House Hunters (shows, happened, episode, money)

[Miaiam]

Originally Posted by fruitlassie

It's one thing to prefer granite to laminate but the people with major entitlement issues who act like they could not manage a day in a home with laminate counters and non-stainless appliances and would have to replace them IMMEDIATELY crack me up. Billions of people have survived on Earth without those things and I would bet only a small fraction of these people are really heavy duty into cooking (especially if they have to work overtime to pay for all the things they just can't live without).

While perusing real estate listings lately I see a lot of lower end properties with upgraded kitchens that just look ugly and don't fit the aesthetic of the house at all. I definitely don't think granite is superior in all instances, and I would always prefer to sacrifice fancy finishes for more space, storage & a great layout.

:::clapping to fruitlassie:::
(clapping to Pippy too, but cannot give her more reputation for the moment)

"A place to call home" and the angels sang in heaven when they heard this... I was raised to value that tremendously. No palace would lure me if I had to pay for it during 30 years, I would much rather have my humble yet decent home fully paid for in half or one third of the time. I am baffled that people on the show go into huge debt (300k plus is a loooot of money, at least for me ) without batting an eye, especially given that they are paying top price for things as unimportant as appliances. I must be a very old fashioned cookie...

Then there is the "everybody has it so I want it too" factor, which is pretty much omnipresent on HH. The "in" now is to have SS/granite, so I want them not bc I really love them, but bc every upgraded house has it. Not to mention I am a huge foodie and I am really into cooking, and I can probably count a handful of people I know who enjoy cooking as I do. For the most part, "homemade pie" means store bought crust + pie filling in a can, but as they "bake", they absolutely need a top notch SS oven. I have nothing against this, if you don't like to cook that's perfectly fine, but if you don't cook why the heck do you need a humongous kitchen?!

I like to see the "a few months later" part of the show, but it would be cool if they had a "five years later" part too. Are they still in the same house? Is it upgraded to the last minute?

Also, like taydev said, it is not the SS/granite, it is the "must have" thing that is annoying imo. I love love love when the lady gets into the house and says "Is this granite? I want granite!", that is hilarious!!

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by fruitlassie

It's one thing to prefer granite to laminate but the people with major entitlement issues who act like they could not manage a day in a home with laminate counters and non-stainless appliances and would have to replace them IMMEDIATELY crack me up. Billions of people have survived on Earth without those things and I would bet only a small fraction of these people are really heavy duty into cooking (especially if they have to work overtime to pay for all the things they just can't live without).

While perusing real estate listings lately I see a lot of lower end properties with upgraded kitchens that just look ugly and don't fit the aesthetic of the house at all. I definitely don't think granite is superior in all instances, and I would always prefer to sacrifice fancy finishes for more space, storage & a great layout.

words to live by !!!!!

[hiknapster]

I know. If you have to ask if it is granite, well, why does it matter? Do you like the way it looks? Then don't worry about it.

I live in my kitchen. I bake and cook almost everything from scratch so I get irritated when they want a top-of-the-line kitchen and then giggle about how they don't cook. Or say they are going to learn to cook. Sorry, but if you are 30 and above and don't know how to cook, you probably aren't going to learn.

But there is the domino effect at work, too. People are aware that stainless, granite, and other key items are going to add value to the home and often worry about resale.

I don't always think that's smart. How may bedrooms and bathrooms is important. The school district is important, even if you never expect to have kids in the house.

But you can get a deal on a house and add the appliances and granite after if you are worried about resale. I burnt our laminate counter top and I will probably replace it with granite or another good-looking durable material when I sell.

But yes, over-remodeling can very much work against you, too. A lot of people are guilty of that; over-the-top kitchens in a starter home.

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I know. If you have to ask if it is granite, well, why does it matter? Do you like the way it looks? Then don't worry about it.

I live in my kitchen. I bake and cook almost everything from scratch so I get irritated when they want a top-of-the-line kitchen and then giggle about how they don't cook. Or say they are going to learn to cook. Sorry, but if you are 30 and above and don't know how to cook, you probably aren't going to learn.

But there is the domino effect at work, too. People are aware that stainless, granite, and other key items are going to add value to the home and often worry about resale.

I don't always think that's smart. How may bedrooms and bathrooms is important. The school district is important, even if you never expect to have kids in the house.

But you can get a deal on a house and add the appliances and granite after if you are worried about resale. I burnt our laminate counter top and I will probably replace it with granite or another good-looking durable material when I sell.

But yes, over-remodeling can very much work against you, too. A lot of people are guilty of that; over-the-top kitchens in a starter home.

Well, while that is a valid point, the HH thing makes it sound like that is the most important thing, Re-sale....and this is before the people even move in......That to me, doesn't make sense....

Thinking about re-sale and not even living in the house already????
Not everyone sells in a year or two...


Also, most probably by the time the home possibly does go on the market, all the upgraded stuff, that is embedded into our minds will be dated......glass tile back splash is going to be dated, if not already.......cherry cabinetry will be dated, just like oak was....


the trends come and go, we all know this.....The HH just really are making such strong impacts to people that a fully updated is an absolute must, it is sickening already

[Miaiam]

Originally Posted by nightcrawler

Well, while that is a valid point, the HH thing makes it sound like that is the most important thing, Re-sale....and this is before the people even move in......That to me, doesn't make sense....

Thinking about re-sale and not even living in the house already????
Not everyone sells in a year or two...

I absolutely detest moving. There are very few things that would make me move to another house. Got a great job (I take it that most people move due to job arrangements)? It really would have to be one hell of a job to make me move!
I cannot think of moving unless it is a beyond amazing, impossible to pass up opportunity. Not everyone worries about resale value after a few years only!!

Also, most probably by the time the home possibly does go on the market, all the upgraded stuff, that is embedded into our minds will be dated......

Especially given the concept of "dated" some HH buyers have. "Oh, this was remodeled/replaced less than 10 years ago, but it has to go, it is just so dated!"

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by Miaiam

I absolutely detest moving. There are very few things that would make me move to another house. Got a great job (I take it that most people move due to job arrangements)? It really would have to be one hell of a job to make me move!
I cannot think of moving unless it is a beyond amazing, impossible to pass up opportunity. Not everyone worries about resale value after a few years only!!


Especially given the concept of "dated" some HH buyers have. "Oh, this was remodeled/replaced less than 10 years ago, but it has to go, it is just so dated!"

last night on property Virgins, the man, (dumb ass) says, the kitchen needs to be updated...

Sandra : really ??, the house is only 4 years old.....

I don't think he even comprehended it. it is one thing to say, I dont like it, we are all entitled, but that doesn't mean it is out dated.


HH is also too many repeats already !!

[Miaiam]

What is the one coolest house/location (for HHI episodes) you guys have ever seen?

I am choosing the lady who picked a trullo in Puglia (the stone house with a cone-shaped roof). The place is soooo amazing and the house was the coolest, most unusual, most incredible one imo.

She was so happy to move there (ok, who wouldn't be?! ) and had such a positive attitude, which made the episode all the more special and interesting. I loved it!!

[GloryB]

Originally Posted by grimace8

I'll probably get slammed for saying this... but HH was, strangely enough, one of the reasons why the housing bubble inflated early last decade. Yup, I said it.

Well truthfully, to have shows which suggested for people to borrow on their equity and invest $60,000 in an upgraded kitchen in order to add $100,000 value to their house....this is somewhat a really misleading concept. This has probably put lots of people upside down on a shaky mortgage to begin with.

I like watching HGTV, but I'm not sure they have had a totally positive impact on lots of people's choices regarding their mortgage or staying in a purchase price they can actually afford....even when life gets in the way and things go differently than planned.

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by GloryB

Well truthfully, to have shows which suggested for people to borrow on their equity and invest $60,000 in an upgraded kitchen in order to add $100,000 value to their house....this is somewhat a really misleading concept. This has probably put lots of people upside down on a shaky mortgage to begin with.

I like watching HGTV, but I'm not sure they have had a totally positive impact on lots of people's choices regarding their mortgage or staying in a purchase price they can actually afford....even when life gets in the way and things go differently than planned.

I don't wanna "share more love" to anyone but you !!

because this statement deserves it !!

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I have stainless steel appliances. I got a screaming deal on a package. It was cheaper than white appliances! I bought them after we had been in our house a couple of years. Our stove had to have been from the 70s. The dishwasher - incredibly old - no longer worked - and I was sure that the fridge was sucking up a lot of juice. Since we've bought them we have saved an incredible amount on electric and water bills.

I love them so sue me.

Ah, but everything you said -- the appliances were old and didn't work right, you waited a few years to buy them, you got them dirt cheap -- makes perfect sense and is so totally opposite most of the people on House Hunters who must have their stainless appliances.

And usually it's being said in a kitchen with brand new, functional apppliances, no less. The buyers make it sound like stainless appliances work better than black or white ones. Which of course is quite ludicrous ...