We interviewed five builders for our custom home. Amista was the only one who told us what couldn't be done — and then showed us what could. Eighteen months later we moved into exactly the house they promised.

Our kitchen reno finished four days early. I didn't know that was legal in Toronto. The site was swept every single evening.

They underpinned our 1920s basement to a full eight feet and added a legal suite. The rental income covers a third of our mortgage now. Worth every penny.

A second-storey addition with two kids and a dog living through it. Somehow we're still sane, still married, and the brick match is invisible.