Quality is not an act, it is a habit.

Every single one of us has 3 things in Universal common with one another and beyond refute:

-We are born
-We live
-We pass on

And our time here on earth and amongst one another is very limited. The first twenty some odd years is pretty much wasted on just trying to open our eyes to everything around us and take it all in. To get out of it, survive, and maybe find where we fit in all of it. By the time you figured out enough to gain a comfortable enough understanding, you're at least in your late twenties.

It's a crazy world, and if you don't know that then you need to get out more often. One of the many freedoms that we have, and something that nobody could ever take away from us however, is the freedom to choose how we spend that time allotted to us. You make conscious decisions for the direction in your life.

I'm a true believer in the axiom that NOTHING worth having will come easily. Matter of fact, I'm skeptical of anything "easy". Nothing can substitute for the satisfaction or sense of achievement one gets from aspiring towards some ideal, something beyond and better than the low hanging fruit, applying oneself with the aim of reaching that ideal, navigating the direction and hopefully, with practice and wisdom, reaching the harbour of that once dream.

Why not break the mold?

The three Universal truths I mentioned earlier are the only 3 things that I can comfortably say I know to be irrefutable facts. WHERE we came from, WHY we are here, and WHERE we go after all of this I do not know. Nobody knows. Everything else is a "belief" coupled with smaller "truths" (lower case "t").

At this point, or perhaps from the first sentence you're wondering..."Is this really a construction blog or has someone been reading too many books on Philosophy?". Well, the answer is both really. The harmony of beliefs and principles with what one does as actions. Somewhere along the line, you make a stand. Whatever you do, in your own life.

In business and in life, I have a very simple method of finding people that I want to work with. Whether I'm looking for our next Carpenter, Designer or Architect in the business, or whether I need a Lawyer, Real Estate Agent, a Cook or anything else outside of business. You find someone who loves what they do and has a very high regard for the quality that they will work with and deliver, and you will find someone that's going to deliver the best possible product for you.

People that deal in the business of quality know that quality is a principle not a mantra, it's a habit not an act, it's an imperative not a choice. It's salvation.

GTA RESIDENTIAL MARKET COMMENTARY

www.BILDGTA.ca
September 2010
Frank A. Clayton, PhD
Economic Advisor, BILD

Demand Continues to Cool but Be
Happy Toronto Is Not Chicago
Both new and resale home sales are moving
lower in the GTA, according to the latest
RealNet and TREB data, with July sales
dropping by 34‐42% from a year earlier. There is
an astonishing difference in low‐and high‐rise
sector performance between the resale and new
markets. Whereas low‐rise and high‐rise resales
fell equally in percentage terms, low‐rise sales
bore the brunt of the decline in new sales,
plummeting by about 65% from July 2009. In
contrast, new high‐rise sales fell by just 10%.
Behaviour of Home Sales, July and August (First Half)
Month of July Low-Rise High-Rise Total
New
2009 1 ,924 1 ,358 3 ,282
2010 6 78 1 ,222 1 ,900
Resale (MLS)
2009 7 ,566 2 ,401 9 ,967
2010 4 ,993 1 ,571 6 ,564
New + Resale
2009 9 ,490 3 ,759 1 3,249
2010 5 ,671 2 ,793 8 ,464
New (64.8) (10.0) (42.1)
Resale (MLS) (34.0) (34.6) (34.1)
Total (40.2) (25.7) (36.1)
First Half of August
Resale (MLS)
2009 2 ,884 9 48 3 ,832
2010 2 ,031 7 01 2 ,732
Resale (29.6) (26.1) (28.7)
Source: Altus Group Economic Consulting based on RealNet Canada and Toronto
Real Estate Board
Units
Year to Year % Change
Year to Year % Change
Units
The more pronounced weakness in new low‐rise
sales is likely the product of the province’s HST
effective July 1st, with changes in mortgage
insurance provisions of CMHC and tightening
serviced land supplies contributing too. In my
view, the surprising strength in new high‐rise
sales can be explained in one word – investors.
Ontario’s regime of rent controls has created a
bonanza for condominium investors since new
condominiums are the only significant source of
new rental housing. With rents relatively flat for
the past 3 years and condo prices risingi, it is
problematic that investor interest will be
maintained, particularly with the huge number
of new condo completions coming over the
next 18 months.
A little bit of positive news is that the year‐overyear
decline in resales during the first half of
August at 28.7% did not accelerate from the
decline in July. Other heartening signs are strong
job creation in July and strength in the value of
non‐residential building permit values during
the first half of 2010. Regrettably, however, with
the sad performance of the U.S. economy, the
economic climate in the GTA will be waning.
What’s happening in Chicago, a similar but
larger metropolitan area than Toronto? During
the second quarter, new low‐rise sales totalled
just 908 unitsii (the GTA had 4,552). Only 150
new condominiums sold in downtown Chicago
during the same quarteriii (the former City of
Toronto had 3,905 high‐rise sales).
Demographics: Target Older Buyers
The GTA homebuyer profile will be changing in
the coming years. Projections by the Ontario
Ministry of Finance show that population
growth up to 2016 will be centred in the 50‐69
age cohorts followed by the 20‐34 cohort with
minimal growth in population aged 35‐49.
What this means is that successful builders will
be those focusing on the empty nester and active
senior market segments. While there is a
proclivity for single‐storey living on the part of
the older crowd, this encompasses low‐rise as
well as apartment type products.
GTA RESIDENTIAL MARKET COMMENTARY
www.BILDGTA.ca
September 2010
Average Annual Population Growth by Age
Group, GTA1
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Under 20 20-34 35-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+
1991-2001 2001-2008 2008-2016
Persons (000s)
1 Ontario population projections (2008-2016) are based on the Reference scenario
Source: Altus Group Economic Consulting based on Statistics Canada, Annual Demographic
Statistics, 2009 and Ministry of Finance, Ontario Population Projections Update:
2009-2036: Ontario and Its 49 Census Divisions, Spring 2010
Competition from the resale market, including
homes put on the market by buyers aged 50‐69,
will mute market opportunities for new housing
from first‐time buyers (population aged 20‐35).
Housing Price Bubble in the GTA? You
Got to Be Kidding
It is unbelievable what passes for research and
gets the media all excited. The just‐released
report by CCPA iv(Canadian Centre for Policy
Alternatives) posits that average home prices in
the GTA are in a bubble and are expected to
decline over the next 3 to 5 years by 9 to 21%.
This finding is the product of shoddy research
and is unsupported by the facts.
The report’s premise is that we have a housing
price bubble because average prices have been
rising faster than inflation since 2000 and that
the inevitable bursting of the bubble is expected
to follow one of three historical scenarios. The
report fails to connect post‐2000 housing price
trends to important variables like declining
mortgage interest rates, rising incomes and local
factors like a constrained supply of low‐rise
serviced land and now the HST in Ontario.
Besides, the report shows that the increase in
average real home prices (prices with general
inflation removed) in the GTA has been
relatively modest.
How to Get Mid‐Rise Apartments Built
in the City of Toronto
The City’s Official Plan calls for building
thousands of mid‐rise apartments along socalled
Avenues like Kingston Road, usually
above retail stores and offices. For the most part,
this is a pipedream since where the City wants
the housing to be built and the policy
restrictions applied are not in the main areas
where people will pay to live and/or are not
financially viable to build.
The City planners disconnect with market and
financial reality is illustrated by the so‐called
“Avenues and Mid‐Rise Buildings Action Plan”
they are preparing (see Staff Reports dated May
4, 2010 and June 1, 2010) and the supporting
consultants’ studyv. The Plan is more
appropriately labelled the Inaction Plan. Just
look at the piles of planning and urban design
restrictions being considered; they are enough to
frighten builders away even if there was a profit
to be made (which there is not).
The key to building mid‐rise housing is to
provide appropriate sites in areas where there is
a demand (i.e., a buffer zone between high‐rise
and low‐density neighbourhoods).
i This information is from the August/September issue of the
Condo Market Report published by Re/Max Condo Plus Corp.
Brokers By the way, is an excellent monthly report focusing
on the resale condo and condo rental markets in central
Toronto written by Jamie Johnston, a broker‐economist.
ii Single‐family home sales as recorded by Tracy Cross &
Associates.
iii Downtown condominium sales as recorded by Appraisal
Research Counselors.
iv David Macdonald, Canada’s Housing Bubble: An Accident
Waiting to Happen, CCPA, August 2010.
v Avenues & Mid‐Rise Buildings Study dated May 2010
prepared by Brook Mcllroy Planning + Urban Design/Pace
Architects with E.R.A. Architects, Quadrangle Architects
Limited and Urban Marketing Collaborative.
Page

Hiring a Renovator

Dupuis: Renovation takes time, talent and tools
August 7, 2010 Stephen Dupuis

During these dog days of summer, I doubt that renovation is a top of mind priority for homeowners throughout the GTA but if you’re looking to get started in the fall, keep in mind that the best contractors are booked well ahead and beware of the contractor that can start tomorrow – there could be a good reason for that.
The reasons for renovating generally fall into three groups. There are those “fixing to sell,” sprucing up their homes to add value prior to listing it for sale. Then there are those who are “renovating to suit,” in other words they have bought a home on the resale market and are making changes to suit their lifestyle and taste. The final group is homeowners who want to stay put but their home has become outdated or they need more space or a different look.
Question number one is whether to do-it-yourself or hire a contractor. My answer to that is that unless you have the time, talent and tools, and in this case two out of three isn’t good enough, you should hire a contractor. If you are fixing to sell, you want your house to look professionally done, and if you are planning to stay, you want that professional look even more.
That begs the next question: How one goes about finding a professional renovation contractor. The one word short answer is RenoMark, a program launched nine years ago by the Greater Toronto Home Builders’ Association (now the Building Industry and Land Development Association), which is rapidly becoming a widely recognized national brand offered by 29 home builders’ associations ranging as far west as Vancouver and as far east as Moncton, N.B., with many stops in between including 15 in Ontario.
All RenoMark contractors across Canada, including nearly 200 in the Greater Toronto Area, have committed to the building industry Code of Ethics, which applies to all Canadian Home Builders’ Association members, as well as a renovation-specific Code of Conduct which applies to contractors wishing to participate in the RenoMark program.
Under the Code of Conduct, RenoMark contractors commit to, among other things, offering a minimum two-year warranty (excluding minor home repairs), carrying a minimum $2 million in liability insurance and carrying all applicable licences and permits. The most important provision of the Code of Conduct is the requirement for a detailed, written contract (including scope of work) for all jobs.
Visit www.renomark.ca for more details on the program as well as links to participating locals throughout the Golden Horseshoe including Niagara, Waterloo, Hamilton, Dufferin, Barrie, Durham, Peterborough and the Kawarthas and, of course, the GTA.
There’s a local contractor listing for each participating association. The GTA portal features a searchable database where you can plug in your area and project type to get a shortlist of contractors. From there, you can peruse their web-sites, look at their portfolios, and call them in if you like what you see.
Since not all homeowners are looking for a general contractor, a more specific search feature links directly to trade contractors. Many homeowners are in need of one specific solution, be it a new roof, a new furnace or air conditioner, hardwood floors, a deck, painting, window/door replacement, etc.
While different renovators have different specialties, they are all equal under the RenoMark Code of Conduct. Check us out at renomark.ca or make a note to visit us at Destination Renovation at the Fall Home Show, Thursday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 3 at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place.
Stephen Dupuis is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association. The views expressed are those of the president. Email: president@bildgta.ca.

It's time to re-evaluate your relationship (with your home!)

Sure, we spend a great deal of time in cultivating the relationships that we have with other people. Family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and maybe even your neighbours.

We invest a lot of time, thought, and effort with our chosen professions/careers. If asked to list the Top Ten relationships that govern your health, wealth, sanity and sense of balance, most people would probably neglect to acknowledge their relationship with their HOME.

Throw in the cliche'd catch phrases:

-"Your home is your castle"
-"Home is where the heart is"
- Etc...

But what happens when "Mi casa es su casa" becomes an insult? When your home is no longer a relaxing, rejuvenating and inspiring abode and becomes an energy draining, seemingly hopeless cause of a burden.

We carry on with our lives, constantly living "out there". With work, friends, family, etc.. But let me ask you this... Do you come home after a long day, drop your bag and immediately feel calm, relaxed and inspired? Or do you come home and almost immediately notice all the things that you absolutely HATE about your home?

If your home is TAKING energy from you rather than GIVING you energy, it's time to re-evaluate your relationship. Most people don't have the knowledge, experience, inspiration, or know-how to transform the space they call "home". Fair enough, most of us don't know where to begin and may see the task as perhaps too much to take on. You may be thinking, "I'll just move". But the truth is that the solution and eventual transformation needed is a lot simpler than you think.

In my line of work, I get to see a lot of how different people live. I see a new home almost every other day of the week as people call me to discuss possible renovations. On the one hand, it brings me a tremendous sense of satisfaction when I can work with a client to transform their space and by extension their relationship to that space. On the other hand, I sometimes work with clients who, for a lack of better expression don't value that relationship. We might completely demolish their kitchen and create something in its place using very costly material, intelligently designed, laid out and installed...and within days the beauty of the transformation is lost beneath the layers of clutter that they eagerly place into ill defined positions throughout. Which brings me to my first piece of advice in re-evaluating your relationship with your home:

CLUTTER!

Clutter is THE biggest perpetrator that eats away at the bedrock of a healthy relationship with your home. Like a slow developing cancer, it piles up...something you bought at whim, a present, something you used once but didn't have the heart to throw away, something your mother gave you when you moved out on your own (15 years ago!). It looked like a good idea at the time, so you got it, put it somewhere and moved on with your life. It sat there, has been sitting there...for weeks, months, years. It collects dust, almost never used, living out it's unanimated existence untouched, ignored, rejected by your attention. So what's the harm? It is KILLING your relationship!

A wise man once said "Each increased possession loads us with a new weariness", and another wise man said "Consider all the things in your home that you have not used in 6 months or perhaps a year. Consider the sq/ft'g that it takes up in your home. Divide that by the total sq/ft'g of your home, and divide that figure by your monthly mortgage payment. THAT, is how much you are paying to store junk you don't ever use, every month, year after year."

And to go beyond that, all objects, animate or inanimate carry "energy". In the Feng Shui sense, objects in your home can either deliver or rob the positive energy in your home.

As a very simple example, think of the last time you visited a Spa. If you've never been to a spa (I haven't), think about a place that was LIKE a spa in that upon entry, you were immediately overtaken by a sense of balance, order and beauty in design/architecture. Try to remember how that made you feel.

Now contrast that with the last time you walked into a place (perhaps someone's home), where upon entry you were overtaken by a sense of hopelessness, stagnation, like as if a cloud was looming over your head and energy was being lost. If you're honest with yourself, you know how different spaces carry different energy. Yes, clutter is a big part of that, but the other other part is design and the various materials in that space. Which carries me neatly onto the the next point:

DESIGN

Now that we've acknowledged ENERGY, lets consider FLOW. Energy flows. A well balanced home has DIRECTION. For example, you enter the front door of a house and the FLOW will carry you through the living room, dining room, then onto the kitchen, etc. That flow can be disrupted by the layout of the floor plan, but it can also be disrupted by the layout, placement and size of your furnishings. It should "make sense" vs haphazardly placed around a room "just cuz it fits".

Interior designers and "stagers" know this principle quite well. Your furnishings should work together and maybe even tell a collective, mutually agreable story. This is a little hard to do because chances are, you didn't run out and buy ALL of your furnishings at one time. Most likely, you purchased individual pieces as you progressed with life/finances. Don't worry, in most cases it's just an issue of removing/replacing one or two items in the room. Take the time, make a date with your home on a Saturday/Sunday, and spend some time going through your home. Look through your clutter, go through your stuff and honestly ask yourself whether you REALLY need that item. Most likely, you can even sell it on Kijiji or Craigslist and recoup some of the money. Then, go through your home and look through your furnishings. What makes sense, what needs to go, what can be replaced. Then, go online and get inspired. Get in the car and go visit some shops and see what's out there. You, in all likelihood, will be blown away by the different choices out there if you invest some time investigating. These 2 simple steps can dramatically change your relationship with your home.

Alright, so you've done all that, and theres still something missing. This is where most normal people decide they need a renovation. I like to work with clients that KNOW what they want, and knowing what you want is critical in conveying your dreams to your contractor. Work with a design/build contractor as they offer the most flexibility in both regards. But by all means, research designers/architects. Point is, start working with someone that understands what you like. How do you know? Look at their past work. Most designers/architects have their own particular sense of style/design that explodes and exposes itself in their work. It runs the gammut, but find the one whose portfolio exhibits things YOU want to see in your home.

You would be surprised what some new flooring, paint and fixtures could do to your home. It doesn't have to be complicated. Working with the right professional could be the best investment you make in re-evaluating and improving your relationship with your home.

The best of luck, and may your home bring you years of inspiration, relaxation and at least one other "ation". :)


Toronto General Contractor

Peter Khatami B.A., P.M.P., G.S.C.

Construction Outlook

Eastern Canada Construction Outlook, 2010–2012

Ontario

Ontario, along with B.C. and Alberta, has been one of the provinces most affected by the hard times. Toronto has come under fire from several major sectoral crises during the recession. First, the financial community was besieged as major banks in the U.S. and elsewhere were sent into bankruptcy or required government bail-out money. However, Canada’s financial community survived the test very well. The international stature of Canada’s banking sector, in terms of its conservative lending practices and ability to withstand liabilities-to-capital scrutiny, has been raised considerably.

Then there were the auto sector problems. Chrysler and General Motors descending into bankruptcy protection and accompanying resizings have cost jobs in Ontario. Things are looking up again, however, since new ownership is now in place at both companies. Given the size of government involvement and the fact that the public sector has rarely demonstrated much talent for running businesses, this may just be forestalling another round of problems down the road. But that’s for worrying about later, when the economy overall will be in better shape.

Ontario’s homebuilding sector is under stress, but this may alter course with the pick-up in existing home sales. Bargains are to be had both in terms of prices and the exceptionally low mortgage rates that are currently in place. The biggest overhang is in the condominium market in Toronto. Project financing has been an issue, given the credit crunch, and purchasers have been left wondering about their commitments. The inventory of finished but unsold condominiums is too high by double. This needs to be rectified.

Ontario’s economic problems are highlighted by its labour markets. The seven cities with the highest unemployment rates in Canada are all in Ontario, headed by Windsor at 14.8%. Manufacturing activity levels will continue to be challenged by the strength in value of the Canadian dollar versus the greenback. A major disappointment for contractors is the postponement of new nuclear power facilities. The problems at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. are partly the reason for the reassessment of spending plans.

http://www.nostco.com

Source - Daily commercial news

The Custom Builder is an artist

There's a few things that I HATE about what I do, and in one way or another it has to do with value.

Let me explain. I have a friend with whom I share the wonderful hobby of motorcycling. We get together, discuss motorcycles and we ride together. He rides an '05 Yamaha R6, which he just bought a month ago (as an upgrade to his former bike). He bought the bike from a private seller for $4,000. Normally, an '05 R6 with average K's is around 6-7 thousand dollars.

He got a deal because the bike was "dropped" a few times. He then proceeded to brag about how "thrifty" and "clever" he was to have saved a couple to a few thousand dollars by buying a bike that had "just a few scratches...so what?". I was skeptical.

Sure enough, last week we went for a ride and his bike broke down. He had to get it towed to the shop, that ended our "ride". He called me yesterday, the engine is toast and the transmission has major problems as the gears have essentially been grinded to oblivion.

Apparently whoever last owned the bike, rode the bike to hell and back. The mechanic said it's obvious that the bike has been severely punished, raced on the track, stunted (that means a lot of wheelies as evidence of damage done to the forks, stoppies, etc.)...whoever owned the bike, thoroughly abused it and almost never did any kind of maintenance on the bike. My friend was dumbfounded.

How could this be? He bought a lemon.

I want to be nice because he's my friend and a part of me genuinely feels sorry for his misfortune, but the greater part of me has no sympathy for him whatsoever.

Why are we still so stupid? Why do we always think we can get something for nothing or substantially less for what it's actually worth? When will we ever learn that the laws of the marketplace simply work against the principle of getting something for "less"?

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!

How does this relate to my business? I'll give you one guess.

I lose contracts all the time to unqualified, under cutting competitors.

Who are these people that are hiring my competitors based off price? The same ones that end up seeing on Holmes on Homes pissing and moaning about how they got "ripped off" by their contractor. The same ones that thought they were "getting a deal".

"Deals" don't exist in our industry.

The costs of materials is the costs of materials, a contractor can't control those costs. What we can do is offer you a selection to meet your budget. But if the cost of a sheet of drywall is $13.59 and a contractor says he'll get it for you for $9.99...RUN.

And if you're talking about the cost of the labour where one guy charges $40/hr and another charges $20/hr......you get what you pay for!

A alcoholic homeless guy might charge $10/hr.......do you want him working on your home?

I gotta say, I've been blessed with some very good clients in the past and they refer business to me all the time. But almost every time somebody calls me because they "found us through the internet"...my radar goes up.

I work with clients who appreciate the difference and value in quality construction.

If you're looking for a handyman, go look on Craigslist and you'll find the mother load of con-artist, unqualified, unlicensed hacks.

Don't ever mistake "the lowest price", with anything that relates to quality.


The Custom Builder is an artist.
The home is our canvass.

What is life, if not Art?

And yet so few would agree.

I was taught early on that nothing truly worth having would ever come easily. It's a shame that some will never learn.

Above the call of duty

You will often hear me refer to our clients as "members of the Nostco family". Yes, I know you have your own family, I'm not referring to genetic ties. You see, there's one thing we obsess about and love...construction/design. That's why clients come to us and that's why clients stay with us down the road. We literally get giddy when someone says "Design my kitchen". We want to make your kitchen end up on next month's Magazine cover. This mentality goes across the board for all of the varied services that we offer.

What does this have to do with family? Well, when you say "Design/build my kitchen" we take it to mean, "Let's work together to change my relationship with my home, specifically my kitchen". It's a large undertaking, anyone can slap a few pieces of material together and call it a kitchen. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary lies in the details. The things that are specific to YOU and what you want to get out of your kitchen. We're the experts who GUIDE you through the process, so when we say "make you a part of the family" we mean to take you under our wings and make sure you get as much out of the process as possible.

You're not just a number, you are not just anybody. In this day and age, service has become more and more impersonal. Production, short cuts, the fastest way from A to B. Whatever happened to quality? The details? The journey AND the destination? You see, everything we do is a journey. It starts with you and your project. The journey should be just as enjoyable as the destination. In so many words, that is what we believe. We go to extraordinary lengths to ensure you have a rewarding journey. We want to ensure that the process is not only free of worry, but enjoyable. We work to protect you at every turn. We want to be the company that you trust for all time. To know that the solution to your problem is one phone call away, 24/7. Because that is what families are, people that will be there for you no matter what. That is why families are cherished and with us you don't have to have blood ties. The ties that bring us together is the passion that goes into transforming the space in which you live and while we're at it...enjoying the process along the way.

Toronto Renovation Contractor

Hiring a Licensed Contractor

So you're thinking about renovating your home and are looking for Licensed Contractors.

But where do you find them? What are the Pros and Cons? What's the difference anyways?

First off, let's start with saying that you're well on your way towards a successful Toronto renovation project. Would you hire an unlicensed Lawyer? Doctor? Mechanic? No, and if you would then you must love to gamble. A license ensures that the Contractor has undergone training and certification and meets the Ministry's requirements to carry out business in the Province. Right off the bat, you know you're hiring someone with sufficient knowledge and training to handle the project. How? Because the Ministry has done the homework for you. You also know you're not hiring a criminal, because individuals with a criminal record cannot be Licensed in Ontario (except for minor convictions-summary fines). After all, this person is going to be working INSIDE your home, wouldn't you like a criminal background check? Hiring a licensed contractor is the 1st step towards a positive outcome.

So, where do you find them? Unfortunately, the Ministry does not have a website with Licensed Contractors. You have to call them to verify a license. However, there are other websites that you can trust. For example, Renomark has a website with a list of Contractors. These contractors have all been verified by Renomark to be licensed/insured and work within wsib compliance. That's really doing the homework for you, in addition to enforcing code of ethic guidelines for their members. Check them out HERE. Renomark is overseen by The Greater Toronto Home Builder's Association and houses the biggest inventory of Licensed/Insured/WSIB compliant and ethical contractors in Canada.

What are the Pros and Cons? If you're thinking you will pay more for a licensed contractor, well that is partially true and partially not true. The correct answer is, not necessarily. There is a fee for being licensed, so that becomes overhead for the contractor and in turn results in higher fees. Having to carry mandatory insurance, being wsib compliant and playing by the rules costs the contractor money which we know then becomes overhead which then means having to charge more to make the same profit vs the unlicensed contractor. But it doesn't always translate to you paying more. I know plenty of unlicensed/uninsured/non tax paying contractors that charge way more than I do. Contractors set their own price, and in the case of the unlicensed contractor there is little if any liability/overhead/accountability. An Unlicensed contractor is already breaking the law by carrying out work without a license. If he doesn't have a license, do you think he will carry liability insurance that protects YOU, the Home Owner in case someone gets injured on your property? Or if something gets damaged/stolen? Do you think his employees will be covered by mandatory WSIB coverage? Do you think the contractor will have proper training and be qualified to carry out the work? If so, why isn't he licensed? Anyone can "say" they are qualified..."I'm a qualified brain surgeon"...there, I just said it...does it make it true? How can you know? Point being, the headaches are guaranteed for Home Owners that work with unlicensed contractors in the hopes of paying less in the short term and the risks are far far too great.

An unlicensed contractor is less likely to pull permits for the job as well, which is required for any sizable project by law and you can be fined/penalized if found out (and trust me, it's not hard for you nosy neighbours to call the City on you...or a disgruntled employee or sub-contractor).

The lesson here is Unlicensed contractors are a huge liability for the Home Owner. They do everything wrong, you pay the price!

For a list of qualified, licensed Renovation Contractors follow the link below.
If you have any questions, need some advice, feel free to contact me.

Renomark

Toronto Licensed Contractor

Toronto General Contractor

So what should you look for when hiring a Toronto General Contractor?

#1- The quality of their work. Most General Contracting companies have a "niche" in the market. Some cater to the low end, some mid, some high, and some extremely high. Each is different, each is unique.

Let's discuss this for a second.

WHO IS THE LOW END CONTRACTOR?
- Small jobs
- Quick turn-around (in-and-out)
- Work with mostly small "repairs"
- Usually "One-man-shows" or work with one or two helpers
- Purchase most of their products at Home Depot, Lowes, discount suppliers
- Have little "technical knowledge" (Think handyman types)
- Offer the cheapest prices, have low over-head, sometimes skirt the law (License, Insurance, taxes, etc.)
- May not have a written contract or warranty

MIDDLE CONTRACTORS
-Probably 80% of all contractors out there fall in this category
-A wide range of services
-Jack of all, master of none
-Most jobs take 2 weeks to a month (Bathrooms, kitchens, misc.)
-Use moderate building materials, offer "good enough" workmanship.
-Mostly play by the rules, but sometimes rules have to be bent (overhead)
-Hit or miss
-Mostly have a written contract, a written warranty but only offer a lump sum pricing structure.

HIGH END CONTRACTORS
-Usually handle larger, more complex and involved projects
-Typically work with designers/architects/engineers
-Have a vast network of vendors/suppliers
-Can deliver high quality materials, with superior workmanship
-Most jobs take several months
-Detailed contracts, good warranties, offer a range of contracting options
-Are not the cheapest, and never will be. They offer "quality" and professionalism.
-Some can "over-charge" if they don't keep their over-head in check

EXTREMELY HIGH END CONTRACTORS
-Very "niche" market of the wealthy clientele (Think Bridle Path, Forest Hill, Rosedale, etc.)
-Are typically Architects by trade or have a very unique flare for design
-Extremely meticulous in detail
-Use ONLY the highest grade of materials
-Most projects take close to a year to several years
-Very few of these contractors around, as it's a very niche market and the ones that are around have been around for a long time and have an established clientele base
-Are Extremely expensive, but offer bar-none the greatest quality of design/craftsmanship/materials.
-Don't even visit their website...it will make you cry. You might even lose money just browsing their site...seriously, I feel poor just looking at the homes they have built...oh, to dream.

You see how honest I am? Those are your basic 4 main types of contractors out there...did you even know that? Did you assume they are all the same? It's like the Caste system, there is no mobility in this structure. You are what you are. A low-end contractor will never be anything else because his company/setup was designed to sustain and cater to a certain niche market. If he tries...he will fail. That goes for all the other ones out there. Company structures are vastly different and offer vastly different services to the market.

SO...where do you start? By first asking yourself what market YOU fall in.

ARE YOU:
-Looking for the cheapest price?
-Think you can handle doing the work yourself...but rather just hire someone to do it instead?
-Don't care too much about the "finer details"...it's more of a "fix" or "repair"?
-Contracts? Pfft, if he doesn't do it I won't pay him...simple as that?
-If I pay cash, I save?

Then the low-end contractor is your best match. Don't go to the other ones...you will be disappointed. Don't waste you time, and don't waste honest working people's time as well. Find the low end contractor...it's really easy. Go to Craigslist and find the mother-load of unlicensed, low over head, quick turn around, willing to skirt the law type of contractors. They won't have web-sites, and most work from their cell phones. Be careful, you will probably not get a contract and if they screw up good luck trying to find them. I'm not judging you, I'm saying they may be very useful to you...I'm just giving you the heads up so you know what you're getting into.

NOW ON THE OTHER HAND, If you are looking for:
-A respectable company, that tries hard to play by the rules (License, Insurance, Wsib, pay taxes, offers contracts, warranties, won't disappear hopefully)
-Offers acceptable craftsmanship
-Can offer a decent selection of materials
-Actually cares about their business/reputation
-Tries hard to be competitive in price

Then the middle contractor is for you. That's probably 80% of the contractors out there, but be careful and make sure you get everything in writing. This group is a mix bag of the well meaning, and you know what they say about good intentions. Don't get me wrong, you will find a LOT of good, solid contractors in this group but there are some bad apples that ruin if for everyone else. The bad apples are probably 5-10%, and they will go out of business soon enough. The good ones have been around the block, and know their market very well. If this sounds like a good match for you, then make sure you have a reasonable budget set aside for the project. These people have to pay taxes, insurance and other over-head costs required by law to be legitimate but in turn you get a decent amount of professional service and the reassurance that the project was done to code, with a warranty, and you didn't hire a "fly-by-night" contractor. You hired a legitimate company.

THE HIGH END CONTRACTOR is right for you if:
-You value quality more than price
-You want professional service and you will not settle for less
-You see your home as an expression of who you are and not just 4 walls and a roof
-You want a unique design
-You want superior products because you would rather pay for a beautiful piece that lasts a lifetime vs a decent piece that will last only a few years
-You are ready and willing to pay a respectable amount of money in turn for professional service
-You want a wide range of options presented to you
-You want to see transparency in paper work
-You must have a full warranty for all the work
-You want detailed job tracking and exceptional workmanship

Then this group is right for you. You are very unlikely to be disappointed. These companies are very technical, very customer service minded and have a vast network of suppliers/subs/vendors that they deal with. You must come prepared with an appropriate budget for the project and be ready to pay for the higher grade materials that you want purchased/installed into your home. Most of the people in this group are very professional and the craftsmanship is exceptional.

THE EXTREMELY HIGH END CONTRACTOR is right for you if:
-Who are we kidding...if you're reading this, then you can't afford them!

I hope I've shed some light here. Nobody thinks a Bentley is the same as a Honda Civic, and if they do they're out to lunch. But a lot of people think contractors are all the same. Far from it, there are different demographic markets. Your first step in selecting a contractor should stem from you asking yourself..."Which demographic market am I?"...then go about finding that contractor. Trust me, it will save you time and grief.

So you think you found a contractor...but are they right for you? Well, what are the signs telling you. Look at their past work...is it in line with what you want done to YOUR house? And if it is...do you have the budget for it? I can look at a lot of pictures of multi-million dollar homes on MLS...but come time to buy would I tell my agent "Show me that one"?. No because I'm broke...so transfer that mentality to when you go looking for a contractor. Figure out which one of the 4 is best for you, then go about finding them.

If you don't, you will find yourself very disappointed very early.

You did all that and you're still not sure? Give me a call, I love giving free unbiased advice (Seriously). If I can point you in the right direction and offer some advice, that actually makes ME happy. I've been doing this for 10 years and I don't beat around the bush. I've read far too many misguided articles on "How to hire a contractor" by people that never even hired a contractor before in their lives. It's amazing how much these so called experts don't know. There's waaay too much miscommunication between contractors and the consumers...it's like Home Owners are from Venus, Contractors are from Mars.

Toronto General Contractor
Toronto Renovation Contractor

Peter Khatami.

What can we do for you?

Who are we, what do we do and most importantly...WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

Our company was designed around that question, What can we do for YOU?

AND

How can we do it better than everyone else?!

It takes knowledge and a lot of experience to answer that. To begin, we have to first know what NOT to do. Knowing what NOT to do, usually comes from bad experiences. Knowing what TO DO, comes from years and years of trial & error, researching, experimenting, learning and hands on experience.

ANYBODY can open up a General contracting company and offer services to the public.

But not everybody can do it well. It takes a lot of resources, knowledge and experience to say "
We're one of the best out there".

So, what can we do for you? To begin with, what's most important to us is that you are well informed. We know that informed clients make better decisions and we're here to guide you. From the first site visit, we offer unbiased advice towards your project. We want to put you in a better position to understand the various aspects of the project you have in mind.

From there, we are happy to break down the costs for you. We separate material and labour, so you can gauge what you want to keep, what you want to add and what you want to take out. This is a preliminary budget and intended as a guide so you can gauge your budget with the scope of work you have in mind.

UNDERSTANDING PRICES

MATERIALS: Materials are costs that we can't control. There are a slue of options when it comes to materials, your selection will dictate the cost to the project. For our part, what we can do is inform you of the price differences amongst various choices. Furthermore, we often receive discounts from suppliers as Contractors (10-50%). We forward those discounts to you and NEVER mark-up materials.

LABOUR: Our labour charges are at par or below the industry standard rates. What we pay our carpenters and in-house skilled trades is standard industry rates. However, most companies mark-up their labour for profit...we don't. What is calculated on top of what we pay our employees is overhead (W.S.I.B, Insurance, tool replacement, vehicle allowance, gas, kms, etc.). No profit, only the charge to bring on-board professionally skilled, knowledgeable and experienced artisans and to ensure that they receive fair compensation for their labour and have all the required insurance/clearance/licensing required by Law. If you find lower labour rates ANYWHERE, then rest assured they are not legitimate, tax paying, licensed/qualified professionals, covered by mandatory W.S.I.B. insurance.

CONTINGENCY: Typically 10%, contingency is an amount added to the sub-total to account for the unforeseen aspects of any construction project. In our "Cost-Plus" method of contracting, this amount is not charged to you if it is not used. 50% of the time, we don't use it and you are not charged.

MANAGEMENT FEES: This is typically 20%, discounted for Spring to 15%. This is the fee that we charge for our services. What you receive in turn is comprehensive management for the entire project. We offer transparency in paper work, and each project has a segregated bank account and records are meticulously maintained. Our job-tracking/management software is unmatched in the industry. You receive continuous updates, 24 hr open line of communication, open access to all vendors/sub contractors, expert management, full financial transparency (except "Fixed Price" contracts), forwarded discounts from vendors all backed by a Fully Licensed, Fully Insured ($5,000,000) Liability, WSIB compliant labour, Renomark certified contractor status, Full member of the Canadian and Greater Toronto Home Builder's Association with industry leading quality workmanship all standing behind a full 2 year warranty on labour/workmanship. You can't beat that!

We have the best deal in Town. Because we want YOUR business, and we want to be YOUR contractor for life. We want to not only meet, but far exceed your expectations.

We offer in-house Design/Build services. Comprehensive construction Management. Consulting, Home inspection services and General Contracting ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.

If you are looking for a Toronto Renovation Contractor, that takes care of you and welcomes you into our Nostco family...give us a call. We want to be YOUR Toronto General Contractor for life!

Toronto General Contractor
Toronto Renovation Contractor
Toronto Construction Consulting
Toronto Construction Management
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Toronto Home Inspector

647.347.6784

Toronto Home Inspection

As some of you already know, Home Inspections are a service that we provide to GTA clients as a part of our consulting services. A few days ago I was contacted by a Real Estate agent to perform a pre-listing inspection on a property in Toronto.

If you don't already know, a pre-listing inspection is a thorough inspection of the property performed by a Home Inspector at the request of the seller. This is usually done to show potential buyers the condition of the home where some potential home buyers may be put off by some visible signs of concern.

It goes without saying that the findings in the report could either dissuade/persuade potential home buyers from making an offer. So the agent has a vested interest in the positive outcome of the home inspection.

Well, this particular agent took that vested interest to an entirely new level. 15 Minutes into the home inspection I discovered the poor condition of the deck. It was a major concern as it was not nearly up to code. It was missing posts, had no railings and screamed DIY. As the agent saw that I was inspecting the structure of the deck she interrupted me "Hey buddy, are you going to be scaring people off from buying this house?"

I brushed it off and continued my inspection, which lasted almost 3 hours. Before I left, she pulled me aside "Look, what we want to say in the report is that this house does not have any major hazards and concerns, every house has it's problems but this house has been well maintained...we're not trying to scare people from buying this house you understand?"

I have relatively thick skin. I submitted my report within 48 hours. Once she received the report, she called me. She claimed that I made some errors in my report.

For example:
-I estimated the age of the furnace to be 2-8 years old. She claimed it was only 6 months old
-I saw 2+ layers of shingles on the roof, she claimed there was only one.
-I listed the electrical as a Major Concern and recommended a licensed electrician or ESA inspector review the condition of the house. She claimed that everything was up to code.

I assured her, that if she could provide proof/documentation as to the validity of her claims that I would correct those items in my report and submit a new report.

Instead, what I received the following day was a bitter and vitriolic rant of how my report has caused her to lose thousands of dollars, how her client is enraged and how could I possibly have the nerve to make such findings in my report.

It is my duty as a Home Inspector to report accurately and unbiased on every component of the house. My report is often times what an unwitting home buyer uses to make the largest and most significant investment in their life. If I find anything that is of concern, I have a duty to report that in my findings.

The agent thought that she could "Tell" me what to write in the report and became increasingly harsh as she found that I would not "play ball".

I have since reported her to TREB and RECO. It is a scary thought that these people operate largely under the radar. Her client fancies himself a real estate investor and the pair have done over 8 deals in 10 years. Typical, the "real estate investor" does a few superficial changes to the property akin to lipstick on a pig and passes it off to an unknowing home buyer at an inflated price.

Unfortunately for these two, this time they hired someone with far too much experience in residential construction to fall for tricks.

As for her claims of the errors in my report, it has since been confirmed that the furnace is over 2 years old as I contacted the manufacturer/installer and previous HVAC inspector. I have also reported the property to the ESA and an electrical inspector will go by to investigate the hazards. Furthermore, I will follow up with the sale of this house and if I find that they misrepresented the condition of the property to the new home buyer then I will continue take measures to stop these people. I have attached a few pictures of my findings...you are free to make up your own mind.

If you are looking for a Toronto Home Inspector to perform a thorough evaluation of your property, give us a call. Toronto Home Inspections.

Visit our website. Toronto General Contractors

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Spring is around the corner

It's that time again, we're almost out of the quagmire that is winter in Toronto. There's no more snow/ice on the driveway, you can actually see the grass on your lawn that was hidden for months and you can start to think about spring cleaning in your house.

Winter leaves a mess behind, the yard is a mess, the windows/doors on the house haven't been cleaned for months, paint has chipped/deteriorated on the exterior of the home, gutters need a cleaning and the list goes on and on.

So as you're thinking about spring cleaning, why not think about incorporating some renovations into your home? An outdated kitchen/bathroom/basement...maybe just some new flooring, new paint on the walls...it doesn't have to be major.

The point is, you can make some dramatic changes to your home with a combination of a few minor renovations.

I don't know about you but I believe in "energy"...kind of along the lines of Feng Shui. Have you ever walked into an office/home and immediately an almost overwhelming sense of tranquility/comfort/balance overtakes you? Conversely, have you ever walked into a space where immediately you feel as if you can't breathe and feel as if an invisible cloud is looming over your head and literally sucking the energy out of you?...Well that's the kind of energy I'm talking about. Spas and resorts spend a tremendous amount of time/research into designing their spaces to deliver that soothing/relaxing feeling and atmosphere for their clients.

Cheesy "sounds of the waterfall" music aside, most of that is achieved through thoughtful construction design. Different materials have different sensations/moods/textures. The harmonious balance of the plethora of different building/construction materials on the market is what can make all the difference.

Not only are we a Construction company, but we specialize in working with our clients to make lifestyle changes/upgrades to their homes. Your home is an expression of who you are, it is your sanctuary. Your home can either be a relaxing, inspiring and rejuvenating abode...or it can be an unsightly, energy draining and costly burden. The difference is in the details.

Sometimes people call us up because they found us on the internet or some publication. They expect a "toronto renovation company" that can get them from A to B. I.E., they want to repair something in their home and they are shopping around for some skilled labour that can repair that item for them, usually for the cheapest price. That's not what we do/specialize in.

What we do is work with our clients in a personalized way to find out how construction/renovation can change their lifestyle/attitude about their home. We are not satisfied until you are blown away or until we find out just how much you can get out of your home with the budget that you have.

Even if you already have one area in mind, for example your basement. We'll start with a discussion on your budget and from there we will give you a long list of different things that you can do in your basement and stay within your budget. We bring the world of possibilities to your doorstep, then work with you to incorporate those changes into your home.

If you are looking for a Toronto General Contractor for you spring project, give us a call and I will be happy to discuss what we could do for you over the next months. As a part of our practice, you will receive an itemized breakdown of choices and an appraisal of your home at no charge or obligation. We are happy when we can offer solutions. So give us a call, visit our website and book your consultation today!

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The National Home Show 2010

So the Home Show was fun/interesting. I met with a ton of Home Owners, most of whom were surprisingly prepared (they brought their Architect's drawings/pictures/etc)...I suppose that's a testament to BILD's "Destination Renovation" booth's popularity.

One Home Owner stuck out more than the others and I want to talk about this because her dilemma is not unfamiliar. She basically came up, sat down and placed drawings from her Architect on the table, looked at me...then sighed. After enough years in this business, I recognize the cues...I knew where this was going before she said a word. So for those of you whose telepathy is not as fine tuned, this is her story in brief:

-She went to an Architect to draw up some renovations to her home.
-The Architect she chose mainly designed commercial spaces.
-The drawings complete, she set out to find a contractor and receive bids.
-She hit a wall...kind of.

Nobody was going to properly bid on the job without a financial commitment from her up-front. With a budget of $500,000, she wanted an assurance from the contractor that they would stay within that budget...without paying for pre-construction services.

This strikes a deep cord with me, I knew exactly what she was going through...it happens all too often and there is no simple solution/answer. For her part, she doesn't want to pay just to have contractors bid on the job...which is fair enough. Considering that she is entertaining bids from 2-4 Contractors, paying each one for pre-construction services doesn't make any sense.

Now I don't want to make a sales pitch here, but that's exactly why we do what we do, how we do it at Nostco Construction. Because Home Owners are stepping outside their field of expertise and riding off into the journey of making considerable and costly renovations to their home...and nobody is there to assist and advise them along the way.

She did what most reasonable people do...start off by going to an Architect. Now, there are other options. For example, she could have gone to a Design/Build company instead and that would have probably saved her a ton of headache...but she didn't, so let's not dwell on the "ifs".

Her first mistake was choosing an Architect that did not specialize in Residential construction, instead she went to an Architect who mostly did Commercial design. What's the difference? For starters, the latter breed tend to over design the project from an engineering point of view. Is that generalizing?...yes, but it's also true. They are far more familiar with Commercial code requirements than with Residential and there is a big difference. So they over-design, which ends of adding to the construction cost.

Secondly, they have no clue when it comes to residential construction costs and they are less likely to design for a client's stringent budget, not that half a million dollars for residential is "stringent", but they are normally working on multi million dollar projects and commercial construction costs differ greatly from high end residential costs.

The third item is rather less concrete and completely biased but they also tend to design...well, like how they would design a building's lobby/office and not very "domesticated".

So anyways, here is this very charming woman, who only has the best intentions but now can't find a contractor without shelling out money with no guarantees.

You see, in order to properly bid on a job that large the contractor would have to invest not minutes but days, not hours but weeks...if not months before arriving at a realistic budget. Every detail would have to be sourced out, from suppliers to vendors, to sub-contractors, re-design, permits, zoning, committee of adjustments possibly and the list goes on.

And so her frustration and dilemma. I have seen this a hundred times, and some contractors with questionable character literally prey on such clients. It's no different than going to a Lawyer when you're in a bind (and when else do you go to a lawyer...really)...and happen to be wealthy. The retainer is the worm and hook, what is about to happen could very likely become day-light robbery.

Now, this is usually where we come in. We work on behalf of the client and protect THEIR interests and navigate them through the quagmire. Given her situation, I told her to drop everything she's doing. Find ONE contractor that is reputable and known in the industry for the size of project she wants done. BILD and Renomark are the ideal place to start, those Associations have some of the most professional contractors in the industry and they are the only industry that govern the ethical conduct of their members. Then, check their references and talk or visit with past clients who had similar work done by the contractor. Ensure to question whether the contractor stayed within budget for the project. Then once all of research is done on the contractor and they pass all of the pre-requisite requirements, sit down with them and ask them to bid on your job. Ensure that staying within budget is of paramount importance.

A reputable contractor, will most likely ask for a retainer at this point for pre-construction services. BEFORE you sign, ask them what kind of contracts they offer. A knowledgeable and professional contractor will offer you a variety of contracts to choose from for the post pre-construction services...essentially, the construction services being that it will be broken down into 2 steps. Demand either a Cost-plus-incentive or Project manager-at-risk contract. This protects the client and penalizes the contractor financially for going over budget.

The problem with most contracts (cost-plus, project management) is that the contractor has only his morals/ethics keeping him from driving the initial $500,000 project up to a million and beyond, since the stipulated prior contingency percentage basis is factored off the total cost of the project.

Furthermore, I stressed that she demand financial transparency throughout the project. Some reputable contractors have no problem with that, and a few actually endorse/practice that method exclusively...like us :). We have an "open book" policy and open a segregated bank account for every project. This allows the client to stay on top of all the costs as an added measure.

You see, there is a misconception that you must get 2-5 bids from different contractors ALL THE TIME, for ALL projects, when sometimes...that very attitude/approach is what prevents people from finding the handful of contractors that are qualified to actually perform the job.

It's like going to the bar and having 5 guys buying you drinks, when the one you really want is the guy standing off to the side just watching you set yourself up for a bad night. Now, I'm known for my classic analogies and I used that scenario because she's a woman...not because I'm gay...not that there's anything wrong with that...but I'm not.

But seriously, what decent contractor is going to spend a month pricing out your job...for free? With no guarantee that you will hire them? The answer is...somebody you don't want working on your home.

There is a big difference between "pricing" a job, and breaking down an itemized list that has been fully sourced out, line by line, in detail of exactly what the scope of work entails, what materials are to be used, their availability, etc.etc.. You want to stay within budget? Then you have to completely change your perspective on hiring a contractor.

You would rather make an initial commitment of say...$5000, which you will be reimbursed for by the way if you retain that same company...and spend a month or two going over every detail of what is going into the project with ample time to prepare...than to hang tight to your purse strings for the beginning and watch half a million dollars literally disappear into a white smoke and find yourself in front of a judge, being represented by another possible opportunist, trying to recover some money from a dishonest contractor that you will most likely never see.

Sound harsh? Tell that to the umpteen former clients who came to us AFTER the fallout. It is harsh, and potentially devastating, and it bothers me so I won't be nice about it. One of the things that bothers me the most is seeing good people get hurt, and this woman was a "good person". But bad advice and well meaning naivete could have landed her in a bad place.

I wasn't there to sell my services, not once did I mention our company. I was just there to help and I genuinely hope that she heard and not just listened. Before she left, I wrote down on a piece of paper:

"Cost-plus-incentive"
"Project manager at-risk"
"Transparency in paperwork"

Ten meager words and sometimes...they can make all the difference.

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We're Live on Facebook

Nostco is Live on Facebook! We thought this would prove to be a very interactive tool for past/present/future clients. We like to keep everyone informed of all the latest developments in the industry and Facebook will prove a very handy resource and will allow us to keep in touch with everyone.

We're with you down the road, long after your project is complete. We'd like to think that more than anything, we're forming life long relationships and sharing our passion for design and construction with everyone.

Check us out!

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The words of a dying man

In my first post, I promised I would deliver a little background history into how Nostco Construction came to be and for that, I would have to go back to the words of a dying man.

It was in the fall of the year 2000, I was paying my way through University by working at a busy Restaurant in Toronto. The two owners were fraternal twins and though one of them was physically healthy, the other had visible physical abnormalities. Two of the nicest guys one could ever hope to meet, they were great people to work for. They were like the wise older brothers to all the employees and took care of us like caring fathers.

From the perspective of an eager and inspiring youth, ready to take on the world and stake my claim, my bosses had it all...the ideal role models. Here were two guys who gave up their...well, let's be honest...boring careers as Engineers and at the ripe age of thirty or so embarked on the noble journey of entrepreneurship and opened up one of the most "happening" joints in Toronto. They had it all, the money, the freedom of schedule, the attention, minor celebrity status (trust me on that) and they hadn't even hit 40 yet.

So as I was working and looking up to them, they were running the place and watching me. I was a good employee and one day one of them pulled me aside for a drink at the bar after my shift. He sat me down and began praising my efforts...this was different, it was as if he was looking for a reason to strike up conversation. Then he got quiet and started drifting off, then he wasn't saying anything anymore. He just sat there, with the 1000 yard stare into nothing. Maybe a minute passed, in silence, as if I wasn't there anymore...as if nobody was there anymore. I waited, not knowing what was happening, and his eyes began tearing up. He turned to me and dropped the bomb..."My brother is dying, he only has a few months left".

His physical abnormalities were the result of complications at birth, visibly, he was hunched and had under developed limbs. Underneath, the complications were worse and had reached a fatal point.

The news was stunning and I was speechless. The man carried himself so well and had a personality that drew everyone he ever came in contact with. He had the charisma of Frank Sinatra, truly one of those uniquely talented/gifted individuals that could stop a crowded and bustling room merely by his entrance. There was no hint or clue to his condition, he masked it and carried on with strength. I was lost.

He asked me to keep it a secret, so I did. His brother wasn't fazed, he still showed up and ran the place as if all was normal.

The next day I showed up after the "lunch rush" and was waiting to clock in for my shift. This usually meant grabbing an espresso and taking a seat at the bar to watch T.V. The brother came and sat next to me. We were watching Golf and shooting the breeze.

"Man, you know how much that Tiger Woods makes in a year?" I quipped.

"Yeah, he does quite well" he replied.

Then a little while later, "You go to U of T right, that's my Alma Mater...so, what are you majoring in?" he asked.

He never asked personal questions like that before. "Literature", I told him.

"You like working here? You like your job?" He asked.

Was I getting fired? Where was this question coming from? Was this because I left the Gnocci in the fridge for too long? But alas, I have a problem... I can't tell a lie.

"I love working for you, but no I don't like the job...I hate the job". I mean, who really likes working in a Restaurant? I thought he would appreciate the honesty and brown nosing isn't my thing.

"So why do you do it?"

Was he serious?..."I need the money" I replied.

And here were the words that changed my life, what stopped me in my tracks...

"Peter, take my word for it...life is too short to spend a day doing something that you don't love".

He did not know that I knew, but the weight of those words, coming from that man, at that time brought on such guilt it was almost too much to bear. I sank in my seat, took a deep breath and didn't have the courage to look into his eyes. He patted my shoulder, got up and left.

He passed away about 8 months later.

R.I.P. Vince.

Your life inspired much more than you ever knew.

I thought I looked up to those guys because of what they had, it was only later that I realized that the true inspiration came from something a lot deeper. In his memory and because of his wisdom, I forsook seemingly logical alternatives to a career choice and with almost blatant disregard for economic gains followed in the path of work I'm passionate about...and to quote Frost... And that has made all the difference.

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Meet me at the Home Show!

I'll be at the National Home Show on February 20th, between 3:30 - 9:00 p.m. @ BILD's (Building Industry and Land Development Association) "Destination Renovation" Booth as a Renomark Renovator volunteer, meeting with Home Owners and answering typical questions and providing suggested solutions on problems.

If you've never been to the Home Show...you're missing out! It's a great opportunity to get a taste of everything out there, visit different vendors, attend some presentations, and just plain get inspired!

Our good friend Glen Peloso will also be there as a guest speaker. I was on the sixth season of "Take this house and sell it!" with Glen (Restaurant Makeover, Renovate my wardrobe, etc.) and he's an awesome person, an amazing designer and his company Glen Peloso Interiors is backed by some great people (Rania, Vanessa, Greg, et al).

So come on out and check it out. Here's the link for the Home Show - Click here

First Post

This Blog was created for our past, present and future clients. Our past clients know that what makes Nostco Construction different from a lot of other companies out there is that we stay with you down the road, long after your project is complete. We'll keep you informed of the latest developments, and check up on you from time to time to ensure that you are getting the most out of your investment.

Clients that are presently with us can also drop in and check out what else we're doing at the time.

Future/Potential clients can get to know us...and most importantly, find out what we can do for YOU!

At Nostco, we LOVE Construction! For us, it's not a job...it's a passion. Our obsession with everything "Construction" has created an atmosphere within our company that attracts only the finest tradesmen, sub-contractors, managers and designers. In future posts, I will discuss this passion and give you some history into the creation of this company. For the time being, I just want to welcome everyone to our blog and wish this blog a Happy Birthday and I hope that you'll stay with us for years to come.