How a sharp East York couple vetted three General Contractors, fired their front-runner, and ended up on the front page of the Toronto Star
TLDR
Alex and Katherine Hadjis bought their bungalow at 2 Chilton Road in East York knowing, from day one, they'd eventually add a second storey. When the time came, they brought BVM Contracting in to pressure-test their existing GC — not to hire us. Six months later, the 700 sq ft bungalow was transformed into a 1,500 sq ft, 3+1 bed, 2.5 bath two-storey home. The project wrapped on schedule, earned a Toronto Star feature, caught the attention of the Canadian Press, and launched a client relationship that's still sending us referrals years later.
That's what happens when a client knows exactly what they want, and finds a team that can actually deliver it.
Home Addition Project Information
Project Type: Bungalow-to-two-storey home addition and conversion
Location: East York, Toronto
Scope: 3+1 bed · 2.5 bath · full second-storey addition
Duration of Construction: 6 months
Timeline of our services: Pre-construction through to completed construction
Clients: Alex and Katherine Hadjis
Project Cost: Inquire here
Before and After
They Didn't Call Us First. They Called Us to Keep Someone Else Honest.
Alex Hadjis is a Professional Engineer. A Senior Advisor in Engineering Construction. Katherine works at a prominent University in the Toronto area. They both grew up watching their parents navigate large renovation projects — they knew the questions to ask, the red flags to look for, and exactly how much it costs when a GC tells you what you want to hear instead of what's true.
When they were finally ready to lift their East York bungalow to two storeys, they had a front-runner GC they liked. But Alex being Alex, he wanted one more opinion — not because he was undecided, but because he wanted to put pressure on a process that deserved scrutiny. He called BVM Contracting.
What happened next, Alex tells better than we could:
“We were actually working with another contractor — he was highly recommended — and we called Vince over really to keep the other contractor that we were working with honest. And when we closed the door behind them after that first meeting, we were like... that’s our guy.”
It wasn't a flashy presentation. It was Vince sitting across from a couple who knew exactly how to spot someone gaming a quote, and being completely straight with them. Transparent pricing. An itemized breakdown. Honest pre-construction process. No ambiguity.
For Alex and Katherine, it wasn't even close.
Bottom line: When a client is sophisticated enough to know the difference between a pitch and a plan, there's no substitute for being the most honest person in the room.
The Client Who Already Knew the Process — and Raised the Bar Because of It
Working with Alex and Katherine was unlike most client relationships we take on. Both sets of parents had completed major renovation projects. These weren't first-time homeowners nervous about what they'd signed up for — they had what we call second-renovation experience: the accumulated knowledge that comes from watching a complex build up close, knowing what good looks like, and what to demand when it doesn't show up. They knew what good looked like — and they expected it.
That experience raised the bar on our end, and frankly, we welcomed it. Alex communicated directly and constantly. A running list of items, questions, and observations from someone who was genuinely engaged with what was being built.
One moment captured everything about how we operate. Mid-project, after the second-floor washroom had already been framed, someone in Alex's family flagged that the bathroom might benefit from being eight inches wider. The house was already up. Framing was done.
Alex mentioned it to Vince.
“No problem. The next day he had his guys in, I met him on site, and he said: ‘Alex, where do you want the wall? We’re going to move it right now.’ And the wall was moved.”
That's what in-house labour makes possible. No calling a sub back in. No scheduling delays. No excuses. The crew was there, the decision was made, and it got done.
Bottom line: A client who understands construction doesn't slow you down — they sharpen your process and make the finished product better.
Six Months. On Schedule. On Budget. Media Coverage.
The project ran the full six months. No significant time delays. No cost surprises. Alex and Katherine moved back into a home that bore almost no resemblance to the 700 sq ft bungalow they'd left — a full two-storey house with 3+1 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and 1,500 sq ft of living space across the main and second floors. Alex finished the basement himself, rounding out a home that delivered exactly what they'd envisioned when they first bought the property.
But the story didn't end at move-in.
Shortly after the project wrapped, the Toronto Star picked up the story. Alex's hands-on involvement during the build — his experience as an engineer, his comfort working alongside the crew, and his willingness to get into the details — made for a compelling feature about homeowners who take an active role in their own renovations.
The Canadian Press followed.
That's not a client who tolerated the process. That's a client who loved it — and was willing to say so publicly, in national media.
“For us it was really never a question of if we were gonna add a second storey to our home. It was a matter of when. And being on the back side of the project, having gone through the process — I no longer think that Vince is an honest person. I know that he’s an honest person.”
That distinction matters. You can think someone is honest before you trust them with your home. You know it after.
Bottom line: When a project is run right — on schedule, on budget, with full communication — the client doesn't just move in happy. They become your most credible advocate.
Picture of BVM Contracting Clients Posing For Toronto Star Article about their East York Home Addition
After the Project: BVM Came Back Anyway
A few months after Alex and Katherine moved in, an issue emerged with the rear patio door. The fix was needed. Vince came back.
This isn't unusual for us — it's standard. But it's worth naming directly, because in this industry, "the job is done" often means "you're on your own now." Our position is the opposite.
Colleen reached out to Alex directly with a plan and a timeline:
"Vince will be in next week to tackle the rear door. We have a plan of attack to correct it. Will be either Thursday or Friday. Will let you know closer to the date which it will be."
Alex's response: "I had a great time doing our home reno project with you guys."
No frustration. No friction. Because when something needs attention, we attend to it — and clients notice.
Bottom line: The job isn't done when the crew packs up. It's done when the client is genuinely happy. Sometimes that means coming back.
What Alex Said — In His Own Words
“My name is Alex and my wife and I completed a whole home renovation with Vince and BVM Contracting, turning our bungalow into the beautiful two-storey house you see here today. Maybe I’m overreaching here — there’s a lot of money at stake, people are paying a lot of money, and I think a lot of people are making a lot of money. That’s something that really sets Vince apart — because I think he’s in it for the right reasons. Transparency through the quotation process is one thing that really set BVM apart. They were flexible and willing to adapt the project to meet our needs. And the other thing is a true general contractor — meaning somebody that actually has their own staff. That gives him the latitude to be able to address things as they come up. There was one day Vince even picked up a saw and cut a piece of wood. I mean — what more could you ask for?”
The Moment That Said Everything
Years after the project wrapped, BVM Contracting would connect Alex with a journalist looking for homeowners who could speak to the value of hiring the right GC. He said yes without hesitation.
He did the Toronto Star interview. He did the Canadian Press interview. He referred a client to BVM in 2025, wrote a Google review, and continued to stay in regular contact with the team.
Alex and Katherine didn't just get a house. They got exactly what he came looking for: a builder they trusted, a process they respected, and a result they are proud to show off.
The reason experienced homeowners — people who've watched their parents navigate major renovations, who know every question to ask, and who can instantly recognize when a GC is telling them what they want to hear instead of what's true — choose BVM Contracting is the same reason Alex and Katherine did. They recognized what honest looks like when they see it.
Experienced home-building families choose BVM Contracting. Every time.
Ready to Plan Your Home Addition?
The 2 Chilton Road project is proof that a bungalow-to-two-storey addition — done right, with full transparency and an in-house team that can adapt on the fly — can be delivered on time and on budget, even when the client has high expectations and the experience to hold you accountable.
If you're thinking about adding a second storey, converting your existing footprint, or taking on a major home addition anywhere in East Toronto or the GTA, our pre-construction process will give you the clarity you need before committing to anything.