thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 10, 2015 11:40:13 GMT -5
I had a friend who did the show. They were already under contract on one of the three before they filmed for the show. That's what I heard, too. There was a big flap about it when it was discovered. In one case the participants had to get a friend to pretend that house was for sale. I have heard that too. I suspect that on shows like Property Brother, they already bought the house (or they have lived there for years) and they already have their design and contractor, and the contractor has a relationship with the production company. Then they pretend to shop for houses, and pretend to like (exactly) the "brand-new" design. Does anyone find it odd that they rarely make any changes to the design? Not even a little - not even a color change. Half the time the furniture is an exact match - right down to the exact throw pillows. Seriously? That is not my experience with remodeling and decorating.
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on May 10, 2015 13:06:49 GMT -5
...:::"They all wanted the upgraded carpet, instead of the "builder's grade."":::...
Builders grade is a dirty word! Though its not entirely undeserved, as builders grade has gotten lower and lower quality. I've heard some builders are putting in HVACs designed to last only 5 years into new construction, so as to maximize profits. That is just wasteful!
...:::"...but hey it was stainless.":::...
The power of marketing is incredible. Its amazing to think that not too long ago, shag carpet was the luxury item -- people would cover up hardwood with this "upgrade". Pink tile and avocado green... whatever is in, can fetch a premium.
I know of an apartment complex that is gradually switching out the white appliances for stainless as soon as units come available. Then they charge another $125+/mo in rent. Not good for folks trying to downgrade. Great investment for the complex.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 10, 2015 13:11:17 GMT -5
Stainless used to be an indicator of quality, now it is just a color.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on May 10, 2015 13:12:02 GMT -5
I had a friend who did the show. They were already under contract on one of the three before they filmed for the show. That's what I heard, too. There was a big flap about it when it was discovered. In one case the participants had to get a friend to pretend that house was for sale. Our realtor told me they film after you buy the house and then just fine 2 other homes that happen to be on the market. He goes yeah it is completely fake.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on May 10, 2015 13:19:31 GMT -5
Stainless used to be an indicator of quality, now it is just a color. I agree...
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 10, 2015 13:21:18 GMT -5
That's what I heard, too. There was a big flap about it when it was discovered. In one case the participants had to get a friend to pretend that house was for sale. Our realtor told me they film after you buy the house and then just fine 2 other homes that happen to be on the market. He goes yeah it is completely fake. But they can't just use any ol' other two houses. They have to get the owner's permission and all. That is why the people I have heard talk about it get their Mother or best friend or whatever to put their house on the market, do the filming and then remove the listing. 90% of the time, the "For Sale" sign doesn't look like a realtor's sign. They have no information on them at all.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 18:17:20 GMT -5
IDK, I sometimes think if you put some stainless steel appliances (that don't work), a granite counter top (that doesn't fit quite right but has been disguised to make it look like it fits, and then put down some peel and stick flooring that matches whatever the current "trend" is... Ooh, do they make stuff that looks like hardwood flooring that I can stick on the carpeting? Then I'll glue ornamental tiles over the old kitchen backsplash, spray-paint the appliances silver and laugh all the way to the bank!
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 10, 2015 18:39:14 GMT -5
IDK, I sometimes think if you put some stainless steel appliances (that don't work), a granite counter top (that doesn't fit quite right but has been disguised to make it look like it fits, and then put down some peel and stick flooring that matches whatever the current "trend" is... Ooh, do they make stuff that looks like hardwood flooring that I can stick on the carpeting? Then I'll glue ornamental tiles over the old kitchen backsplash, spray-paint the appliances silver and laugh all the way to the bank! They make stuff that will stick to whatever is below your carpet.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 8:00:39 GMT -5
I don't remember where you are located but I thought it was a lower cost of living area... What I am trying to say is I don't think you should be dealing with the Ken and Barbies whom tend to be first time home buyers / entry level / no vision type. In my area 310k is in the benchmark for entry level homes so you are dealing with all that. For you area I would have thought you would be dealing with more: - families - people moving on up - people that already know what they want or don't want. *That kinda crowd* We're in the Midwest, LCOL suburban area. First-timers can get a 3 BR 1950s ranch on a busy street in a decent neighborhood for maybe $160K so you're right, these shouldn't be first-timers. I guess I was spoiled by the NNJ market- of course we moved out in the pre-HGTV era but prices were so darn high that my house that was pretty much unimproved other than a brand-new shower in the bath off the MBR sold quickly. Many buyers, even the move-up ones, were stretched for cash and were happy to find something you could buy now and improve later.
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fatbear
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Post by fatbear on May 11, 2015 15:41:48 GMT -5
I came to expect that a starter home, while not perfect, would be move in ready and not have many unforeseen problems immediately. That's different than the "fixer upper" mentality that other older family members were okay with. If I intended on paying $100k+ here (LCOL midwest), I'd expect much more, but even for $70k-$80k, I'd expect move in quality.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on May 26, 2015 15:30:37 GMT -5
I think it has to do a lot with your market. If you are in a buyers' market, the buyers can ask for whatever they want. In our area, it is a sellers' market. People don't have to do much.
For example: This house in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle just sold for $147k OVER list (listed at $455k, sold for $602k). It's got a great stove (though I don't think it's new) and I'm not certain you can sell a house in Seattle without hardwood floors (but even relatively cheap places like mine have hardwoods under the carpet), but this is NOT what I would call an HGTV house.
Then there's this house in the Sandpoint neighborhood which went for $75k OVER list (listed at $465k, sold for $539.5k). I wouldn't call that kitchen updated at all.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2015 15:59:10 GMT -5
DH and I looked at a house yesterday for which the listing included only a couple of architectural drawings. It was in a very good area and priced at $259,000. We were curious enough to do a drive-by and found what must have been a beautiful little house, with a wood shake roof that was overgrown with moss and apparently leaking, and neglected landscaping. The listing had said it needed a total remodel, which I guess was politer than "this house is unliveable as is". Other houses in the area are $$00K0$500K and up. Our realtor said that the land is probably worth $259,000. So, you get a teardown for over a quarter of a million. The MLS number, if you're curious, is 1892510.
A good investment for somebody but not for us!
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on May 26, 2015 16:11:11 GMT -5
@athena53 - considering that house has been on the market almost a year (328 days on the site), my guess is that someone will get an even better deal by offering under asking. Either that or this is one of those inheritance issues where it's obviously not costing anyone to hold on to the house (since they aren't doing upkeep), and they refuse to sell for less than they think they should get.
As a point of reference, both the houses I linked to were pending within a week of being listed.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on May 26, 2015 16:33:23 GMT -5
Or - you could keep your $70k and put it out at 11%/yr interest and double it in 6.5 years? And then let it ride for another 6.5 yrs and push it up to $280,000?
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on May 26, 2015 16:35:59 GMT -5
HGTV= Home Porn
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on May 26, 2015 18:27:22 GMT -5
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 26, 2015 18:54:42 GMT -5
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Ryan
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Post by Ryan on May 26, 2015 21:57:45 GMT -5
Prior to me ever having any serious repairs done on my house, I assumed that the HGTV prices were reality. Then I started getting quotes for various projects around the house and I started hearing these crazy high numbers. All of this was supported by the numbers you see on angieslist and the work that was performed. Then a few months ago, I talked with a guy that used to coach my son in t-ball who is a home remodeler. He mentioned that prices usually shock people and it's mostly because they are comparing it to what they see on tv.
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cael
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Post by cael on May 27, 2015 7:29:53 GMT -5
I really like Flip This House (I don't see it on tv much anymore though), and I'll watch those house hunters shows sometimes, but all I can do is LOL at the people who have a million dollars to spend and pick at everything and whine when they find what they want would cost 1.5mil. BOO HOO. I almost feel watching those shows has given me a great sense of how *not* to approach buying a house. I'll still watch because it's interesting and we hope to be looking for a house by next spring. I have that unreasonable husband whose most important features in any house are going to be garage and basement, not the actual livable space. The house hunters shows where the realtor shows the people their perfect home, THEN stuns them with the price and how it's over their heads, that's where I get my inspiration! LOL. We went to an open house a few weeks ago at this nice re-modeled ranch that pretty much had everything DH always wanted - basement with potential for a den, a big yard, a garage. Then I told him the price, which was a good 100k over what we'd want/be able to spend. that's how I'm going to have to approach it with him. There is a fine line between settling and lowering your expectations to a reasonable level, and we're gonna have to find it.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 8:11:03 GMT -5
The house hunters shows where the realtor shows the people their perfect home, THEN stuns them with the price and how it's over their heads, that's where I get my inspiration! LOL. I know! The first time I saw that tactic and saw the buyers' faces fall at the price, I thought it was a bit cruel- but in one case, the remodeler pointed out that they could get some good ideas from the over-the-top expensive house to use in redoing theirs. And some people just need a dose of market reality.
When we married and relocated, DH had a house in NNJ- commutable to NYC so a very expensive area. His house was near the Ramapo mountains and it was built into the side of a hill, which meant a pretty long flight of cement steps up to the front door, entry into a downstairs family room on one side, basement on the other, THEN another flight of stairs to the main floor. I can't tell you how many people looked at it and said they loved the house- except for the steps. The realtor saw others just pull up to the house, look up at the steps, and move on. They just didn't understand that the reason the place was in their price range was BECAUSE of the steps.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on May 27, 2015 8:31:50 GMT -5
Prior to me ever having any serious repairs done on my house, I assumed that the HGTV prices were reality. Then I started getting quotes for various projects around the house and I started hearing these crazy high numbers. All of this was supported by the numbers you see on angieslist and the work that was performed. Then a few months ago, I talked with a guy that used to coach my son in t-ball who is a home remodeler. He mentioned that prices usually shock people and it's mostly because they are comparing it to what they see on tv. There are a lot of reason that the prices on the show are so low. They get huge discounts fr suppliers. If you watch closely you will see them show name brand boxes or go shopping at Lowes. Also I don't think they charge labor. So they will completely remodel a kitchen with cabinets counters and appliances for $10k. When I did my kitchen I paid $12k for my cabinets.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on May 27, 2015 10:30:21 GMT -5
Prior to me ever having any serious repairs done on my house, I assumed that the HGTV prices were reality. Then I started getting quotes for various projects around the house and I started hearing these crazy high numbers. All of this was supported by the numbers you see on angieslist and the work that was performed. Then a few months ago, I talked with a guy that used to coach my son in t-ball who is a home remodeler. He mentioned that prices usually shock people and it's mostly because they are comparing it to what they see on tv. There are a lot of reason that the prices on the show are so low. They get huge discounts fr suppliers. If you watch closely you will see them show name brand boxes or go shopping at Lowes. Also I don't think they charge labor. So they will completely remodel a kitchen with cabinets counters and appliances for $10k. When I did my kitchen I paid $12k for my cabinets. The shows have skilled carpenters and handymen on staff. So they don't pay for your grunt labor (installing floors) OR your skilled labor - making whole new custom cabinets. I really wish that when the shows told the cost of what they did, instead of just listing the price of the wood, they would say "Plus 20 hours of our carpenter's time, at $75/hour, so that's another $1,500" or something along those lines. And I wish this not just on the honesty in the cost of renovations part, but because I have numerous friends who have carpentry/artistic skills and you wouldn't believe the number of people who ask them to make things for free or for cost, because you know, they see these guys do this on TV and they only work on it a few hours right.... I think it devalues the skilled work in a way that is really detrimental to the people who do it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 11:22:05 GMT -5
I still love HGTV, I'm sure at some point I'll hate them. But I suspect they helped all sorts of people turn their nose up to my little house, that we got a great deal on, because of the decor and lack of modern trappings. I can sure agree with that. My realtor always says to look for a house with "good bones" where he things you can't change such as the school district and the neighborhood meet your criteria. That sure wasn't what we saw with our place. I think that the one bidder who wasn't fixated on HGTV will have gotten a bargain if, God willing, the results of this afternoon's inspection doesn't turn up any issues.
OTOH, people can also be led by HGTV to over-invest in a house. DH and I drove by one (MLS 1919631) that had been updated up the wazoo inside but looked pretty sad from the outside and was in a slightly run-down neighborhood. It was $230K and when we looked at nearby houses the values were around $150-$160K. No wonder t's vacant.
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on May 27, 2015 13:07:23 GMT -5
I still love HGTV, I'm sure at some point I'll hate them. But I suspect they helped all sorts of people turn their nose up to my little house, that we got a great deal on, because of the decor and lack of modern trappings.
OTOH, people can also be led by HGTV to over-invest in a house. DH and I drove by one (MLS 1919631) that had been updated up the wazoo inside but looked pretty sad from the outside and was in a slightly run-down neighborhood. It was $230K and when we looked at nearby houses the values were around $150-$160K. No wonder t's vacant.
That was my parents. They did big renovation to their house to open it up and put in a gourmet type kitchen. They spent close to $200k I believe. I think they did it with their eyes wide open, knowing that they would never get their money back. They just put their house on the market, though, and my mom thought it would go for $350k-$400k and they ended up putting it at $250k. I think the right buyer will get a great house at $250k, but it will have to be a very specific type buyer.
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justme
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Post by justme on May 27, 2015 13:50:29 GMT -5
I think Flip or Flop on hgtv is realistic. At least it seems so. The only times the costs seem cheaper is when the guy does it himself and he even said if I had to pay someone it would be x but luckily on other houses I learned how to do this watching them. And there's always something happening that wasn't to plan and I've seen several episodes where it closes saying it hasn't sold yet.
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emma1420
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Post by emma1420 on May 27, 2015 13:56:35 GMT -5
There are a lot of reason that the prices on the show are so low. They get huge discounts fr suppliers. If you watch closely you will see them show name brand boxes or go shopping at Lowes. Also I don't think they charge labor. So they will completely remodel a kitchen with cabinets counters and appliances for $10k. When I did my kitchen I paid $12k for my cabinets. The shows have skilled carpenters and handymen on staff. So they don't pay for your grunt labor (installing floors) OR your skilled labor - making whole new custom cabinets. I really wish that when the shows told the cost of what they did, instead of just listing the price of the wood, they would say "Plus 20 hours of our carpenter's time, at $75/hour, so that's another $1,500" or something along those lines. And I wish this not just on the honesty in the cost of renovations part, but because I have numerous friends who have carpentry/artistic skills and you wouldn't believe the number of people who ask them to make things for free or for cost, because you know, they see these guys do this on TV and they only work on it a few hours right.... I think it devalues the skilled work in a way that is really detrimental to the people who do it.I wish they would calculate the price of on staff labor as well. Because I think it gives people a false impression of how much things actually cost. It's great if you are relatively handy and can do things yourself, but many people need to hire professionals.
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Ryan
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Post by Ryan on May 27, 2015 14:00:50 GMT -5
I think Flip or Flop on hgtv is realistic. At least it seems so. The only times the costs seem cheaper is when the guy does it himself and he even said if I had to pay someone it would be x but luckily on other houses I learned how to do this watching them. And there's always something happening that wasn't to plan and I've seen several episodes where it closes saying it hasn't sold yet. I really like flip or flop, but I don't think the prices seem realistic....they seem pretty low, esp. for California. The annoying thing about that show is the main character reacting to prices. It's like the same thing each time....contractor sees some problem like the floor not being level, he tells him it'll be $1200, and the main character says "1200 dollars?!?". Repeat 5x for entire episode.
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justme
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Post by justme on May 27, 2015 14:04:27 GMT -5
I think Flip or Flop on hgtv is realistic. At least it seems so. The only times the costs seem cheaper is when the guy does it himself and he even said if I had to pay someone it would be x but luckily on other houses I learned how to do this watching them. And there's always something happening that wasn't to plan and I've seen several episodes where it closes saying it hasn't sold yet. I really like flip or flop, but I don't think the prices seem realistic....they seem pretty low, esp. for California. The annoying thing about that show is the main character reacting to prices. It's like the same thing each time....contractor sees some problem like the floor not being level, he tells him it'll be $1200, and the main character says "1200 dollars?!?". Repeat 5x for entire episode. Yea I've wondered how realistic it is for California, but I don't know the areas mentioned and how expensive construction labor is or isn't there. Much more realistic than Love it or List it, though they crack me up on that show.
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on May 27, 2015 14:06:42 GMT -5
I really like flip or flop, but I don't think the prices seem realistic....they seem pretty low, esp. for California. The annoying thing about that show is the main character reacting to prices. It's like the same thing each time....contractor sees some problem like the floor not being level, he tells him it'll be $1200, and the main character says "1200 dollars?!?". Repeat 5x for entire episode. Yea I've wondered how realistic it is for California, but I don't know the areas mentioned and how expensive construction labor is or isn't there. Much more realistic than Love it or List it, though they crack me up on that show. In Canada, contractors do work for free because they are all so nice there, donchaknow?
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on May 27, 2015 14:25:35 GMT -5
Of the Canadian shows, I do love Holmes on Homes. He does work for free, but mostly fixing up other contractor's messes, and he does talk about what things cost AND the actual time involved.
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