fact! And to add to that fact, Mike’s favourite musical artists/bands are Beres Hammond and The Temptations.

Today we’re looking into Mike’s television career, see below for today’s Fact or Fiction quiz. As always, don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the correct answer, and to guess at our final fun fact about Mike.

Fact or Fiction? Mike once built sets for television shows...

FactFiction

 

 

How Well do You Know Mike Holmes? Fact or Fiction Quiz 7

Posted by Tina Taus, Web Producer Monday, October 15, 2012 9:51 AM EDT

One more day until the premiere of Mike Holmes’ new show Holmes Makes it Right tomorrow at 9pm ET|PT. And our Fact or Fiction countdown continues today with the correct answer to yesterday’s quiz. Yesterday we stated “Mike once built sets for television shows,” and this is fact! Mike built sets for Jon Eakes.

Test your Mike knowledge in our final quiz below and check back tomorrow for the correct answer.

Fact or Fiction? Mike created his own signature drink...

FactFiction

SPOILER ALERT...

Most people know Mike was a set builder for the Just Ask Jon Eakes show. It was while doing this that he met Michael Quast, who more or less launched Mike's television career. As far as the other question, Mike created his own signature drink... that's true! Mike's signature drink is the Holmes-tini, which is of course Mike's own twist on the martini, shaken not stirred. It contains vodka, peach schnapps, and pineapple juice shaken with ice and served in a chilled glass. Between the sweetness from the juice and the alcohol content, the Holmes-tini is a punch to the face that would knock a light-weight like myself on my ass.

Lastly, the last last (hopefully) last update of the day for now is an article from The Province about Mike and the new show. It talks about his early beginnings, Holmes on Homes days, and the concept behind the new show, Holmes Makes It Right. A worthwhile read...

Mike makes TV right

Famous contractor Holmes has long to-do list

By Anita Murray, Postmedia NewsOctober 14, 2012

He has come a long way from the three-year-old trying to swing a hammer by his father's side. He has told the tale of his early renovation years so many times, it seems like old hat. For burly contractor Mike Holmes, it's true to character.

He comes from humble beginnings and didn't want the limelight. He marvels at how surreal it is to be master of a multimillion-dollar empire with yet another show set to launch on HGTV.
"Did I ever expect it? No. Did I think (Holmes on Homes) would touch a nerve? Yes. I just didn't see what would happen after that," he said during a quick phone interview from his Toronto office.
What happened after is he became a Canadian institution, developing a wide following with his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to rescuing homeowners from renovation hell and educating viewers in the process that he snagged the No. 3 spot on the Forbes list of trustworthy celebrities, behind only actor Morgan Freeman and filmmaker Ron Howard. "I just can't believe I beat Betty White," he quipped at the time.
His path was interesting, but not the route he recommends. From that three-year-old, he moved on to electrical work by age six, finishing his first basement at 12, dropping out of school in Grade 11 and then by his early 20s getting married, starting a family and running his own company.
It was his admittedly big mouth that got him into TV. He had been building sets for HGTV and got to know an executive who asked Holmes to help him build a custom home. Holmes had no qualms speaking his mind: "I gave him crap about the shows that I saw on the channel and said they were all wrong."
The Toronto native didn't want to be the one to do the right show, but "I guess in the long run it did work. Why? Because I'm point blank; I say it the way I see it."
The Gemini-winning Holmes on Homes, which first aired in 2003, went on to become HGTV's highest-rated show, launching a wide-reaching empire of the Mike Holmes brand - books and a magazine, an inspection company, a charitable foundation to encourage youth into skilled trades, a newspaper column, a cartoon character, a clothing line, a partnership with builders in a quality control program, a green mixed-use planned community in Alberta, another partnership with the Assembly of First Nations to bring good housing to Canada's aboriginal peoples and three more TV shows. The new show, Holmes Makes It Right, plays on his oft-repeated slogan, since trademarked and tattooed on his arm.
It's similar in some ways to Holmes on Homes, but he likes to think it combines elements of all three shows he has done - the others are Holmes in New Orleans, which followed the progress of his crew helping rebuild the home of a Hurricane Katrina victim, and Holmes Inspection, which focused on his pet peeve, shoddy home inspectors - to bring something new. The 49-year-old grandfather shows no signs of slowing down. He's still got too much to do.
Holmes Makes It Right premières Tuesday at 9 p.m. on HGTV with Holmes live tweeting at Twitter.com/Make_It_ Right.

© Copyright (c) The Province

Mike's Busy Morning

Life's tough when you've got a new show and premieres TOMORROW in Canada, and sometime next year for the US. By the way, Mike is encouraging his US fan to write in and let HGTV know they want to see his new show too:

Attention US Fans! Holmes Makes It Right will air on HGTV in early 2013. Message HGTV and let them know that you want to see it!

 

 

Yeah, I think I might write into HGTV and let them know that some 15,000 Americans have read this blog in the last 5 months, and we'd like to get in on the action as well. Mike Holmes is a Canadian super hero, yes, but his superpowers belong to the world. Don't be so selfish, HGTV!

 

But I digress...

 

Last night, Mike posted this message on his Facebook, lamenting his busy morning to come:

I've got a busy morning/day tomorrow! It's all about my new series Holmes Makes It Right. Stopping by @BTtoronto, KiSS 92.5 , 98.1 CHFI , CP24 Breakfast and that's just the morning! Better get to bed early tonight.

 

He wasn't fibbing! Here's an update on Mike's busy morning! First Mike appeared on the Canadian morning show BT Toronto to gab about making it right in his new series.

@BTtoronto this morning

 

 

And then it was off to Erin and Mike on 98.1 CHFI

Always a great time with Erin & Mike on 98.1 CHFI
 

 Mike was then spotted (or I guess maybe heard) on the Roz and Mocha Show on KiSS 92.5, again, to talk about Holmes Makes It Right, which will air TOMORROW October 16 in Canada.

 

Sat down with The Roz and Mocha Show on KiSS 92.5

 

Up, up, and away and off to sit down with Melissa Grelo...

 

Is it noon yet? Man what a morning! Sat down with Melissa Grelo on CP24 Breakfast

Sounded like poor Mikey could use a break after a morning on the circuit. That's a lot to do before lunch time! Hope he ate a good breakfast!

Notice earlier that Mike said "...and that's just the morning." I wonder if there are any other surprises in store. I don't know, guess we'll find out! Could it be that Mike is preparing his look-alikes for tomorrow? Hmmm...

Fact or Fiction Quiz 5

From HGTV Canada:
How Well do You Know Mike Holmes? Fact or Fiction Quiz 5

Posted by Tina Taus, Web Producer Saturday, October 13, 2012 9:30 AM EDT

 

Since we started our Fact or Fiction countdown to the premiere of Mike Holmes’ new show Holmes Makes it Right, we’ve learned that Mike’s first tattoo was of a bulldog, his favourite colour of overalls is black and that he’s definitely not a vegetarian. Today, we learn about his musical talents. The answer to yesterday’s Fact or Fiction quiz which stated “Mike plays acoustic guitar” is fiction! Mike does not play acoustic guitar, however, he plays drums and has so since he was six years old.

Today’s quiz question below is in keeping with the music theme. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the correct answer, and to guess at a new fact about Mike.

Fact or Fiction? Mike's favourite music genres are R&B and Reggae...

FactFiction

 

 

The countdown to Mike's new show continues on, and HGTV posted another "how well do you know Mike?" quiz. The answer to the last quiz "Fact or Fiction: Mike plays acoustic guitar?" Obviously fiction. Mike's a drummer, everyone knows you don't get shoulders like that playing guitar! The answer to the next question might surprise some people though. Fact or fiction: Mike listens to R&B and Reggae? Well, being that the answer is already posted to the HGTV page, the answer is of course fact! Mike has said many times before, he always gets pegged as a "rock guy" but he really loves Reggae and any kind of music you can dance to!

Holmes Makes It Right Website Preview

If you're reading this before October 16, 2012, and you visit the Holmes Makes It Right website, this is what you'll see...

It's a ticker countdown for the new show's premiere on HGTV in Canada. Today on the Holmes Makes It Right Facebook page, they released a preview of what the brand new website will look like come October 16...



Pretty cool! Looking forward to 2013 when people in the States can see the new show!

Don't Rush Your Reno!

When beginning a renovation project, Mike Holmes usually has a word or two of advice for the homeowner. One of those would always be to SLOW DOWN!!! On Mike's TV show, a team of the best professionals on and off camera work hard to assure that the crew stays on task and finishes on time, and even then, hiccups often arise and throw everything completely off schedule. Unlike on TV, tight schedules and construction don't mix. Being that the average homeowner doesn't have the same resources at their fingertips, it's important not to set hard deadlines for renovation projects. As Mike explains, the good contractors are the busy ones, and they most likely will not be able to start your project right away. Expecting your dream kitchen to be complete a few weeks after you dream it up only sets you up for epic failure, and a whole lot of regret. "Take your time. Do your research. And give yourself enough leeway to make sure your reno is done right the first time. Like the song goes, only fools rush in," stated Mike in this article, reposted from the Vancouver Sun. Read on...

 

 

 

 

Renovation on the clock

Why a relaxed reno minimizes haste, waste and regret

By Mike Holmes, Postmedia News October 12, 2012

Renovating and constructing on a tight schedule is not recommended for homeowners.

Photograph by: Handout , The Holmes Group

Every year around this time I start hearing people say things like, "Let's renovate the kitchen for the holidays." They imagine cooking a big holiday feast in a beautiful, newly renovated kitchen - with all the fancy finishes and appliances. And they'll talk about all the parties they'll have with friends and family.
These discussions are great to get you motivated, or at least help you narrow down what you want. But this is just the "dreaming" phase. Reality is a whole other ball game.
I never recommend anyone set a hard deadline - like a holiday - for a renovation to be done. It's too stressful. Most people think everything will go smooth. Usually they're people who have never gone through a renovation. The reality is that things don't always go according to plan. Believe me - I know.
Over the last few months we've been filming the new series, Holmes Makes It Right. And I'll tell you, construction and television don't mix. I guess that's part of the reason why it's exciting to watch. But it really isn't an ideal situation.
Construction and renovation schedules are crazy: you have to co-ordinate different trades, sometimes mould or asbestos abatement, concrete pours, inspections. You're working with a million different professionals, with a million different schedules, and a million different products that have their own set of steps to follow. And one job can't start until another one is finished.
For example, you can't start framing until you've secured the structure. Or you can't start doing drywall until your HVAC, plumbing and electrical are done, inspected and passed. Or else you're going to be punching holes and doubling your work.
Then add television to the mix. That's a whole different world with its own set of rules and deadlines. How does it all come together? It takes a lot of planning - weeks, sometimes months in advance. And sometimes it doesn't matter how much you plan. Your entire project can be thrown off schedule; all it takes is just one more hiccup you discover, like mould or a crumbling foundation. It's already happened at least a dozen times on the new series. Sometimes it's something minor like a late delivery, a back order on materials, or the wrong product was sent.
The only way I can do what I do is with a strong team behind me. I'm lucky. I have an army of people (besides the crew) working day in and day out to make sure we get the job done. They do whatever it takes to make both ends meet - television and construction. They've worked miracles. But it's not easy.
I've been doing this for a while. So I have a phone book full of tradespeople, manufacturers, engineers and builders I can call if we're down to the wire. Homeowners aren't in the same position.
Some people think it only takes a couple days to find a contractor, a week to plan the entire renovation and order materials, and then a couple of weeks to complete the job. Sorry folks. But if you think that's the case you're still in the dreaming phase. Doing things right takes time. If you rush it, you'll get crap.
A short hard deadline, such as by Christmas or an anniversary, sets you up to fail. You're already in a rush to get the job going so you're going to scramble to find a contractor. You probably won't have enough time to check references, look at past projects or talk to previous clients. Yes, you can find a contractor in a couple of days; but not the right contractor. This takes just as long, or longer, than doing the job itself.
I've said it a million times: good contractors are busy. Most likely, the right contractor won't be able to start your project right away. But if you're set on getting it done by a certain date you'll settle for whoever is available. And who do you think is going to be available on short notice? Not the pros.
Things happen. How many times have I gone into a job thinking it's just a basement and then it turns into a complete gut? Or fixing cracked tiles turns into fixing structure. If your deadline leaves no room for these kinds of repairs - which must be done - you're only wasting your money. Because if you don't do it right I guarantee you'll need to do it again. You don't want to spend $12,000 on a renovation that will have to be ripped out because what's underneath wasn't repaired.
Save yourself the stress. What's the rush anyway? The only thing you'll be rushing into is problems. Take your time. Do your research. And give yourself enough leeway to make sure your reno is done right the first time. Like the song goes, only fools rush in.
Catch Mike Holmes in his new series, Best of Holmes on Homes, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.

Mike Holmes: No Sign of Slowing Down

This article, reposted from the Ottawa Citizen, talks about Holmes making it right, and so much more! From family life and being a grandfather of one (soon to be TWO!), to being a big HGTV star, there's certainly a lot going on in Mike's life these days, and he's not stopping anytime soon. With a new show on the horizon, set to air October 16 on HGTV Canada, poor Anna (Zappia) will just have to hold on tight and wait patiently for Mike's schedule to clear up before she gets a rock on her finger ;-)

 

 

 

 

Mike on Holmes: ‘I say it the way I see it’

Canada’s favourite contractor shows no signs of slowing down with debut of latest TV show

By Anita Murray, Ottawa Citizen October 11, 2012

Mike Holmes points a group of excited children in the direction of the new playground during the official opening of the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park.

Photograph by: Tyler Anderson , National Post

He’s come a long way from the three-year-old trying to swing a hammer by his father’s side. He’s told the tale of his early renovation years so many times, it might seem like old hat. But for big, burly contractor Mike Holmes, it’s true to character.
He comes from humble beginnings and didn’t want the limelight. He still marvels at how surreal it all is to now be master of a multimillion-dollar empire with yet another show set to launch on HGTV.
“Did I ever expect it? No. Did I think (Holmes on Homes) would touch a nerve? Yes. I just didn’t see what would happen after that,” he said during a quick phone interview from his Toronto office.
What happened after he became a Canadian institution, developing such a wide following with his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to rescuing homeowners from renovation hell and educating viewers in the process that this summer he snagged the No. 3 spot on the Forbes list of most trustworthy celebrities, behind only actor Morgan Freeman and filmmaker Ron Howard.
“I just can’t believe I beat Betty White,” he quipped in a release at the time.
Looking back, his path was an interesting one, but not the route he recommends today. From that three-year-old, he moved on to electrical work by age six, finishing his first basement at 12, dropping out of school in Grade 11 and then by his early 20s getting married, starting a family and running his own company.
It was his admittedly big mouth that got him into TV. He had been building sets for HGTV and got to know an executive who asked Holmes to help him build a custom home. As a result, Holmes had no qualms about speaking his mind. “I gave him crap about the shows that I saw on the channel and said they were all wrong.”
Although Holmes didn’t want to be the one to do what he saw as the right show, “I guess in the long run it did work,” says the Toronto native. “Why? Because I’m point-blank; I say it the way I see it.”
The Gemini-winning Holmes on Homes, which first aired in 2003, went on to become HGTV’s highest-rated show, launching a wide-reaching empire of the Mike Holmes brand that has resulted in books and a magazine, an inspection company, a charitable foundation to encourage youth into skilled trades, a newspaper column, a cartoon character, a clothing line, a partnership with builders in a quality control program, a green mixed-use planned community in Alberta, another partnership with the Assembly of First Nations to bring good housing to Canada’s aboriginal peoples and three more TV shows.
The latest show, called Holmes Makes It Right, plays on his oft-repeated slogan, since trademarked and tattooed on his arm.
It’s similar in some ways to Holmes on Homes, but he likes to think it combines elements of all three shows he’s done — the others are Holmes in New Orleans, which followed the progress of his crew helping rebuild the home of a Hurricane Katrina victim, and Holmes Inspection, which focused on a pet peeve of his: shoddy home inspectors — to bring something new. It also answers a criticism that his shows can be distorting by not showing the true cost of projects and the time and disruption involved.

“We try to show a timeline, how long we’ve been there, how much it costs, every absolute detail,” he says. “Each cost is broken down so people know what we’ve accomplished and what it would cost them.”
The projects on Holmes Makes It Right are more varied, including a huge community effort to rebuild a playground in Toronto’s Hyde Park that was destroyed by fire earlier this year.
Over two weeks in a heat wave this summer, the Holmes crew, along with many volunteers, worked to build a $500,000 playground castle with donated materials.
“It was quite a battle to try and do it in seven days,” which was the initial plan, he says. In typical Holmes fashion, it had to be just right, which meant it took two weeks instead. Even still, his crew worked so hard, some of them collapsed in the heat.
The 49-year-old grandfather — grandchild No. 2 is due any day now — shows no signs of slowing down. He’s still got too much to do, which means his girlfriend of 12 years must continue to be patient: Holmes doesn’t want to get married until he, not surprisingly, can do it right and take off for a month-long honeymoon afterward. Right now, he’s too busy to get away for even a week.
“My job and what I believe in is to change the industry.”
What would his father, who died at young age, say of him today?
“I think my Dad was extremely proud of me doing construction at a young age and seeing the abilities that I had,” says Holmes. “I think he’d say, ‘You’re a good sh*t, Mike, I love ya.’ That’s the words he’d use.”
Holmes obviously comes by his bluntness honestly.
Before you start: Holmes’ tips on getting your project off on the right foot
Slow down: “If you don’t slow down, you’re going to run like everyone else and run into a brick wall,” he says, adding that we need to take the time to educate ourselves. “You need to learn as much as you can so you understand the job you’re about to take on.”
Take responsibility: “If you choose just to give the keys to the contractor you’ve blindly hired and go to Jamaica to get out of the dust, you’re making really big mistakes.” Holmes says you need to think of your home renovation as a job, making sure you spend your money right and know why you’re spending it in the direction you are.
Hire a pro: Don’t grab the first guy that comes through the door, Holmes says. “We’ve got to pay attention, look for the red flags.” Do they have a list of recommendations with them? “You can tell who’s professional. They look professional, they act professional, they show up on time, so you want to make sure you are talking to a professional.”
Get acquainted: Get to know who you’re considering hiring, he says “because we have a tendency to hire some of the first people that walk in rather than getting to know each other first. If I come in your door, it’s not about the money, it’s whether or not I want to work for you. I want to get to know you as much as I want you to get to know me.”

Holmes Makes It Right premières Tuesday at 9 p.m. on HGTV with Holmes live tweeting at Twitter.com/Make_It_Right.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Fact or Fiction Quiz 4

From HGTV Canada:

How Well do You Know Mike Holmes? Fact or Fiction Quiz 4

Posted by Tina Taus, Web Producer Friday, October 12, 2012 9:30 AM EDT

The countdown continues to the premiere of Mike Holmes’ new show Holmes Makes it Right on Tuesday, October 16th at 9pm ET|PT. Each day leading up to the premiere we’re revealing a fun fact about Mike!

Yesterday was Fact or Fiction Quiz #3 with the question: “Fact or Fiction? Mike is a vegetarian…” If you guess “Fiction” you are correct! Mike calls himself a “meat-a-tarian” and his favourite meat dish is steak and potatoes.

Next up, Mike Fact or Fiction Quiz 4! See below to test out your Mike knowledge and don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the correct answer, and to guess at a new fact about Mike.

Fact or Fiction? Mike plays acoustic guitar...

FactFiction

 

 

 

Anybody who doesn't know that Mike Holmes likes his meat and potatoes doesn't know Mike Holmes! And after a good steak, Mike likes to work off those calories by relaxing and playing a little music... but, I'm not so sure about the acoustic guitar. Better check HGTV tomorrow for the answer   :-)

"...Some of the Best Episodes We've Ever Worked On."

From Mike's Facebook page a couple of minutes ago:

 

 

Just revealed another project this afternoon to a really deserving homeowner. I can't believe it - only 5 days until the HGTV Canada premiere of Holmes Makes It Right. These are some of the best episodes we've ever worked on.

 

 

Wow, that's setting the bar pretty high. Will Holmes Makes It Right live up to the hype? Without a doubt! :) From everything I've read, it'll be like Holmes on Homes with a much bigger budget and a much wider vision. Tackling monumental projects that no other contractor would dream of touching... that's Mike Holmes for you!