HGTV musings

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I do too!

I also miss Michael Payne's Designing for the Sexes, show.

The Flip or Flop show is one of my least favorite shows on HGTV. I can't get past the wife's voice.

TC

She loves the word closet.

 

[havaneselover]

I do too!

I also miss Michael Payne's Designing for the Sexes, show.

The Flip or Flop show is one of my least favorite shows on HGTV. I can't get past the wife's voice.

TC

Michael Payne was fantastic.

 

[Disney Ella]

Frankly my 2 favorite hosts were Debbie something(can't remember her last name) and Mike Holmes. I loved his show.

Debbie Travis? I always liked her work and she seemed like a nice person.

 

[tvguy]

I think a lot depends on where your home is located.

We sold our house last summer. Before putting it on the market we put in a new kitchen (cabinets, counter, backsplash and kitchen sink/faucet - the floor had already been done several years before and we kept the appliances, which were not stainless steel) and two new bathrooms (total gut jobs). By doing this we sold our home in 48 hours for about a $100,000 more than a similar house that didn't have the kitchen and bathroom upgrades. We spent about $30,000 to do the work. In our case it was definitely worth it to put the work (and money) into it.

Wow, my master bath remodel was nearly what you paid for everything. And my bathroom is only 9 x 5. Of course my wife insisting on Corian in for the floor to ceiling shower surround and counter, and was close to $8,000 by itself.

 

[barkley]

I think a lot depends on where your home is located.

We sold our house last summer. Before putting it on the market we put in a new kitchen (cabinets, counter, backsplash and kitchen sink/faucet - the floor had already been done several years before and we kept the appliances, which were not stainless steel) and two new bathrooms (total gut jobs). By doing this we sold our home in 48 hours for about a $100,000 more than a similar house that didn't have the kitchen and bathroom upgrades. We spent about $30,000 to do the work. In our case it was definitely worth it to put the work (and money) into it.

I think you are spot on with the location aspect.

where we live now potential buyers looking at existing homes prefer that updates and improvements have already been done, but where I grew up there is a significant percentage of potential buyers who won't pay more for this b/c they plan to rip a home down to so little as one remaining wall b/c of the way the permitting process and property taxes are figured based on a 'remodel' vs. 'new construction'. realtors there have been trying to educate potential sellers for several years to get an evaluation of their home's selling potential before they invest the time and $$$$$ to do anything they believe will increase it's selling price (I've had more than one friend whose parents failed to do this only to find upon selling that they barely recouped what they put in for the renovations they believed would significantly up the selling price of their homes).

 

[tvguy]

I think you are spot on with the location aspect.

where we live now potential buyers looking at existing homes prefer that updates and improvements have already been done, but where I grew up there is a significant percentage of potential buyers who won't pay more for this b/c they plan to rip a home down to so little as one remaining wall b/c of the way the permitting process and property taxes are figured based on a 'remodel' vs. 'new construction'. realtors there have been trying to educate potential sellers for several years to get an evaluation of their home's selling potential before they invest the time and $$$$$ to do anything they believe will increase it's selling price (I've had more than one friend whose parents failed to do this only to find upon selling that they barely recouped what they put in for the renovations they believed would significantly up the selling price of their homes).

This is why you should interview real estate agents who are experts in your area and pick your listing agent before you do anything. Most frustrating part of selling my parents house was that 3 of the 4 real estate agents I interviewed wanted me to tell them what I thought the house was worth. They all showed me the same 'comps", which were frankly worthless*, but only one out and out said, "this is what I think this house should list for and this is why"....and she added "we'll know within 2 weeks if we listed the price too high".

*There really were no comps in my parents area. Houses were build from 1930 to today, 1,700 to 10,000 square feet, half acre to 2 acre lots. On the 4 lane road, or blocks in on narrow, winding roads. And my parents house was the only one of three sold in 2013 that was not torn down. Although in hindsight the investors who bought it may have made money on it if they had torn it down instead of remodel it.

 

[EMom]

I admit it. I am a "need 2 sinks in the master bath" kind of girl. In our newest house, I even have his counter on one side of the bathroom and mine on the other. The main thing I care about in a house is a killer kitchen and a BIG master bath. The rest of it is not nearly so important. Yes, we have stainless, but we had no choice in that. I'm not crazy about it.

I like exotic granite, so we spent a fair amount on that in the kitchen and every bathroom. Not for resale, (although in our neighborhood, it's the norm) but because WE liked it. I would buy a resale without granite happily. If I didn't like existing granite, it would be hard to justify ripping it out. But if a house has Formica or tile counters, I can pick the granite I want and redo it.

The best aspects of the house? (1) A pullout trash can hidden in the cabinet by the kitchen sink. I hate seeing trash. (2) DH has a two car garage for whatever he wants/needs and I have a separate single car garage with NOTHING in it except my car. I love that. (3) We paid for a 100 foot room upstairs that can be just about anything. It has no windows since it's where the attic normally is, but can be a closet, used for storage, a craft room, a sewing room, etc. When we sell this house, I know that no woman has ever looked at a house and declared it has too much storage room. Someone will love that she can store stuff out of sight instead of cramming it into her bedroom closets.

When we retire, this will be too much house. We plan to buy a resale and gut the kitchen and master bath. That's what matters to me, so if they are the way I want, life is good.

 

[EMom]

Here is the one thing I never get. HGTV will visit a relatively new house with a BIG master bathroom and there is the toilet right out in plain view. If someone is using the toilet, the big master bathroom is useless to anyone else. Why is the toilet not in a separate room within the bathroom?

I can understand if it's a small master bathroom or an older house. But in Texas, (since the 1980s at least) if the master bathroom is a decent size, the toilet is behind its own door so the rest of the bathroom is usable. I don't understand having a BIG bathroom and having the toilet right out in the open. It must be the norm in other areas.

 

[Kae]

I do too!

I also miss Michael Payne's Designing for the Sexes, show.

The Flip or Flop show is one of my least favorite shows on HGTV. I can't get past the wife's voice.

TC

Oh yes. And the show where the guy called ranches, ramblers. And all the Christmas decorating shows. the one on Dept Store Windows.

Kae

 

[cluvsdisney]

I like House Hunters International because it was interesting to see homes in other parts of the world. What You Get for the Money (I don't know if it's still on) - it showed how much house your housing dollar buys in different parts of the country. It was very eye opening.


I can't stand Love it or List it either - both hosts were so nasty and it felt more fake that other shows. But, there was one family where the husband did not want to move and if he had to look at new houses, he wanted an open concept living space. So the realtor takes them to houses with an open concept but the guy didn't like that there were no walls and that you can see everything from everywhere. It was interesting to watch the realtor guy politely explain that the home buyer is completely wrong about his notion of open concept. ha!

But my all time favorite was a couple who was looking to rent. During the intro it was explained that they were currently sleeping on friends' couches or in a tent. They had a long long list of their must haves with a somewhat limited budget and complained about an apartment with not enough closet space or the size of the second bedroom/office. They were sofa surfing or sleeping in a tent...anything clean and safe had to be an improvement.

I miss the design shows...Candace Olsen esp.

 

[JanaDee]

Here is the one thing I never get. HGTV will visit a relatively new house with a BIG master bathroom and there is the toilet right out in plain view. If someone is using the toilet, the big master bathroom is useless to anyone else. Why is the toilet not in a separate room within the bathroom?

I can understand if it's a small master bathroom or an older house. But in Texas, (since the 1980s at least) if the master bathroom is a decent size, the toilet is behind its own door so the rest of the bathroom is usable. I don't understand having a BIG bathroom and having the toilet right out in the open. It must be the norm in other areas.

I have no desire to go to the bathroom in a closet. Fortunately, it isn't the norm here. If the master bath is that big, odds are there are multiple other bathrooms or a bedroom people can use for whatever they need to do in front of a mirror.

 

[already]

Part of the Scott brothers income comes from their Real Estate and Investment company, that is doing very well.
And did you know Jonathan is also a successful magician? The reason he moved to Las Vegas.
I'm guessing that not very much of his money comes from starring on a HGTV show, he has so many other income streams.

He has an impressive bio
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3405146/bio

I find it very interesting that neither of the brothers' resumés has construction work on it, either as a work or a hobby.

While they are successful in real estate investment, their resumés show they are mainly focused on the performing arts.

 

[SkaGoat]

Watched a little Love It or List it this afternoon.

Very educational episode from a standpoint of mindsets and real estate values. A family of 4 living in a 1,000 square foot house worth $650,000 BEFORE the renovations.
Lord, my first apartment was 1100 square feet, I can't imagine raising 2 teenage boys in that space. Not sure why they are just now looking to expand when the boys will be out of the house soon. And the value, lord, my 2,000 square foot house would be worth $1.3 million there instead of the $329,000 Zillow values it at. How do people afford to live in cities like this?

And they were concerned about being close to public transit so their boys could catch the 430 am am bus to swim practice. The first limited bus lines here don't start here until 5 am, and the full schedule doesn't kick in until 6 am.

Toronto is the 4th largest city in North America, so real estate is very expensive there, they also have a very good transit system.

Another factor is Canada has been much healthier than the USA economically over the past decade, and our banking system is a model the rest of the world wants to follow, it as stable, and healthy as it's ever been, so there weren't things like rampant foreclosures, and sub-prime mortgages as can been seen in many American cities.

 

[OhMari]

Toronto is the 4th largest city in North America, so real estate is very expensive there, they also have a very good transit system.

Another factor is Canada has been much healthier than the USA economically over the past decade, and our banking system is a model the rest of the world wants to follow, it as stable, and healthy as it's ever been, so there weren't things like rampant foreclosures, and sub-prime mortgages as can been seen in many American cities.

So living in Toronto is like being next to NYC. We are always amazed at the price of the homes. But the price of remodeling is always in line to what we pay. I wish our home would sell for $650,000, we can't even et anyone to bid on it for $139,000.

 

[maxiesmom]

I find it very interesting that neither of the brothers' resumés has construction work on it, either as a work or a hobby.

While they are successful in real estate investment, their resumés show they are mainly focused on the performing arts.

I wouldn't expect it to be any different. Aren't those bios more for the entertainment industry anyway?

 

[jodifla]

I find it very interesting that neither of the brothers' resumés has construction work on it, either as a work or a hobby.

While they are successful in real estate investment, their resumés show they are mainly focused on the performing arts.

Jonathan Scott is a licensed contractor.

 

[EMom]

I have no desire to go to the bathroom in a closet. Fortunately, it isn't the norm here. If the master bath is that big, odds are there are multiple other bathrooms or a bedroom people can use for whatever they need to do in front of a mirror.

But all my STUFF is in the master bathroom. His stuff too. Our closets are off the master bathroom. It's one stop shopping in there. The toilet room is at the far end, is vented/has its own fan, and is roomy enough. But that small room within a room serves only one function.

The master bathroom has our closets, the shower, the tub, our sinks and countertops with aforementioned stuff. We don't want to have to exit the master and go to another bathroom just to use the toilet. The guest bathroom isn't exactly close. I'm not going to use DD's. And there is no way I am going upstairs to use the game room bathroom.

I think it just must vary by region. It is the norm here to have a separate toilet room unless it is a very inexpensive house, an old house, or has a tiny master bathroom. It's been that way for over 30 years. Since it is what I am used to, it seems normal. But I saw the "out in the open" toilet so often on HGTV that I figured it had to be different elsewhere.

 

[njmom47]

I prefer the selling/ buying home shows over redecorating.

Use to really like Selling your House with Tanya Memme and House Doctor from the U.K. Those were the best!

Oh yeah, Roger and Tanya. I liked that show too.

 

[Pembo]

But all my STUFF is in the master bathroom. His stuff too. Our closets are off the master bathroom. It's one stop shopping in there. The toilet room is at the far end, is vented/has its own fan, and is roomy enough. But that small room within a room serves only one function.

The master bathroom has our closets, the shower, the tub, our sinks and countertops with aforementioned stuff. We don't want to have to exit the master and go to another bathroom just to use the toilet. The guest bathroom isn't exactly close. I'm not going to use DD's. And there is no way I am going upstairs to use the game room bathroom.

I think it just must vary by region. It is the norm here to have a separate toilet room unless it is a very inexpensive house, an old house, or has a tiny master bathroom. It's been that way for over 30 years. Since it is what I am used to, it seems normal. But I saw the "out in the open" toilet so often on HGTV that I figured it had to be different elsewhere.

Bathroom = toilet along with everything else. I've never seen it different in houses in our area. I would hate the toilet in a closet...seems claustrophobic. lol

 

[Lilliputian]

The bathroom isn't in a separate closet--there's just a small room for the toilet inside the master bath.

We moved out of state about a year ago, and we were surprised to see that a lot of the master baths here have the toilet right in the open part of the bathroom. It's very odd when you're not used to seeing it that way. The house we got has the toilet almost in its own water closet, but there's no door. The doorway is open, and it's a bit too small to actually install a door there (we asked our contractor). You can't see in when you enter the bathroom, though, so we're okay with it.