We recently launched a new promotion on our site. When you are the first Homeowner to review a company that no one else has reviewed, we will send you either a $10 Indigo or $10 Amazon gift code!
Homeowners in less reviewed cities in Canada can really benefit from this promotion so spread the word to your sister in Saskatoon or cousin in Halifax!
Did you know you can search our site by phone number?
Sometimes business listings on our site get duplicated; searching for the company you plan to review by phone number is a great way to make sure they don’t already have reviews on our site. No search result? No problem. Add the company and an option will come up to allow you review them right away.
Hiring A Home Inspector?
Allow some top rated Home Inspectors to give you some insight into what is covered in a home inspection, what is not, and what you can keep your eyes peeled for– in your house, and who you hire.
A few months ago, I heard Jody Steinhauer, founder of the Bargains Group, speak at an event about Project Winter Survival. She launched this program 14 years ago and her company keeps expanding their charitable work not only in her community, but in other cities in Canada. I was so inspired, I knew I wanted to help out. Project Winter survival is about helping those without a home.
Please watch the video to find out more about how you and your community can get involved. For only $60, you can help one homeless person in your community.
Our HomeStars team recently spent a Saturday packing and distributing sleeping bags and backpacks full of winter survival supplies to front line agencies who help the homeless in Toronto. Project Winter Survival is growing across Canada and your support can help the homeless in your area.
We currently have a HomeStars challenge among our top rate companies. We would like to see our community donate 1,000 more kits this year. Each kit is approximately $60 each. We are asking each company to donate $500 each – and I’ll be posting the donors as they come in. Click here to download your donation form.
Here’s a little more about the program:
For the past 14 years, Project Winter Survival and teams of volunteers & donors have assembled and distributed over 18,000 winter Survival Kits. These kits provide warmth and essential supplies needed for the homeless and less fortunate to survive on the streets. Each survival kit or backpack contains approximately 30 basic necessities; from a sleeping bag and blanket to food, water and personal care items. These are items we often take for granted. The people on the streets have no access to basic things like toothpaste and warm socks. The agencies have had their budgets cut and can’t afford to always buy them.
Last year over 11,000 requests for these life saving kits were received from agencies that help the homeless. Our goal this year is to assemble and distribute more than 3000 kits to over 100 front line agencies, which include, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Covenant House, local shelters, and outreach programs in the Greater Toronto Area as well as Vancouver. These agencies then distribute the kits to the most vulnerable people who are living on our streets.
A big congratulations goes out today as we announce this year’s Best of award winners.
These awards highlight companies whose customers have sung their praises over the course of 2012 with reviews. We use our HomeStars sort algorithm to come up with winners each year, and winners are invited to an awards night as well as access to marketing material to showcase their award to their clients and prospects.
Here are the links to the winners from each category:
We will be announcing Durham, Eastern Ontario, Calgary and Edmonton tomorrow, and Wednesday we will end with the much awaited Toronto list. Keep your eyes on your email!
We are entering the holiday season and that means family, friends, too much food, and, most importantly for the companies on our site, Best-Of year end.
Each year HomeStars.com awards companies who have done fantastic work, based on their customer’s feedback. We apply an algorithm to each company’s listing to calculate who has the most customer reviews from the year with the highest ratings in each category. Companies have less than 4 weeks to get those reviews in!
Award Criteria:
Once the HomeStars Team is back in the saddle in January (the HomeStars office will be closed from December 22nd to January 2nd ) we start compiling The Best-Of lists in each competing city. For the 2012 year, HomeStars will be awarding companies in Toronto, Hamilton, Eastern Ontario, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, South Western Ontario, and for the first time the Durham Ontario region. We work really hard to ensure that each winner is well deserved and we have a selection criteria to help our Best Of selection team figure that out. Determining winners can take awhile so expect the results to be announced in late January. Here are the criteria for the 2012 winners:
Only 2012 Reviews count – All reviews must be received before midnight of December 31st EST.
Companies must have a minimum of 5 reviews in 2012 to qualify for the award.
Awards are determined based on the HomeStars ‘Best Of’ match algorithm, which uses both the quality and quantity of reviews.
Companies can only win in one category and service area.
Companies must be in the category they wish to be considered for before midnight on December 31st.
Companies listed in multiple categories will be considered in all of their categories for a best fit win. Reviews and ratings will be the deciding factor.
Companies who have multiple service areas attached to their listing, can only be considered in their primary address that appears on their listing’s account. Companies are welcome to change their office address temporarily between December 31st and the announcement date if they wish to compete in a different service area they have purchased although they must have reviews from clients in that service area.
Suspicious or fraudulent review activity during the 2012 year will be taken into consideration.
Tie situations will be settled by HomeStars staff based on the quality of reviews and company involvement with the site (think: awesome company responses to reviews, forum activity, event participation, twitter and facebook mentions, etc)
Once the announcement is made all winner decisions are final.
We will have a celebratory awards ceremony in each city awarded, the locations of which will be announced in January. These events are always a great time and everyone is welcome! Check out photos of some of last year’s events below.
Over the weekend we had the privilege to be at the Ideal Home show in Hamilton and also hosted a cocktail party at the show! Among the attendees, Scott Newman from New Ridge Refinishing and Pete from Mr Petersons Home Comfort came out to the party with us on Friday!
Thank you to all who attended we hope you had a great time – we did!
What else was HomeStars doing at the show?
We were running a $1000 shopping spree contest at the show’s info booth and had hundreds of awesome homeowners come out to visit us!
Sunday at the Home Show will be a busy one for exhibitors. Homeowners are flooding the entrance way to BC Place excited to see what is in store!
We recommend they stop by and see Deck Pods. This thing is so cool! The rotating pod can be used for dining, and even camping, as it can be turned in to luxurious circle bed. The two fine fellows at Mr. Cover All. Looking good! Gary from Century Hardwood Floors just received his first review a couple of days ago. When we introduced ourselves he said this was the third time he’d heard of HomeStars in three days! We must be doing something right! Iris from Mama’s Kitchen & Bath Cabinets. She’s the Mama! Great smiles on Sean and Sean (yep, both Sean’s) from Best Builders Daniel from Homedelight Furnishings Steve (middle) of Bathrooms”R”Us came by the HomeStars booth, set up in the Exhibitors lounge. He raves about his HomeStars listing, says he loves us! Thanks for stopping by Steve! Tanya of Kitchen Makeovers proudly displays her 2011 Best of Award win in her booth! Cathy from Tiles for Less. She’s got their Best of win on display too! Lorna and Jake from Vancouver’s Restore – Habitat for Humanity.
It was great to meet everyone! Had a great show. Hope to see you again at the Best of 2012 Awards!
Saturday at the Home Show is here! The past few days in Vancouver have been rainy and overcast, so we can expect lots of visitors coming out of the cold to check out the Show. Hint * Stop by the Keurig booth for a complimentary coffee or tea!
Yesterday we walked around the show, and visited a few booths. We are receiving great reviews on the new site design! Peter and Sherry from Long Life Windows & Doors are very happy with their HomeStars listing. They have over 151 reviews and have won the Best of Award in their category the last two years! Chris from HomeStars poses with the Mathieson and the rest of the Frogbox Team. Frogbox is another HomeStars success story! In June 2011, HomeStars helped raise funds for the David Suzuki Foundation, donating $5 for each review! Frogbox helped to promote the event, inviting their customers to write a review for the promotion. Their environmentally conscious customers really got on board, and the company gained 100 reviews throughout the charity promotion! We met up with John of Jovak Landscape & Design Chanelle of Abodio Interior Consulting & Design Pablo (I thought his name was Curly?!) of Curly’s Carpet Repair
Remember, we are located in the Exhibitor Lounge, across from the food court throughout the show. If you’d like to arrange an appointment to take a look at your listing and meet someone from the team, please email customercare@homestars.com. We will be here Saturday and Sunday and look forward to meeting you. The HomeStars West team from left to right > Sean, Kristin, Chris, Ryan and Beatriz
To kick off the Vancouver Home & Design Show, HomeStars Team West hosted a fun night at the Wings Pub in Burnaby! Thanks Wings for the great service!
We had a really good time meeting everyone and answering your questions about the new site design, and HomeStars! Thank you all for your feedback and questions! Left to Right > David from Alair Homes and Agienieska and Gil of Agi Interiors. Ronaldo and Henne of Armonia in Design Left to Right > Don of Don’s Handyman Services, Tanya of BestWest Roofing, Octovio of Wirechief Electric Cairnstone Construction The HomeStars West team (minus Beatriz, who couldn’t make the event but will be at the Home Show all weekend!) Left to Right> Sean, Ryan, Chris and Kristin
We will be at the Home Show throughout the weekend, located in the exhibitor lounge. If you want to set up a time to walk through the new dashboard, talk about your listing, or check out some of our cool swag items, come and visit us! The Exhibitor lounge is conveniently located across from the Food Court, so stop by anytime.
This is going to be a great show!
We walked the show to take some photos of top rated companies and also some awesome looking booths - here’s a sneak peak !
Resource Furniture is amazing!! This is a must see at the Show. Talk to Ron about the Urbanization of the world and their upcoming display in the Museum of New York City! Fascinating stuff. TimberTown with Krish and Mike Prestige Granite & Stone – these ladies have it made at the Home Show – Enjoying a gorgeous countertop with bon bons! Cordell’s Point of View Window Fashions & Interior Design Book a Consult and Get 25% off!
The Nice Guys at EAGO! Text EAGO to: 76000 for a Chance to Win a beautiful Basin Vanity! Check it out on display at their booth! Stop by and say hello to Peter at Universal Closets! Harlend and Roberto catching up at the Harding’s Painting booth! Note the strategic placement of their Best of Award for 2011 sticker in the background! Stephanie and Heather – The great ladies at Designer’s View! Visit their booth and be sure to leave inspired!
Home Show dates:
Friday, September 21 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm Saturday, September 22 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Sunday, September 23 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Last night Steve Dempsey of Canadian Contractor Magazine were up at the their offices helping teach CARAHS members about the power of social media. There were quite a few of our HomeStars community there to learn about how social media can grow your business. My presentation focused on a few simple things any small business can do, as well as how to react and respond to things you see online.
Did you know you can search our site by phone number?
