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I started watching a show called Butte-ification over the weekend.
I was glad to see that they were bringing the original claw-foot tub up from the basement. I was a little disappointed that they didn't include the original marble-top sink that was next to the tub, in the basement.
But, I stopped watching when the "designers" finally convinced the owners that they really wanted to knock down the wall between the kitchen and dining room.
The dining room had nice wainscoting, and the owner even made the comment that the dining room was the only room in the house that didn't need any work. But, he eventually submitted to the cult of "open concept."
Oh, and I was also amused by the fake drama over finding lead paint on the exterior: "OMG, the exterior of the house is covered in lead paint, and it will cost $20k to have it abated!!! This is going to kill our budget!!! OMG!!!" Then, after the commercial break: "Or, we could just paint over it with oil-based paint, for $2k."
One thing I do like with the international shows is getting a glimpse of how other countries decorate. Some of the ideas are really intriguing. although some are head scratchers.
There was a show in Central America (I think that's where it was) where an apartment had bits of broken crockery plastered into to the living room walls. Not little bits, and not flat bits. I'm talk half a water pitcher protruding out of the wall right above a sofa, and tea cups sticking out here and there so that you could put things in them.
I just saw a show where they recommended leaving a bowl of fresh fruit out to attract home buyers, preferably with fruit from the pear tree in your own back yard.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, and may I add, ha and ha.
Can't imagine anything that would turn off a buyer faster than the ants and fruit flies a bowl like that would attract where I live. Maybe if you could stop by the house everyday to change it out, but who has the time (or money) to do that? Plus, I don't think this tip will help sell a house. Sometimes I really wonder where they come up with these ideas.
I just saw a show where they recommended leaving a bowl of fresh fruit out to attract home buyers, preferably with fruit from the pear tree in your own back yard.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, and may I add, ha and ha.
Can't imagine anything that would turn off a buyer faster than the ants and fruit flies a bowl like that would attract where I live. Maybe if you could stop by the house everyday to change it out, but who has the time (or money) to do that? Plus, I don't think this tip will help sell a house. Sometimes I really wonder where they come up with these ideas.
I heard baking bread before the house is shown-just as long as you don't burn it.
ALL shows on TV these days are only about ratings.
Even 'This Old House'. If it didn't have a following, it would be gone.
Of course it would be cancelled if it didn't have a following.
This old house isn't staffed with GQ type hosts or Vanity Fair model's like most HGTV building shows. It's staffed with real working class contractors. Getting into the details of the construction is more important than the aesthetics.
What bothers me with these shows is the "extra room in the budget for upgrades". Are these people all paying cash? Because if you're getting a mortgage, you're not going to have, say, $50K left over if the house costs $50K less. You mortgage a house for a percentage of the appraised value or sale price, whichever is lower. If you are putting down $20%, that $50K savings would really be $10K in your pocket for upgrades. And that number is even lower if you are putting down a smaller down payment. Probably not getting a new kitchen and master bath for $10K.
Sometimes they are acting as an intermediary- the mortgage is still for the total price, but they aren't buy directly from the seller- Magnolia homes (or whoever) buys the house, improves it, and then sells it for the total price to the buyer.
Sometimes they are acting as an intermediary- the mortgage is still for the total price, but they aren't buy directly from the seller- Magnolia homes (or whoever) buys the house, improves it, and then sells it for the total price to the buyer.
Hmm, interesting possibility. I wonder if this is how it works?
Love the comment about how they pull up a carpet and there's always a hardwood floor in mint condition! Ha ha if you pull up the carpet at my house, that's not what you're gonna find.
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