Overview

Improve Your Property Through Exemplary Repair and Renovation Work

Why Choose Mr. Build Vancouver?

Local, family-run business since 1989 – 34 years!
Real office/shop location
Open and staffed all day, every weekday
Member of HomeStars and HOUZZ
4.7 of 5 star rating at HOUZZ.com
Multi-skilled trades-people able to handle all aspects of any renovation you may need
Full WorkSafe BC and Liability Insurance coverage
All quotes provided to you within 24 – 48 hours

2023 Overview

Mr. Build Metro Vancouver is centrally located in the Marpole area of Vancouver, B.C. We have been independently owned, operated and established since 1989. This year, 2023, we are celebrating our 34th year in business!

Mr. Build specializes in small/medium renovations/repairs. We service both residential and commercial clients. We can provide you with a “one-stop” service for all your repairs and renovation needs. The staff has been with Mr. Build since the beginning and know what customer service means. Because of our business-like approach, skilled trades people, and excellent communication skills, we can provide you with a solid value for your financial investment in your home, revenue property, or commercial/leasehold improvement.

Mr. Build has won many accolades for their service(s) over the years. We were selected by the readers of The Vancouver Courier in print and on line as the Best Home Repair Service several years in a row.

We also finished second as the 2nd best renovation company in Vancouver, B.C. by the readers of The Province newspaper. We have had several articles written about our company in the Home Section of the The Vancouver Sun. We have won badges over the years for the most positive reviews for a renovation company in Houzz, Homestars and Google. Mr. Build also has maintained an A+ rating at the BBB - Better Business Bureau - for 30 years. We can be found usually around the top of any google searches e.g. bathroom renovations and our website is www.mrbuild.com. Please feel free to check out our numerous customer satisfied reviews all over the internet.

We look forward to working with you.

Best regards,

Kurt Gust – owner/operator

p.s. Mr. Build Vancouver is centrally located in the neighbourhood we work in and we are open Mon – Fri, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. We can provide a complimentary estimate for any project and repair required, usually within 48 hours. This full service approach has allowed us to serve over 30,000 clients to date. Our referral and repeat business is over 50%. In a very competitive market, this speaks volumes about our business, but more importantly about our people.

Do’s and Don’ts of Home Renovation

Make sure you’re hiring a professional. Check that contractors carry liability insurance and worker’s compensation.

It’s even better if they are members of one or more of our professional associations (e.g. the Canadian Home Builders Association) which will help regulate industry standards.

Ask for references and check them out. Go see the contractor’s work.

In fact, see work in progress, or else a contractor will show you only finished gems and not how you can expect a project to go.

Don’t pick the cheapest or costliest guy on the block.

Some companies quote low but nail you for extras while those with higher quotes may actually be more honest in spelling everything out from the start.

Allow for the final bill to come within 10–20% of the original quote.

There are always additional expenses along the way but the final price shouldn’t be that far from the budget being set out.

Plan months ahead. It’s true of construction people too.

All the good ones are taken, so don’t expect to pick up the phone and have someone start next week. If they’re any good, they’re likely booked solid.

Know the scope of the work to be done.

The more you know about what you want and the better you communicate that to the contractor at the inception of a renovation project, the smoother things can go. Making up your mind or changing your mind along the way, only eats up time and drives up the final price.

Don’t get mad at Mother Nature.

Expect the weather to affect the project’s timeliness and maybe even create challenges and setbacks.

Check your ego at the door.

People hire a contractor because they don’t have the time or skills to do the project themselves, so let the professionals do what they know how to do.

Be realistic and keep an open mind. Set a realistic plan.

Realize that projects are fluid entities that change and there are always labor pains. Roll with it!

Nine Steps

Start With a Plan and End With a Successful Makeover

Whether you are making modest changes in one or two rooms, or you are transforming the entire house into a dream of a lifetime, the renovation process can be pleasant and smooth – if you take the time to plan your project carefully. I believe that homeowners can ensure a successful renovation if they follow these nine critical steps.

1. Do Your Homework

Advance research is the key to getting what you want. Review magazines, books and websites to get an idea of the look you want. Visit friends, family members and colleagues who have renovated recently. Consider your lifestyle and the needs of your family, both in the short and long term. A professional renovator can help assess the feasibility.

2. Find Out How Much You Can Afford

If you are thinking about using outside funds, discuss your borrowing needs and options with your lending institution. You will likely find there are many financing possibilities to consider, from personal loans and lines of credit to home equity loans and homeowner’s mortgages.

3. Look for a Professional Renovator

For appropriate service and high-quality results, hire a professional renovator. Click on “Find a Member” on the GVHBA website for a list of member renovators in the Greater Vancouver area. Ask family, friends and neighbours for recommendations.

4. Choose Your Contractor

Once you have acquired the names of several professional renovators, interview them. Be sure you have listed all the items that are important to you. Choose a couple of the renovators with whom you feel most comfortable. If you have plans and specifications, have the chosen renovators provide you with a proposal.
If you do not have plans already, ask the renovators to provide you with a proposal and a budget for a design/build project. Most professional renovators will provide a complete service, including their own in-house or private designers or architects.

5. Check References

Don’t omit this step just because you are too busy or “they seem like the right person for the job.” Call the GVHBA, the renovator’s previous clients, the bank, and the building supply store to ensure that you are making the right choices.

6. Work Out a Contract

Don’t automatically take the lowest bid, unless you are certain the renovator has properly understood what you want. Sometimes low bids turn out to be the most expensive in the end. If you accept the renovator’s offer, it’s time to write up the contract. Even the simplest of jobs should be outlined in writing because the contract is the basis of understanding between you and your renovator.
Before signing a contract, read it carefully. Are you satisfied with the description of the work to be done? Does the payment schedule include hold-backs? Are the responsibilities of the renovator clearly spelled out? If something is not expressed in the contract, then it’s your responsibility. Have a lawyer examine the contract before you sign it.

7. Plan how you will live during the renovation

Careful planning can greatly minimize the inconvenience of living in the midst of a renovation. Talk to your renovator about the schedule of work to be done and how your daily routine might be affected. Discuss your expectations of the work crew and determine the work environment. Does the crew need access to washroom facilities, telephones, water or electricity? Decide which areas of your home are off limits. It is a good idea to let your neighbours know you are going to be renovating.

8. Establish a Good Relationship With Contractors

A good working relationship is a vital ingredient in successful renovation projects. Mutual trust is essential. Keep lines of communication open at all times. Expect a brief report on the progress of your job at regular intervals, perhaps every evening. Be available to make decisions when they are needed so work is not held up, perhaps costing you more money. Don’t hesitate to bring your concerns to the attention of the renovator.

9. Try To Stick With Your First Choices

Once work is underway, changes should be kept to a minimum. The details of your project, described in the contract, down to the finishing touches, form the basis of both the price and the schedule of your job. Changes could affect both significantly. Your GVHBA member renovator will attempt to accommodate any alteration in plans, as long as you accept a possible delay in completion and/or a change in price.
Peter Simpson is the chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, which has an active and progressive renovators council. For more information, visit www.gvhba.org. are important to you. Choose a couple of the renovators with whom you feel most comfortable.
If you have plans and specifications, have the chosen renovators provide you with a proposal. If you do not have plans already, ask the renovators to provide you with a proposal and a budget for a design/build project. Most professional renovators will provide a complete service, including their own in-house or private designers or architects.