Do The Research

Sorry folks, there's no magical way of getting out of having to do research. “[You should] check credentials, disciplinary history and reviews from a variety of sites and sources,” Rob Miller of The Garage Door Depot says. For many home improvement projects, contractors will need special training, licenses or experience to know how to do the repairs correctly and legally. An unlicensed contractor may be able to make the repair cheaply, but the price will be paid in lower-quality materials, incorrect installations or even making the problem worse. This can be especially important when paying for deposits for the work or products. “Be sure your contractor has a license to accept deposits and is bonded. In Alberta [where The Garage Door Depot is located], this is called a Prepaid Contractor License,” warns Miller. “You would be surprised how many contractors do not possess this.” Lastly, reviews are king and a good contractor will have positive reviews all across the board. Looking at a variety of sources means there's less chance of review censorship (which, of course, a great contractor will never do).

Get Multiple Bids (and do even more research)

A bid in the simplest terms is a quote. “Get multiple bids/quotes and get educated,” Miller says. “Be sure when comparing quotations that what is being considered is truly comparable.” That's where the do more research part comes in. The client should make sure that the quality, durability, performance and lifespan are all comparable. The cost over time should be factored as well. By dividing cost over expected life span, the client can get an idea of how much they are paying per year for the life of the project. In the end, it could cost more per year to go with a cheaper option than the more expensive option. Also, a more expensive but better-performing piece of equipment may be worth the extra money. A home is a long-term investment and it's worth spending a little extra money to make sure it lasts. In the end, compare apples to apples, not to oranges.

The Price is Not Everything

As with most things, the price only paints a portion of the picture. Supply and demand can be very tricky to get exactly right, so the price probably doesn't encompass all the benefits and all the costs for the customer. “Consider the contractor and what value they and their products bring to you,” Miller advises. The customer should consider how comfortable they are with the contractor – after all, they are inviting them to their home. If the customer feels uneasy, it may be a sign to find a different contractor. Value also encompasses support services, warranties and other programs the contractor may have.

Have a Contract

A contract is used to protect both the customer and the contractor. “This can ensure the contractor fulfills their duties to you,” Miller says. The contractor should want a contract, especially if they only accept money at the end of the job, as this protects them from non-payment. A contract also is physical evidence that the work was promised and money changed hands, which can be useful in a fraud case. It is always a good idea in any part of life to have a hard paper trail. The client should make sure they receive a copy of the contact. If the contractor refuses, it might be time to cut ties.

DIY is Not a Good Idea

There's a reason why contractors exist. They possess a skill-set most people do not have. “The dangers of DIY garage door repair are numerous and should be taken seriously before you engage in a project,” Miller warns. This is not a sales pitch, but a real and genuine warning. The parts on a garage door are under tremendous pressure and have a lot of potential energy stored. A wrong move while attempting to DIY can and has been fatal.

When picking a contractor, many different factors have to be considered. One contractor isn't perfect for everyone, so each individual's needs and wants will have to be considered. In the end, a client should feel comfortable and confident in their choice. After all, it's their home that hangs in the balance.


As mentioned before, a home is a safe haven – emphasis on safe. Protection Plus Inc. is dedicated to keeping the home and their occupants safe through various security systems. Here are their top three choices for security systems.

1. The Premium Honeywell Lyric Alarm System

The Lyric is truly a revolutionary security system. “The Lyric ... marks a new era in alarm and automation services,” says Mike Wedmann, a senior security consultant at Protection Plus. “The Lyric is ... Apple Homekit-compatible for those that want the latest in home automation using the Apple platform.” For those who don't use Apple, the Lyric stands perfectly fine on its own. “The Lyric has an onboard camera on its touch screen control, providing a video clip of each person that arms and disarms the system,” Wedmann says. “It's [also] compatible with our Alarm-I video verification technology.” The Alarm-I video verification technology is an amazing little piece of tech that will send videos to both the monitoring station and the police when a break-in occurs. “This results in much higher arrest rates, reduces false alarms to almost zero and provides clients with instant video information,” Wedmann says proudly. The Lyric is not done with all its features and tricks. “The Lyric also more than doubles the distance of its wireless devices, making it a great choice for larger homes and businesses where wiring is not possible or desirable,” explains Wedmann. The Lyric uses a variety of devices such as motion and smoke detectors, all which come with the latest IoT technology. With all this technology, there will be a concern about vulnerabilities and software updates to address those. “The entire system ... allows for two-way communication for software updates and push notifications,” Wedmann reassures. The Lyric is truly a marvel of modern security. However, with technology-challenged clients, The Lyric might just be too much to handle.

2. The Honeywell Lynx Touch

For those who want a more user-friendly but reliable security system, The Lynx is for them. “The Honeywell Lynx Touch is a workhorse,” says Wedmann. “It has evolved over the years to be a very reliable and user-friendly alarm system.” The Lynx is also compatible with Protection Plus' Alarm-I video verification technology. “The Lynx brings strong wireless technology at an affordable price,” Wedmann says. It has three levels of monitoring – conventional landline, Wi-Fi and cellular. This allows the home to still be protected despite other issues. With The Lynx, the homeowner isn't sacrificing much in terms of automation. “It can also work with z-wave automation technology and Honeywell's Total Connect virtual app service,” Wedmann reassures. While The Lynx isn't as technologically beefed up as The Lyric, it is still a great system. “It has a simple user interface making it a favorite for those less-tech-savvy clients,” Wedmann says, “It's also backwards-compatible to Honeywell 5800 series wireless devices, making it a favorite choice for updating older systems.” All in all, The Lynx is a great choice for those who want a great system without all the fancy bells and whistles.

3. The DSC NEO Hybrid System

A hybrid security system takes advantage of both a hardwired and wireless system. “This new generation of DSC hardware takes hybrid technology to a new level,” Wedmann says. The NEO is a great fit for businesses and large families. “It has expanded the quantity of devices and user codes, making it a good fit for ... large numbers of users,” Wedmann explains. The NEO is also a great fit for jewelry stores. “Jewelry stores ... require ULC-certified systems and ULC-certified high-level monitoring,” explains Wedmann. “The NEO's latest-generation wireless hardware is now ULC-certified, reducing installation time and costs to the end user.” For those who want a simple and clean installation, this is the system. “Our installers have found the installation to be clean and simple,” says Wedmann. While the NEO is more suited for a business, for those with large families this may be the perfect system.

There are two things that help mark modern society. The first is plumbing and the second is electricity. Imagine how difficult life would be without either of those. Without plumbing, diseases such as dysentery and cholera would run rampant, and well, just don’t think about the cities. Without electricity, culture and ideas would spread at a snail’s pace. Plus, all the creature comforts that are enjoyed today would be gone. This is why Three Best Rated® has sat down with two award-winning plumbers and an award-winning electrician to understand what a homeowner can do to keep their homes electrical and plumbing systems healthy. After all, it’s nice living in modern society!

Imagine a day without electricity, and imagine the struggle to do simple things, such as cook, clean, or even storing perishable foods. Electricity is really the heart of a home and keeps the rest of the
house running smoothly. “Just like the heart in your body, we rely on it and the circuits and wires to carry electricity and keep everything functioning properly,” says Lara Grundt of The Shock Doctors. Just like the heart, the home’s electrical systems will need regular check-ups to ensure it is functioning safely and up to code. “Your home’s whole electrical system should be inspected annually,” Lara says. If the electrical system isn’t inspected annually, or ever, there’s a higher risk of the system failing. At best, it will leave the house without power for an indeterminate amount of time. At worst, it can lead to devastating fires.

Of course, homes don’t always operate on neat little schedules and there may be signs that the electrical system needs to be checked by a certified electrician before the annual check-up. Lara’s warning signs are:

• A breaker or fuse repeatedly trips
• Parts of your home are experiencing brown outs or intermittent brightening and dimming of the lighting
• Your electrical panel is making a buzzing sound and is warm to the touch or smells like burned plastic (this is an emergency; call an electrician ASAP)
• Someone gets a shock off an appliance, switch, or receptacle
• Power is interrupted to a circuit (multiple receptacles/switches)
• Power is interrupted to a single receptacle (kitchen, workshop, pumps)
• A switch does not appear to control any electrical device, or controls a device improperly

A home is at a greater risk for an electrical problem if it is older. “The older your home, the higher the probability that wiring has been added after it was originally wired,” explains Lara, “Many times, these wiring additions have not been done safely or professionally.” It becomes even more important to watch out for warning signs and have the home inspected annually. Electricity is just too important for modern society to ignore the system’s general health and well-being.

The best roof for the lowest price will have to go to fiberglass shingles. Almost every single manufacturer makes fiberglass, so the customer will have a lot of options to pick the color and style they like. “They are affordable, quick to install, and easy to repair,” Mike Cheema of Busy Boys Roofing Ltd. explains. This roof is the best for a household on a budget. However, make sure you hire a reputable roofing company! “Every fiberglass shingle has a nailing zone,” Cheema explains. “If the installer puts nails outside the zone then over time it can start leaking, and with heavy wind it can be blown away.”

Synthetic underlay