If you’ve ever had a contractor lie to you, a renovation go bad or frustration with a new home builder, than this program is a must for you.

While there are many television programs that have grown from the concept popularized by Russell Morash and his This Old House, I am not aware of any that compare to Holmes on Homes.

The homeowners on this series do not appear to be selected by how beautifully they look - nor are they all white and upper-middle class. They are real people, who are in real homeowner trouble, filled with frustration and desperation. Mike Holmes is always polite and professional, never naming the names of those who abandoned or defrauded the homeowners (although you may find yourself secretly wishing that he’d break a few heads). As well, the episodes of this first season are reasonably compact covering all but one home in 22 minutes. Another difference is that this series is not frightened to tackle problems with new home construction.

Mike Holmes is a perfectionist who not only works to building code, but exceeds it when he deems necessary - and then explains why. He is a second generation contractor who takes pride in his work and cares for his homeowners and trades.

There is much to learn from watching this series. How to hire a contractor as well as how to spot substandard work and to address it with the contractor.

Although the video quality on this DVD set does look a little low budget, and the special features are limited, the quality of its content and the reasonable purchase price make this set an outstanding value. I highly recommend it for anyone considering any kind of home renovation or new home purchase.