HGTV

[Rose Pink]

Thought I'd start a thread on House Hunters and other HGTV offerings since the subject has come up on the AI thread.

I, too, enjoy the international versions of house hunters. It is interesting to see what properties look like in other areas and what people eventually decide upon. DH and I wonder if they get to look at more than the three properties shown on each show. I'd hate to be limited to only three if I didn't like any of them.

I've been searching out and watching the shows with kitchen remodels--always looking for hood surround ideas.

I also enjoy the gardening shows like Curb Appeal:the Block and Jamie Durie's Outdoor Room. He did a very soothing Balinese water garden that I want!

Bang for the Buck is fun but I find the designers and realtors a bit irritating at times--as do the homeowners.

I wish we got the DIY network but we'd have to pay more for it and our cable bill is outrageous as it is.

 

[dioxide45]

I would say they do get to look at many more than just three properties. They then save their three best for the show. I don't know when they tape if it is the first time they are seeing the home or if they have perhaps viewed it once or more already. They seem to just zip through the rooms with a quick look-see. If it were me, I would be taking more time to check things out.

We get DIY, and the only time is seems to be on is when my parents come to visit. We just don't watch it. We do watch House Hunters a lot, DW had over 50 on the Tivo at one time.

 

[Karen G]

I love the House Hunters International as well as the House Hunters in the U.S. It is amazing at some of the prices in other countries. I was watching one that was in Japan and the prices people were paying for the tiniest apartment was just incredible.

I like several of the other shows mentioned on HGTV, too. They are all so interesting.

 

[DaveNV]

I'm a fan of Sandra Rinamato, who does the Property Virgins show. I'm sure she also shows her buyers a number of properties, but she narrows things down nicely, until the buyer picks the logical choice. I like that sort of approach. No hijinks or upselling - just "here's what you can afford, now let's make the right choice." If I ever go into real estate sales, I'd like to be that sort of agent.

What I haven't figured out is how she can sell real estate in different cities all over the place. both in the US and Canada. Best I can come up with is she is a "guest star" of sorts, who is working with a local licensed agency. Otherwise she'd have to have a lot of local real estate licenses.

Dave

 

[Glynda]

I have HGTV running in the background most of time I'm in the house.

Candace Olsen is the only one of the designers that I'd turn lose with my house though there've been a couple of her projects that I didn't like.

I enjoy Color Splash with that Boy Scout impish looking David...till they zoom out or in and you see his tatoos.

I too like the House Hunters International. Curb Appeal is another favorite.

I was wondering who pays but went to their web site and saw that they were advertising certain areas for shows and the min. amount of money the homeowner must have. In some cases, it's $30,000 and up.

Hubby likes Mike Holmes. I read where he charges only 10% and often does the work for free. He does testify in some cases to nail the bad contractors. In others, he just hopes they watch and learn.

Oh, and I want Ahmed to show up at my garden center so I can take him home and do our Charleston courtyard!

 

[laurac260]

I have HGTV running in the background most of time I'm in the house.

Candace Olsen is the only one of the designers that I'd turn lose with my house though there've been a couple of her projects that I didn't like.

I enjoy Color Splash with that Boy Scout impish looking David...till they zoom out or in and you see his tatoos.

I too like the House Hunters International. Curb Appeal is another favorite.

I was wondering who pays but went to their web site and saw that they were advertising certain areas for shows and the min. amount of money the homeowner must have. In some cases, it's $30,000 and up.

Hubby likes Mike Holmes. I read where he charges only 10% and often does the work for free. He does testify in some cases to nail the bad contractors. In others, he just hopes they watch and learn.

Oh, and I want Ahmed to show up at my garden center so I can take him home and do our Charleston courtyard!

One of my favorite shows is Color Splash. David Bromstad is a very nice guy and very easy on the eyes (tattoos and all). I especially love the shows in warm climates. You can almost always count on him to take his shirt off during the show!

oh, and did I mention he is enormously talented as a designer as well??

I had to edit to mention, David could come to my house to decorate any day. I love his design work. Once I was watching his show and he commented about a dining table he found on the internet that he put in a couple's house. I told DH, "hey, that's our table!" He put the exact same table we found at ZGallerie years ago in someone's house.

 

[Passepartout]

There was a time a perhaps about 4-6 years ago when HGTV was the 'default' station the TV was on when we weren't watching something specific. My fav's have been Candace Olsen and earlier Lynette Jennings. Curb Appeal helped with our landscaping ideas. We will watch Int'l House Hunters if we are curious about the locale. But lately the high-speed camera panning and steady boom-boom drumbeat is distracting. If I can't find anything else, the TV goes off instead of to the HGTV or Food TV channel.

Jim Ricks

 

[tlwmkw]

Love House Hunters esp. the international version. The prices are generally soooo high (except in the islands) that it makes you wonder how anyone affords a nice house in any of those countries. Still it does make you dream of a little apartment in Paris, or a small estate in Italy (with olive groves). My favorites recently have been the couple buying a house in Greece, and the English couple buying a house in Slovenia (they bought a total dump and plan to restore it- would love to see the after).

I like Sandra Rinamato too- she is very practical about what they can afford and finding a house in that price range. She also seems to be an aggressive negotiator.

A new show I like is Selling New York- they are selling very high end apartments/real estate in NYC. The thing I don't like is that they never really seem to sell anything but at those prices (multi millions) I guess it's hard to find buyers and most of the folks that do have that kind of money don't want to appear on TV. Most of the time it's the agents touring the houses as a "preview" for the clients.

Overall I enjoy most of the HGTV show.

tlwmkw

 

[Rose Pink]

Candace Olsen is the only one of the designers that I'd turn lose with my house though there've been a couple of her projects that I didn't like.
.....
Hubby likes Mike Holmes. I read where he charges only 10% and often does the work for free. He does testify in some cases to nail the bad contractors. In others, he just hopes they watch and learn.

Both Candace and Mike seem to do things right. DH and I wonder about the other shows where they are in and out in just a few days. We were watching "Battle on the Block" the other day where three couples were doing kitchen renovations. They had only three days to demolish and rebuild their kitchens. They each received about $20K in materials and another 5K in cash to shop for other items. They each got a limited amount of contractor help with his team. Once the contractor hours are used up, the homeowners are on their own. Since we are in the midst of our own kitchen renovation (total gut down to the subfloor) we were stunned and frightened to think of doing it in three days. It takes longer than that for the sheetrock and mudding. Of course, if you have a pro do the electrical and another do the wall-building (or knock-down) it goes faster than if you are doing it all by your lonesome. Still, we cannot imagine this being done correctly by tired and inexperienced people. Around these parts there is a company called Three Day Kitchen and Bath. I'm not sure if I'd trust them with a full kitchen.

Thanks for the info on Mike Holmes. DH and I have often wondered who is paying for that work! He goes over and beyond by not only fixing what is wrong but also going into adjoining areas of the house and fixing them, too. The homeowners are already out significant amounts of money to the bad contractors so paying again would be such a hardship.

Love House Hunters esp. the international version. ...My favorites recently have been the couple buying a house in Greece, and the English couple buying a house in Slovenia (they bought a total dump and plan to restore it- would love to see the after).
....
A new show I like is Selling New York- they are selling very high end apartments/real estate in NYC. The thing I don't like is that they never really seem to sell anything but at those prices (multi millions) I guess it's hard to find buyers and most of the folks that do have that kind of money don't want to appear on TV. Most of the time it's the agents touring the houses as a "preview" for the clients.

tlwmkw

I've been wondering the same thing about that house in Slovenia. The wife didn't seem very excited about it but the husband so gung-ho about his new project. This house had bird nests in some of the rooms! It looked more like a tear-down to me.

Selling New York is interesting. My sister loves it because she used to live in NYC. That house in Connecticut--the one with 14,000 square feet--was unreal.

 

[tlwmkw]

Rosepink,

I agree about that house in Slovenia, but at the end of the show they had a contractor there with blueprints so I'm guessing it was nicely done at the end. Don't know why they didn't wait a little longer to go back and see the progress- sometimes they come back 6 or 9 mos later but on that one it was 2 weeks.

I agree about the house in CT with the ballroom- unbelievable. Did you see the townhouse with the indoor pool and views of central park? That was $25 million and the designer thought his client "might be interested" but it would need some work!!! For that price they had better fix anything just the way I want it prior to me buying.

tlwmkw

 

[Talent312]

Many of the HGTV shows relating to outdoor gardens/rooms or hardscape projects strike me as being rather impractical. Either they're...
(a) very expensive projects paid for by folk who are sitting on pile of money; or
(b) modest projects which will not retain their pristine beauty for long and need a lot of maintenance by a paid gardener or retired person.

Some of their decorator shows talk about cost, but the outdoor shows don't seem interested in telling us what all those things cost and how much care they'll require to last more than a few months.

 

[NWL]

I've seen a few episodes of House Hunters lately. It's addicting, and I have yet to correctly guess which house the couple chooses!!

Cheers!

 

[Glynda]

Many of the HGTV shows relating to outdoor gardens/rooms or hardscape projects strike me as being rather impractical. Either they're...
(a) very expensive projects paid for by folk who are sitting on pile of money; or
(b) modest projects which will not retain their pristine beauty for long and need a lot of maintenance by a paid gardener or retired person.

Some of their decorator shows talk about cost, but the outdoor shows don't seem interested in telling us what all those things cost and how much care they'll require to last more than a few months.

The outdoor version of the designer challenge makeover show where three landscapers come and give presentations and the homeowner picks one and the work begins requires the homeowner to have $30,000 minimum. It drives me crazy when landscapers or homeowners over plant and plant too close to buildings, etc. It would be interesting to re-visit down the road.

 

[andrea t]

I love House Hunters International...I'm tired of the regular version. It's on too much. I'm also in Mike Holmes overload, but I like the show.
My favorites are Bang for your Buck, Devine Design, Sara's House, Selling NY and Color Splash. What happenened to Tough as Nails? Only watched a few episodes and it was gone!

 

[beejaybee]

Addicted

HGTV is my default channel, too. The International version is my favorite HH, especially when the show is not focused on tropical locations. Loved last nite's Abruzzo Italy episode- for 26k, we might be able to afford a place there! Heck, we know of folk who pay that and more for a timeshare week...

Also enjoy Property Virgins, My 1st Place & My 1st Sale. I miss Clivey & Lisa on Designed to Sell. Selling NY is also a winner w/ me.

 

[May mom]

NW posted, that they can't seem to pick out which house the person will choose on House Hunters. Well, not to be a spoiler but for the regular House Hunters show, the buyer 99% of the time will choose the house that is empty because at the point that the show is taped and done, they have already chosen the house and written up contracts, maybe even settled. My local paper did an article on a couple that were on the show and they spilled the beans as to how the show works.
As for the international version, I can't ever figure out which house they'll choose since it's done a different way.

 

[sun starved Gayle]

My husband calls HGTV the "house porn" channel. My favorite is "Designed to Sell". Also love "Devine Design". Candace Olsen is in love with white sofas though, which would never in a million years fly at my house.

Kind of tired of House Hunters. Seems like it is on ALL the time.

The hostess on Property Virgins annoys me, I don't know if it's her voice or what. And these kids looking at their first homes and ruling a house out because it does not have granite counter tops and stainless appliances?! I am pretty shocked at some of their expectations and their unwillingness to compromise, do a little work themselves. Or live with, God forbid, OFF WHITE appliances!!!!

The impracticality of some of the shows frustrate me a little. I remember one show where they did the master bedroom over for a couple and replaced the king bed with a double (not a queen, a DOUBLE) because they felt the room was too small for a king. This was not for staging for sale, just a redesign. I know if they replaced my king with a double I would not be very happy and would immediately put the king back. How could they possibly think a couple who had been sleeping on a king go to a double?

OK, done with my rant.

Gayle

 

[tlwmkw]

Last nights HH International was pretty good- the guy bought a littler house in Abruzzo Italy for only $26 k! It was tiny and needed a lot of work- but still the price was soooo low. I thought he would pick the first one they showed that was half finished with possibility of a master suite in the upstairs- would have made a good rental and been much more livable. That one was only $55k as I recall- also seemed very cheap.

I just discovered Sara's house- enjoyed it on Saturday just by chance. Will have to DVR it because Sat is not usually a big TV night for us. Like David Bromstad, but what has become of the other folks who were picked on the find a TV star show? Don't hear anything about them.

We like Curb appeal too- only problem with that is the house ends up looking great outside but I'm betting the inside is not so good. If they let the outside get so bad them you can only imagine what the interior will be like.

This is a fun thread! Thanks to Rosepink for starting it.

tlwmkw

 

[DaveNV]

I've also noticed some of the Design Star people aren't around much. And as long as freakishly awful and really scary Antonio Whatshisname stays off my screen, I'm a happy HGTV camper. My cat designs better than that guy. LOL!

Dave

 

[Glynda]

Antonio

I know. Couldn't believe he won but then the other semi-finalist, Dan, was adorable like David Bromsted and probably too similar in that respect. Still, I've seen Dan on some HGTV shows as an assistant. Hopefully, he'll work his way up to his own show.

I've also noticed some of the Design Star people aren't around much. And as long as freakishly awful and really scary Antonio Whatshisname stays off my screen, I'm a happy HGTV camper. My cat designs better than that guy. LOL!

Dave

 

[Banker]

Antonio is now featured on the contest that Cost Plus World Market is running right now....you win a makeover by Antonio....I entered that contest but I am not so sure that I would like anything Antonio would do for me....I am not a fan of his....On other notes, I love House Hunters and Property Virgins and what about Income Property where they redo basement apartments for the homeowners so they can get more rental property income?..is that HGTV or another channel, I can't remember.....the host is very good looking...dark hair, nice smile...

 

[Rose Pink]

Painting

What I don't understand is how people can paint in their regular clothes and not get any on themselves. I see all these homeowners handed a paintbrush or a roller and they start painting. When I paint, it gets all over me. Maybe I am just a slob.

 

[tlwmkw]

Banker,

I agree with you about Income Property. The show is also very good. They make the rentals look very nice. It makes me think that everyone in Canada has a rental apartment in their basement to defray the cost of homeownership. I know that Canadians have a very different view about home purchase- a friend of ours who is Canadian says traditionally people there buy only what they can afford and try to pay it off quickly and they tend to put 30% down. She was amazed at the US way of buying what you can't afford on a long term loan with no money down. I guess that's why you don't hear about the sub-prime situation in Canada.

tlwmkw

 

[Glynda]

repeats

Income Property is good. I'm just so tired of all the repeats!