diff --git a/lib/classes/Error.js b/lib/classes/Error.js
index bae4edff7..ce8f4bf5a 100644
--- a/lib/classes/Error.js
+++ b/lib/classes/Error.js
@@ -21,9 +21,26 @@ module.exports.logError = (e) => {
     line = `${line}-`;
   }
 
+  consoleLog(' ');
   consoleLog(chalk.yellow(` ${errorType} ${line}`));
   consoleLog(' ');
-  consoleLog(chalk.yellow(`     ${e.message}`));
+
+  // format error message to fit neatly
+  const words = e.message.split(' ');
+  let logLine = [];
+  words.forEach(word => {
+    logLine.push(word);
+    const logLineString = logLine.join(' ');
+    if (logLineString.length > 50) {
+      consoleLog(chalk.yellow(`     ${logLineString}`));
+      logLine = [];
+    }
+  });
+
+  if (logLine.length !== 0) {
+    consoleLog(chalk.yellow(`     ${logLine.join(' ')}`));
+  }
+
   consoleLog(' ');
 
   if (e.name !== 'ServerlessError') {
diff --git a/lib/classes/PluginManager.js b/lib/classes/PluginManager.js
index 1d52ee027..4a9b6a46d 100644
--- a/lib/classes/PluginManager.js
+++ b/lib/classes/PluginManager.js
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ class PluginManager {
   validateCommands(commandsArray) {
     // TODO: implement an option to get deeper than one level
     if (!this.commands[commandsArray[0]]) {
-      throw new this.serverless.classes.Error(`command "${commandsArray[0]}" not found.`);
+      const errorMessage = [
+        `command "${commandsArray[0]}" not found`,
+        ' Run "serverless help" for a list of all available commands.',
+      ].join();
+      throw new this.serverless.classes.Error(errorMessage);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/classes/Service.js b/lib/classes/Service.js
index 77a436ba7..5fcb0a3b8 100644
--- a/lib/classes/Service.js
+++ b/lib/classes/Service.js
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ class Service {
           throw new SError('"functions" property is missing in serverless.yaml');
         }
 
+        if (['aws', 'azure', 'google', 'ibm'].indexOf(serverlessYaml.provider)) {
+          const errorMessage = [
+            `Provider "${serverlessYaml.provider}" is not supported.`,
+            ' Valid values for provider are: aws, azure, google, ibm.',
+            ' Please provide one of those values to the "provider" property in serverless.yaml.',
+          ].join('');
+          throw new SError(errorMessage);
+        }
+
         that.service = serverlessYaml.service;
         that.provider = serverlessYaml.provider;
         that.variableSyntax = serverlessYaml.variableSyntax;
@@ -167,12 +176,22 @@ class Service {
 
               // Populate
               if (!value && !value !== '') {
+                const errorMessage = [
+                  `Variable "${variableName}" doesn't exist in serverless.env.yaml.`,
+                  ' Please add it to serverless.env.yaml.',
+                ].join('');
                 throw new that.serverless.classes
-                  .Error(`Variable "${variableName}" doesn't exist in serverless.env.yaml.`);
+                  .Error(errorMessage);
               } else if (typeof value === 'string') {
                 if (variableString.split('.').length > 1) {
+                  const errorMessage = [
+                    `Trying to access sub properties of a string variable "${variableName}".`,
+                    ' Please make sure the variable in serverless.env.yaml',
+                    ' is an object, otherwise you cannot use the',
+                    ' dot notation for that variable in serverless.yaml',
+                  ].join('');
                   throw new that.serverless.classes
-                    .Error('Trying to access sub properties of a string variable');
+                    .Error(errorMessage);
                 }
                 // for string variables, we use replaceall in case the user
                 // includes the variable as a substring (ie. "hello ${name}")
@@ -185,8 +204,14 @@ class Service {
                   subProperties.splice(0, 1);
                   subProperties.forEach(subProperty => {
                     if (!value[subProperty]) {
+                      const errorMessage = [
+                        `Variable "${variableName}" doesn't have sub property "${subProperty}".`,
+                        ' Please make sure the variable is',
+                        ' the intended object in serverless.env.yaml,',
+                        ' or reference the correct sub property in serverless.yaml',
+                      ].join('');
                       throw new that.serverless.classes
-                        .Error(`Invalid sub property for variable "${variableName}"`);
+                        .Error(errorMessage);
                     }
                     value = value[subProperty];
                   });
@@ -195,18 +220,35 @@ class Service {
                     val = replaceall(variableSyntax, value, val);
                   } else {
                     if (val !== variableSyntax) {
+                      const errorMessage = [
+                        'Trying to populate non string variables into',
+                        ` a string for variable "${variableName}".`,
+                        ' Please make sure the variable value in',
+                        '  serverless.env.yaml is a string',
+                      ].join('');
                       throw new that.serverless.classes
-                        .Error('Trying to populate non string variables into a string');
+                        .Error(errorMessage);
                     }
                     val = value;
                   }
                 } else if (variableString.split('.').length > 1) {
+                  const errorMessage = [
+                    `Trying to access sub properties of a non-object variable "${variableName}"`,
+                    ' Please make sure the variable is an object in serverless.env.yaml,',
+                    ' otherwise, you cannot use the dot notation',
+                    ' for that variable in serverless.yaml',
+                  ].join('');
                   throw new that.serverless.classes
-                    .Error('Trying to access sub properties of a non-object variable');
+                    .Error(errorMessage);
                 } else {
                   if (val !== variableSyntax) {
+                    const errorMessage = [
+                      'Trying to populate non string variables',
+                      ` into a string for variable "${variableName}".`,
+                      ' Please make sure the variable value in serverless.env.yaml is a string',
+                    ].join('');
                     throw new that.serverless.classes
-                      .Error('Trying to populate non string variables into a string');
+                      .Error(errorMessage);
                   }
                   val = value; // not string nor object
                 }
@@ -240,14 +282,14 @@ class Service {
     if (functionName in this.functions) {
       return this.functions[functionName];
     }
-    throw new SError(`function ${functionName} doesn't exist in this Service`);
+    throw new SError(`Function "${functionName}" doesn't exist in this Service`);
   }
 
   getEventInFunction(eventName, functionName) {
     if (eventName in this.getFunction(functionName).events) {
       return this.getFunction(functionName).events[eventName];
     }
-    throw new SError(`event ${eventName} doesn't exist in function ${functionName}`);
+    throw new SError(`Event "${eventName}" doesn't exist in function "${functionName}"`);
   }
 
   getAllEventsInFunction(functionName) {
@@ -258,7 +300,7 @@ class Service {
     if (stageName in this.environment.stages) {
       return this.environment.stages[stageName];
     }
-    throw new SError(`stage ${stageName} doesn't exist in this Service`);
+    throw new SError(`Stage "${stageName}" doesn't exist in this service.`);
   }
 
   getAllStages() {
@@ -269,7 +311,7 @@ class Service {
     if (regionName in this.getStage(stageName).regions) {
       return this.getStage(stageName).regions[regionName];
     }
-    throw new SError(`region ${regionName} doesn't exist in stage ${stageName}`);
+    throw new SError(`Region "${regionName}" doesn't exist in stage "${stageName}"`);
   }
 
   getAllRegionsInStage(stageName) {
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/methods.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/methods.js
index 929e8d430..2a8f39221 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/methods.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/methods.js
@@ -18,8 +18,14 @@ module.exports = {
             method = event.http.split(' ')[0];
             path = event.http.split(' ')[1];
           } else {
+            const errorMessage = [
+              `HTTP event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string.`,
+              ' The correct syntax is: http: get users/list',
+              ' OR an object with "path" and "method" proeprties.',
+              ' Please check the docs for more info.',
+            ].join('');
             throw new this.serverless.classes
-              .Error(`HTTP event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string`);
+              .Error(errorMessage);
           }
 
           const resourceLogicalId = this.resourceLogicalIds[path];
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/permissions.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/permissions.js
index 3f3fd7cf0..2ec265a44 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/permissions.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/permissions.js
@@ -18,8 +18,14 @@ module.exports = {
             method = event.http.split(' ')[0];
             path = event.http.split(' ')[1];
           } else {
+            const errorMessage = [
+              `HTTP event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string.`,
+              ' The correct syntax is: http: get users/list',
+              ' OR an object with "path" and "method" proeprties.',
+              ' Please check the docs for more info.',
+            ].join('');
             throw new this.serverless.classes
-              .Error(`HTTP event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string`);
+              .Error(errorMessage);
           }
 
           const normalizedMethod = method[0].toUpperCase() +
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/resources.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/resources.js
index 504625ea3..83981c9be 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/resources.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/resources.js
@@ -18,8 +18,14 @@ module.exports = {
           } else if (typeof event.http === 'string') {
             path = event.http.split(' ')[1];
           } else {
+            const errorMessage = [
+              `HTTP event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string.`,
+              ' The correct syntax is: http: get users/list',
+              ' OR an object with "path" and "method" proeprties.',
+              ' Please check the docs for more info.',
+            ].join('');
             throw new this.serverless.classes
-              .Error(`HTTP event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string`);
+              .Error(errorMessage);
           }
 
           while (path !== '') {
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/validate.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/validate.js
index 80fd107b8..ec526384b 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/validate.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/apiGateway/lib/validate.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ module.exports = {
     this.serverless.service.getRegionInStage(this.options.stage, this.options.region);
 
     // validate that path and method exists for each http event in service
-    forEach(this.serverless.service.functions, (functionObject) => {
+    forEach(this.serverless.service.functions, (functionObject, functionName) => {
       functionObject.events.forEach(event => {
         if (event.http) {
           let method;
@@ -36,14 +36,35 @@ module.exports = {
             path = event.http.split(' ')[1];
           }
 
-          // TODO validate the values of these properties as well
           if (!path) {
+            const errorMessage = [
+              `Missing "path" property in function "${functionName}"`,
+              ' for http event in serverless.yaml.',
+              ' If you define an http event, make sure you pass a valid value for it,',
+              ' either as string syntax, or object syntax.',
+              ' Please check the docs for more options.',
+            ].join('');
             throw new this.serverless.classes
-              .Error('Missing "path" property in serverless.yaml for http event.');
+              .Error(errorMessage);
           }
           if (!method) {
+            const errorMessage = [
+              `Missing "method" property in function "${functionName}"`,
+              ' for http event in serverless.yaml.',
+              ' If you define an http event, make sure you pass a valid value for it,',
+              ' either as string syntax, or object syntax.',
+              ' Please check the docs for more options.',
+            ].join('');
             throw new this.serverless.classes
-              .Error('Missing "method" property in serverless.yaml for http event.');
+              .Error(errorMessage);
+          }
+
+          if (['get', 'post', 'put', 'patch', 'options', 'head', 'delete'].indexOf(method) === -1) {
+            const errorMessage = [
+              `Invalid APIG method "${method}" in function "${functionName}".`,
+              ' AWS supported methods are: get, post, put, patch, options, head, delete.',
+            ].join('');
+            throw new this.serverless.classes.Error(errorMessage);
           }
         }
       });
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/s3/index.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/s3/index.js
index 9e0583081..70a630109 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/s3/index.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/s3/index.js
@@ -31,8 +31,13 @@ class AwsCompileS3Events {
 
             if (typeof event.s3 === 'object') {
               if (!event.s3.bucket) {
+                const errorMessage = [
+                  `Missing "bucket" property for s3 event in function ${functionName}.`,
+                  ' The correct syntax is: s3: bucketName OR an object with "bucket" property.',
+                  ' Please check the docs for more info.',
+                ].join('');
                 throw new this.serverless.classes
-                  .Error(`Missing "bucket" property in s3 event in function ${functionName}`);
+                  .Error(errorMessage);
               }
               BucketName = event.s3.bucket + i;
               if (event.s3.event) {
@@ -41,8 +46,13 @@ class AwsCompileS3Events {
             } else if (typeof event.s3 === 'string') {
               BucketName = event.s3 + i;
             } else {
+              const errorMessage = [
+                `S3 event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string.`,
+                ' The correct syntax is: s3: bucketName OR an object with "bucket" property.',
+                ' Please check the docs for more info.',
+              ].join('');
               throw new this.serverless.classes
-                .Error(`S3 event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string`);
+                .Error(errorMessage);
             }
             const bucketTemplate = `
               {
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/schedule/index.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/schedule/index.js
index 41c4afd36..73ce6514a 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/schedule/index.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/events/schedule/index.js
@@ -31,8 +31,14 @@ class AwsCompileScheduledEvents {
             // TODO validate rate syntax
             if (typeof event.schedule === 'object') {
               if (!event.schedule.rate) {
+                const errorMessage = [
+                  `Missing "rate" property for schedule event in function ${functionName}`,
+                  ' The correct syntax is: schedule: rate(10 minutes)',
+                  ' OR an object with "rate" property.',
+                  ' Please check the docs for more info.',
+                ].join('');
                 throw new this.serverless.classes
-                  .Error(`Missing "rate" property in schedule event in function ${functionName}`);
+                  .Error(errorMessage);
               }
               ScheduleExpression = event.schedule.rate;
               State = event.schedule.enabled ? 'ENABLED' : 'DISABLED';
@@ -40,8 +46,14 @@ class AwsCompileScheduledEvents {
               ScheduleExpression = event.schedule;
               State = 'ENABLED';
             } else {
+              const errorMessage = [
+                `Schedule event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string`,
+                ' The correct syntax is: schedule: rate(10 minutes)',
+                ' OR an object with "rate" property.',
+                ' Please check the docs for more info.',
+              ].join('');
               throw new this.serverless.classes
-                .Error(`Schedule event of function ${functionName} is not an object nor a string`);
+                .Error(errorMessage);
             }
 
             const scheduleTemplate = `
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/functions/index.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/functions/index.js
index 5eb6da521..4219a0013 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/functions/index.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/compile/functions/index.js
@@ -48,19 +48,24 @@ class AwsCompileFunctions {
         .S3Key = ''; // will be replaced in a further step
 
       if (!functionObject.handler) {
+        const errorMessage = [
+          `Missing "handler" property in function ${functionName}`,
+          ' Please make sure you point to the correct lambda handler.',
+          ' For example: handler.hello.',
+          ' Please check the docs for more info',
+        ].join('');
         throw new this.serverless.classes
-          .Error(`Missing "handler" property in function ${functionName}`);
+          .Error(errorMessage);
       }
 
-      // TODO validate the values of each of those properties
       const Handler = functionObject.handler;
       const FunctionName = functionObject.name
         || `${this.serverless.service.service}-${this.options.stage}-${functionName}`;
-      const MemorySize = functionObject.memory
-        || this.serverless.service.defaults.memory
+      const MemorySize = Number(functionObject.memory)
+        || Number(this.serverless.service.defaults.memory)
         || 1024;
-      const Timeout = functionObject.timeout
-        || this.serverless.service.defaults.timeout
+      const Timeout = Number(functionObject.timeout)
+        || Number(this.serverless.service.defaults.timeout)
         || 6;
 
       newFunction.Properties.Handler = Handler;
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/deployFunctions.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/deployFunctions.js
index 6698f0166..238b8ba36 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/deployFunctions.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/deployFunctions.js
@@ -51,7 +51,12 @@ module.exports = {
       const zipFileName = `${func.name}-${(new Date).getTime().toString()}.zip`;
 
       if (!handlerFullPath.endsWith(func.handler)) {
-        throw new this.serverless.classes.Error(`The handler ${func.handler} was not found`);
+        const errorMessage = [
+          `The handler ${func.handler} was not found.`,
+          ' Please make sure you have this handler in your service at the referenced location.',
+          ' Please check the docs for more info',
+        ].join('');
+        throw new this.serverless.classes.Error(errorMessage);
       }
 
       const packageRoot = handlerFullPath.replace(func.handler, '');
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/validate.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/validate.js
index e11ffee1e..4a81e17b7 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/validate.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/lib/validate.js
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ const BbPromise = require('bluebird');
 module.exports = {
   validate() {
     if (!this.serverless.config.servicePath) {
-      throw new this.serverless.classes.Error('This command can only be run inside a service');
+      throw new this.serverless.classes
+        .Error('This command can only be run inside a service directory');
     }
 
     this.options.stage = this.options.stage
@@ -19,12 +20,6 @@ module.exports = {
     this.serverless.service.getStage(this.options.stage);
     this.serverless.service.getRegionInStage(this.options.stage, this.options.region);
 
-    if (Object.keys(this.serverless.service.environment
-        .stages[this.options.stage].regions[this.options.region]).indexOf('vars') === -1) {
-      throw new this.serverless.classes
-        .Error('region vars object does not exist in serverless.env.yaml');
-    }
-
     return BbPromise.resolve();
   },
 };
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/tests/validate.js b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/tests/validate.js
index 7222a0aaa..ffd29b041 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/tests/validate.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/deploy/tests/validate.js
@@ -54,10 +54,5 @@ describe('#validate()', () => {
     awsDeploy.serverless.config.servicePath = false;
     expect(() => awsDeploy.validate()).to.throw(Error);
   });
-
-  it('should throw error if region vars object does not exist', () => {
-    awsDeploy.serverless.service.environment.stages.dev.regions['us-east-1'] = {};
-    expect(() => awsDeploy.validate()).to.throw(Error);
-  });
 });
 
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/invoke/index.js b/lib/plugins/aws/invoke/index.js
index 521cfebb7..0ce003f26 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/invoke/index.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/invoke/index.js
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class AwsInvoke {
     if (this.options.path) {
       if (!this.serverless.utils
           .fileExistsSync(path.join(this.serverless.config.servicePath, this.options.path))) {
-        throw new this.serverless.classes.Error('The file path you provided does not exist.');
+        throw new this.serverless.classes.Error('The file you provided does not exist.');
       }
 
       this.options.data = this.serverless.utils
diff --git a/lib/plugins/create/create.js b/lib/plugins/create/create.js
index 995a310ea..d1bddeceb 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/create/create.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/create/create.js
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ class Create {
     }
 
     if (['aws', 'azure', 'google', 'ibm'].indexOf(this.options.provider)) {
-      throw new this.serverless.classes.Error('Please provide a valid provider.');
+      const errorMessage = [
+        `Provider "${this.options.provider}" is not supported.`,
+        ' Valid values for provider are: aws, azure, google, ibm.',
+      ].join('');
+      throw new this.serverless.classes.Error(errorMessage);
     }
 
     this.serverless.config
diff --git a/tests/classes/Service.js b/tests/classes/Service.js
index 4e51b1cce..672a81a0f 100644
--- a/tests/classes/Service.js
+++ b/tests/classes/Service.js
@@ -507,6 +507,45 @@ describe('Service', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should throw error if provider property is invalid', () => {
+      const SUtils = new Utils();
+      const tmpDirPath = path.join(os.tmpdir(), (new Date).getTime().toString());
+      const serverlessYaml = {
+        service: 'service-name',
+        provider: 'invalid',
+        functions: {},
+      };
+      const serverlessEnvYaml = {
+        vars: {},
+        stages: {
+          dev: {
+            vars: {},
+            regions: {},
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      serverlessEnvYaml.stages.dev.regions['us-east-1'] = {
+        vars: {},
+      };
+
+      SUtils.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDirPath, 'serverless.yaml'),
+        YAML.dump(serverlessYaml));
+      SUtils.writeFileSync(path.join(tmpDirPath, 'serverless.env.yaml'),
+        YAML.dump(serverlessEnvYaml));
+
+      const serverless = new Serverless({ servicePath: tmpDirPath });
+      serviceInstance = new Service(serverless);
+
+      return serviceInstance.load().then(() => {
+        // if we reach this, then no error was thrown as expected
+        // so make assertion fail intentionally to let us know something is wrong
+        expect(1).to.equal(2);
+      }).catch(e => {
+        expect(e.name).to.be.equal('ServerlessError');
+      });
+    });
+
     it('should throw error if functions property is missing', () => {
       const SUtils = new Utils();
       const tmpDirPath = path.join(os.tmpdir(), (new Date).getTime().toString());