HGTV - Love it or list it?

[downtoearth]

You know the show Love It or List it?  Is it somewhat real? 

Sometimes the houses the are "for sale" seem like they have a non-descript sign outside and aren't show ready, which makes me wonder if it's just a neighbor who offered for them to come by as a pretend listing?

[stephm0188]

I can't imagine it is real at all. The show follows the same format every time.
One spouse wants to move. The other doesn't and is a PITA about every house they look at.
Problems pop up in their current house and something has to get cut from the list. Homeowner throws fit, much eyerolling and snark occurs.
House makeover is revealed. "We're going to love it! We're going to list it!" But there's no followup either way, so it doesn't really matter at all.
The end.

[msmerymac]

I agree that it seems like there's no point/followup on the show. Like, I'd be SHOCKED if anyone who has ever appeared on the show and decided to "list it" has actually ended up buying one of the houses David showed them. And it's not like Hilary and David actually get anything of value if they "win." I also know that on House Hunters they sometimes show houses that aren't for sale as one of the options.

I also heard somewhere, maybe here, that they film BOTH endings with all the couples. Mostly people just want to be on the show to get cheap renovations, so they have no intention of listing it, which is why 1) more people choose "love it" and 2) why they film both endings, so they producers can decide.

[teeah22]

I love how the value of their homes after renovations always far exceeds what then spent on the renovations. It's like a 125% rate of return.

[purrbox]

I read somewhere that it's fake. The people on the show have already purchased a new home or already know that they are staying. Bummer.

Also, I think I also read that the drama is all made up.

[wawa]

Jan 28, 2014 9:57:29 GMT -5 teeah22 said:

I love how the value of their homes after renovations always far exceeds what then spent on the renovations. It's like a 125% rate of return.

right?  MAGIC!  

It's my (least) favorite part of all these shows.  Sweat equity is the worst (though I LOVE amy matthews)

You spent $5,000 and this random real estate agent says they'd now LIST the house for $10,000 more than his initial estimate.  You MADE $5,000!!!!   

NO.  no you fucking didn't.  Stop it.

[stephm0188]

I miss the real shows that focused on good design rather than theatrics.

[wawa]

Jan 28, 2014 11:12:25 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

I miss the real shows that focused on good design rather than theatrics.

which shows were those?  The very first home renovation type show I ever watched was Trading Spaces...so yeah, not exactly high design there.  (straw on the walls anybody?)



That was when I was in high school and college.  Were there other ones before that?  Was there a Julia Child of HGTV?

[ellipsis]

Jan 28, 2014 11:39:16 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jan 28, 2014 11:12:25 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

I miss the real shows that focused on good design rather than theatrics.

which shows were those?  The very first home renovation type show I ever watched was Trading Spaces...so yeah, not exactly high design there.  (straw on the walls anybody?)



That was when I was in high school and college.  Were there other ones before that?  Was there a Julia Child of HGTV?

This is why the Sarah Richardson shows are so good. Sigh.

[wawa]

So Canada is keeping all the good TV for themselves?

SCREW YOU CANADA!!

[pitterwoo]

Jan 28, 2014 11:39:16 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jan 28, 2014 11:12:25 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

I miss the real shows that focused on good design rather than theatrics.

which shows were those?  The very first home renovation type show I ever watched was Trading Spaces...so yeah, not exactly high design there.  (straw on the walls anybody?)

That was when I was in high school and college.  Were there other ones before that?  Was there a Julia Child of HGTV?

That's the first thing I thought of too.

[stephm0188]

Divine Design, Debbie Travis' Facelift, Room Service, Designing for the Sexes, those type of shows.

[wawa]

Jan 28, 2014 15:08:03 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

Divine Design, Debbie Travis' Facelift, Room Service, Designing for the Sexes, those type of shows.

I have never seen any of those.  Are they/were they on american HGTV or just Canada?  

I think I missed pre-shitty era of home design shows somehow.

[peach]

Samantha pynn has a good show - pure design

[peach]

And Sarah Richardson.

[krisim]

Love Candice Olson and Sarah Richardson--are they on anymore? I watch Love it or List it only because I'm a "before/after" junkie! I don't care if they stay or go and I could do without the fake drama between the designer/realtor and the homeowners!

[teeah22]

Divine Design was the best! Candice Olsen is perfection.

[TBM]

Jan 28, 2014 17:30:24 GMT -5 krisim said:

Love Candice Olson and Sarah Richardson--are they on anymore?

HGTV has decided that their focus in primetime should be the real estate/before and after type shows.  They do show 'new' Candice and Sarah shows during the day.   I always forget about them until I run across them by accident, but they are there.  They run them in blocks...one morning it will be Sarah, another Candace, etc....just a different show featured for a several episodes each morning.

[msmerymac]

Jan 28, 2014 9:57:29 GMT -5 teeah22 said:

I love how the value of their homes after renovations always far exceeds what then spent on the renovations. It's like a 125% rate of return.

They also do math like this:

Jim and Trisha's house was worth $400,000 before renovations. With a renovation investment of $50,000, their home is now worth $75,000. An increase in their investment of $75,000!

No. They did not *make* $75k. Even if the market value of the house is now $475k, their ENTIRE investment was $450k. They "made" $25k.

[msmerymac]

OH! GUYS! My new favorite is Rehab Addict with Nicole Curtis. My mom says she's actually a multi-millionaire with her own design firm and a real estate license. She buys tear-downs in Minneapolis and Detroit and restores them (saves the cool stuff like original floors, plaster, leaded glass, trim, tile), and only uses salvage materials or things in the house or things she can make fairly cheaply. It's AMAZING. She made a master bath once, incorporating some built-ins from a second floor butler's pantry and some beadboard from another room. My husband loves it too. She's bought things that were condemned. She's purchased things for $1 before!

[karinothing]

I also love Rehab Addict

[teeah22]

Rehab Addict is amazing. She's so hands-on with everything!

[mcfelix]

Jan 28, 2014 15:08:03 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

Divine Design, Debbie Travis' Facelift, Room Service, Designing for the Sexes, those type of shows.

Divine design is awesome - I love Candace! I also miss Designing for the Sexes. That was such a good show! and it showed real compromises!

[pitterwoo]

Jan 28, 2014 18:48:48 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

OH! GUYS! My new favorite is Rehab Addict with Nicole Curtis. My mom says she's actually a multi-millionaire with her own design firm and a real estate license. She buys tear-downs in Minneapolis and Detroit and restores them (saves the cool stuff like original floors, plaster, leaded glass, trim, tile), and only uses salvage materials or things in the house or things she can make fairly cheaply. It's AMAZING. She made a master bath once, incorporating some built-ins from a second floor butler's pantry and some beadboard from another room. My husband loves it too. She's bought things that were condemned. She's purchased things for $1 before!

I never watch any of these shows, but that one sounds like it would be really interesting to watch.

[wawa]

Jan 28, 2014 19:42:30 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

Jan 28, 2014 18:48:48 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

OH! GUYS! My new favorite is Rehab Addict with Nicole Curtis. My mom says she's actually a multi-millionaire with her own design firm and a real estate license. She buys tear-downs in Minneapolis and Detroit and restores them (saves the cool stuff like original floors, plaster, leaded glass, trim, tile), and only uses salvage materials or things in the house or things she can make fairly cheaply. It's AMAZING. She made a master bath once, incorporating some built-ins from a second floor butler's pantry and some beadboard from another room. My husband loves it too. She's bought things that were condemned. She's purchased things for $1 before!

I never watch any of these shows, but that one sounds like it would be really interesting to watch.

It is! I forgot about that one but it's amazing. Anybody who has renovated an older home (or just likes older houses) would love it.

[sailorgray]

Have you guys seen the house hunters update shows? I've been liking those lately.

[buppy]

I love love LOVE me some Rehab Addict!!! I always watch if it's on, even if I've already seen it.

[aimeedyan]

I miss Designing for the Sexes. SO GOOD.

[lightbulbsun]

I also love rehab addict.