HomeReady Pros Connects Homeowners with Trusted Local Trades St. Thomas-based entrepreneurs, Jeff West and Gavin White, are making it easier for homeowners to find reliable tradespeople with their new venture, HomeReady Pros. Launched in April, the online directory connects residents of St. Thomas and Elgin with vetted, licensed, and insured tradespeople for a wide range of services, including electrical work, flooring, and backyard waterproofing. The idea stemmed from the founders’ own experience as real estate agents. “Every time I go to a new listing appointment, clients ask me, ‘Do you know an electrician? A plumber? A flooring company?” says Jeff. “I was tired of seeing people burned by hiring someone off Facebook who never shows up or takes a deposit and disappears.” After a sleepless night, Jeff pitched the concept to Gavin. “He said, ‘Absolutely, I’m in,’” Jeff recalls. “The goal was to make our lives easier as agents, but also to help people in the community find quality professionals they can trust.” Trades can apply to be listed at homereadypros.ca, but not just anyone gets in. “We do our due diligence,” says Gavin. “They need to have the proper licensing, insurance, and solid Google reviews. They even sign a waiver to confirm they’re covered.” HomeReady Pros is not a contracting company. “We’re an advertising platform,” says Jeff. “We don’t take a cut of the jobs. We charge contractors a flat advertising fee, and that’s it. Homeowners can browse, compare, and hire whom they want — no markup, no hidden fees.”
The business is quickly gaining momentum, with strong interest from tradespeople and support from local sponsors like Doug Tarry Homes, Home Hardware, and Spray-Net. “At the St. Thomas Home Show, by Sunday, trades were coming to us saying, ‘How do we join?’” Jeff says. Growth is already in motion. While the focus remains on Elgin and Middlesex, expansion to areas like Niagara is underway. “We’ve got a former building inspector in St. Catharines ready to lead the charge down there,” Jeff reveals. Customer reviews — positive and negative — are welcome on the site. “We want transparency and accountability,” notes Gavin. “If someone’s not doing what they promised, we’ll remove them.” With local founders, vetted trades, and no financial catch for consumers, HomeReady Pros is quickly becoming a trusted resource for residents looking to hire with confidence. As Jeff puts it, “We thought this would just make our lives easier, but it turns out a lot of other people needed it too.”
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Page 22 Hometown St. Thomas • July-August 2025
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