Providing the gta with quality renovations for over 10 years. We provide professional project management from the beginning to the end on residential renovations.
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We had engaged with Alex in July of 2021 to help prepare drawings, designs and submissions required to obtain a building permit from the City. The scope of work was to include:
- Arrange for permits on behalf of the owner
- Act on behalf of the owner regarding any and all matters having to do with the work
- Prepare required documentation for formal submission to city planning
- If required, prepare Committee of Adjustment documentation
- Prepare final working drawings needed to obtain building permit
From the start of engagement there was significant delays in moving forward. Weeks at a time where there would be limited contact and lack of response by email/text/phone. We were given some reasons/excuses that delays were due to personal situations but things would be back on track once they were sorted out. Things progressed although slowly.
When receiving drawing drafts and reviewing them as well as providing back comments to update, the time in between revisions took between a few days to a few weeks. The final drawings were completed in Oct approx 3 months after engagement. There were also things we had to ask for twice, that he said was changed but then the drawings were not actually updated. Not to mention trying to get the files sent to us were a pain as well as they always seemed to get "stuck in my outbox".
We were told the building permit application went in promptly thereafter but did not receive anything further until the end December - for an authorization form with the city which was provided back from us Jan 2nd, 2022.
Later we found out the City only received the permit application on Feb 16th. They had committed to provide comments back before End of March, and they did. It has now been almost 2 months since then and we cannot get a hold of Alex to even let us know what needs to be done next. Many many calls and emails and texts have been sent but he is unresponsive.
The architectural work was sub-contracted by Alex to someone, who was on the permit application, and in communicating with them it seems Alex is not even responding back to his own sub-contract trade either.
Our payment agreement specified 50% up front, balance on completion of permit ready drawings. Drawings which we did receive, therefore payment has been made in full. However, we have no permit, and are stuck without the ability to keep moving forward. The Job that we hired Balmbuilt for was to obtain the building permits based on the design specification. This has not been completed.
A complaint to the BBB has already been submitted as well. Next step will be to file a claim in SCC. Terrible experience.
Our expectations are that professionals will deliver to their word, and if for any reason they cannot that there be some acknowledgement and compensation.
I engaged with Balmbuilt after meeting with other contractors for a complete renovation to my new home. I am so happy that I chose to work with Alex and his team. Alex has extensive construction knowledge and his team of trades had delivered exceptional quality. I will work with them again in the future.
In September 2020, we hired BalmBuilt (Alex Balm) to do a home renovation and two story addition to our house. The contract agreed that BlamBuilt would create all documentation and drawings and provide them to us, would apply for the needed permits, go through the committee of adjustments with the City of Toronto, and any other needed actions to obtain permits. In November 2020 Alex Balm confirmed that he submitted all the final documentation to the city for a permit and accepted our final payment in full (~$19,000). Throughout November 2020 to January 2021 upon our asking for updates, Alex confirmed several times that he submitted the documentation for permits and we were just in a holding pattern, and he could not provide a confirmation/submission number or any other updates. However, in late January upon us contacting the City of Toronto we discovered Alex was lying to us and never submitted any documentation to the city, and never created or provided us with final drawings for which he accepted payment in full.
From late January 2021 to late February 2021 Alex was hard to get a hold of and stopped replying to texts, emails, phone calls, etc. each time we tried to reach out and find out what was going on and to receive an official confirmation. It was at this point where we decided to post online reviews of our experience.
After the reviews were posted in late February 2021, Alex and his wife Shanon Balm (who we had no interaction with up to this point) reached out immediately and told us to take down all reviews. Furthermore, Shanon and Alex informed us that they would only provide us with the services which they accepted funds in full for once we complied with the demand of removing reviews.
In an effort to resolve the situation and move forward we took down all reviews with the agreement that they would provide all documentation to us no later than March 5th 2021 (a deadline date that Alex and Shanon suggested and said they can get things done by). On March 5th nothing was received and Alex requested another week. On March 12th (the new deadline) Alex informed us again that he does not have anything and requested another week (March 19th). After not hearing from him or receiving anything we reached out on March 22nd at which point Alex responded that he still has nothing and will get us the agreed to work by March 26th. That deadline, like the several before that came and went with Alex providing nothing. Since then Alex has not reached out and we have not received any of the work that he agreed to.
We signed a renovation contract with Alex Balm and BalmBuilt Ltd. in July 2020. The scope of work included new plumbing, electrical, kitchen, bathrooms, stairs and flooring. The estimated timeframe given for completion was approximately ten weeks.
Initially the project proceeded as scheduled. We remitted funds to Alex as requested and in accordance with the payment schedule. On July 23, 2020 we received an update from Alex stating “we are currently tracking to have you the house on September 11”.
On August 28, 2020 we were contacted by the electrician. He intended to place a construction lien on our house because Alex gave him an NSF cheque. He cancelled the electrical permit for the job.
Alex gave us numerous assurances regarding the completion of the project. To date the millwork company has not been paid the required deposit in order to start production of the kitchen. The bathroom fixtures we selected in July 2020 remain in the vendor’s warehouse pending payment. In addition the stairs have not been ordered. Alex collected funds from us for these items.
After nine months we terminated our relationship with Alex Balm and BalmBuilt Ltd.
Alex and his crew were fantastic to work with. From the initial meeting all the way through to completion, Alex was reliable, efficient and thorough, and he was quick to resolve any issues that did arise. He provided daily progress updates and pictures where necessary, and made sure that even the smallest details were looked after. The renovations were stress free and turned out beautifully thanks to Alex and his team. I wouldn't hesitate to bring Balmbuilt on to any future jobs!
BalmBuilt has a TrustScore™ of 1.6. The average TrustScore™ for other businesses providing similar services in Toronto and the surrounding areas is 3. For detailed information on how TrustScore is calculated, click here to learn more.
The following elements are used to calculate TrustScore:
Customer Reviews | Last 12 Months | All Time |
---|---|---|
Total Received | 0 | 14 |
Approved | 0 | 5 |
Unverified | 0 | 7 |
Suspicious | 0 | 2 |
Overall Rating | 2.7/5 |
Complaints Received | Last 12 Months | Last 3 Years |
---|---|---|
Suppliers & Creditors | 0 | 0 |
Employees & Sub-Contractors | 0 | 0 |
Transparency | |
---|---|
Posted License Information | Available upon request |
Posted Liability Insurance | Available upon request |
Posted Workers Compensation | Not yet provided |
Company Website | Yes |
Social Media Profiles | Not yet provided |
Endorsed by Peers | Not yet endorsed |
In Business Since | 2013 |
Member of TrustedPros Since | 2016 |
TrustedPros does not validate certain information provided by contractors and vendors in conjunction with the creation or maintenance of their profile and we cannot endorse or guarantee the performance of any contractor. TrustScores are provided for informational purposes only. We urge you to use the TrustScore™ in conjunction with the tips provided in our Hiring Guide to maximize the probability of hiring the best professional for you project.
Providing the gta with quality renovations for over 10 years. We provide professional project management from the beginning to the end on residential renovations.
Main contact(s) | Alex Balm |
Alternate Phone Numbers | 647-523-8249, |
Listed with TrustedPros since: | 2016 |
Residential work | Yes |
Commercial work | Yes |
Warranty | We carry $5M in liability insurance and provide a 2 year full warranty and a 5 year structural warranty. |
Accepts credit cards | Yes |
Year established | 2013 |
Offers financing | No |
24 Hour emergency service | Yes |
Legal structure | Incorporated |
Licensing information | Licensing information available upon request |
Insurance information | Insurance information available upon request |
Check local laws pertaining to license requirements and verify license and insurance details provided by the contractor prior to hiring.