7 Things Mike Holmes Jr. and Sherry Holmes Have Learned From Their Dad

Mike Holmes Jr.

If you see the big guy on his phone when we’re on the job site, you can bet he’s checking the weather. He’s taught me a lot over the years, but one of the most important things has been to check the weather and plan accordingly. That means putting up a tarp over open builds, which unfortunately I learned the hard way when Lisa and I rebuilt our home.

Sherry Holmes

You know, I always feel silly admitting this, but I was never good at math in school. One of the biggest intimidating factors to me joining the job site was the math involved. When I started, I couldn’t even read a measuring tape. You’d think with a dad like Mike Holmes that would come naturally, but it didn’t.

Mike Holmes Jr.

On my wedding day, everything seemed to be going wrong and I started to become a bit of a groomzilla (yes, they exist too!). But one moment on that day between my dad and I really stands out. When he could see that the stress was getting to me, he sat me down, gave me a hug and reminded me of what was really important: I was marrying the love of my life. Everything else would work out. And you know what? It did. It felt like the clouds parted at that moment and everything went off without a hitch.

Sherry Holmes

Dad built his career on helping homeowners who needed a hand. Whether it was stepping in after being left in the cold by a contractor or righting some major DIY offences, he taught us that you can never go wrong with helping others. Since then, I’ve worked with organizations like Skills Canada and Build a Dream (which encourages more young people to get involved in the trades) and Habitat for Humanity (to provide homes for families in need).

Mike Holmes Jr.

Going into business with my dad has taught me one very important skill: how to compromise! Now that we’re business partners, we don’t always agree on every decision, but together we’re learning how to make choices that benefit the project we’re working on. He’s taught me where we should be spending more money (like on a better quality roof). Meanwhile, I’m teaching him to think a little bit more outside the box and to remember, at the end of the day, the homes we’re rebuilding aren’t for us.

Sherry Holmes

Dad tried to get me out to the job site for years before he finally succeeded. It was the rebuild in New Orleans. It was an opportunity to help someone in need, a chance to travel and an opportunity to learn some new skills. Like I mentioned before, stepping onto my first job site was intimidating. But once I was there, I was thrown into it and set to work. The easiest way to learn was by doing!

Sherry Holmes

Once I started working on job sites, I knew there’d be a bit of a learning curve. I worked twice as hard as the guys on the crew and took shorter breaks. When I found a job in need of doing, I learned how to do it. I knew I had succeeded when contractors started trying to recruit me away from the Holmes team onto their crews. Check out what Mike Holmes’ favourite moments are with Sherry and Mike Jr.!