Should ABC's extreme home makeover scale back?

[eliza61]

I like this show, it's my weekly cry fest. cheesy I know. Anyway many of the homes have gone into foreclosures.

Should ABC scale back on the homes or are these families ill prepared from the start?

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/harsh-reality-for-extreme-makeover-homes-in-foreclosure--1133/blog_entry

Many of the homeowners go out an take loans against the home.

 

[rie'smom]

I used to watch it but I'd always think after the show, " They could help 3 families with all of the materials, labor,etc." and it would annoy me, so I had to stop watching.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I never understood why they needed such LAVISH homes. I think 99% of it is for entertainment value... ABC wouldn't make much money, because cookie-cutter houses with just larger rooms, handicapped accessibility, etc., wouldn't draw much of an audience.

 

[Mono~rail]

I read that article earlier. I think alot of the ones in danger of losing the homes were the ones who took out home equity loans AFTER the makeover. The article isn't giving all the details.

I've only watched the show a few times, but each time, I wondered how the families who were already struggling would be able to handle the increased tax burden, increased utilities, upkeep, etc.

 

[Ohiodislover]

They should have scaled back years ago. It is ridiculous. They could spread it around a little and help many more people if they truly wanted to help.

It is a TV show and wouldn't get the ratings if they scaled back, so I don't expect to happen any time soon.

 

[golfgal]

I thought they were getting better about that. The episode the other night had a HUGE house but then again they have 13 kids and plan on more. I know the one they did in MN they did several houses on one block-at least the outsides.

 

[cats mom]

I've always thought that if they really wanted to help folks, they would do things differently.

ie: “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”


Warning... Cynic Alert
If you love all things Extreme Home Makeover and are a huge fan, you won't like the following.

But putting on a new roof, refinishing floors, maybe adding some accessibility features, etc. isn't exactly the riveting TV that moving a truck to reveal an all new gleaming, opulent, dream castle is.

In order to secure the all important TV rating, they're giving away fish, and never looking back.

 

[WEDWDW]

Just a somewhat positive note.If there have been only a few foreclosures,as the article seems to indicate,considering the number of homes they have built,isn't that a pretty good percentage success rate?

 

[beattyfamily]

Yes, they should scale back but not because of these people going into forclosure...that's their stupid mistakes at play.

They should scale back because of the way the economy is now and just because there is no need to go from a dumpy house or a trailer to a mansion. Just a comfortable, liveable house would be nice.

They just need to get with the times and be more realistic with the houses they build.

Got back to the beginning when they just used to fix up the house, not tare it down and rebuild a mansion.

 

[Disney Ella]

I would look at some of those houses and wonder how the homeowners could possibly keep up with heat, electricity and maintenance. Most of those people did not earn huge salaries and did not work in the type of jobs that allowed for growth. I know how expensive it was to replace the roof on my small house and I can just imagine how expensive roof replacement would be on some of those houses. Houses that fit in the neighborhood and don't have exorbitant upkeep costs make sense when the people who live in them aren't high earners.

 

[Lanshark]

I used to watch it but I'd always think after the show, " They could help 3 families with all of the materials, labor,etc." and it would annoy me, so I had to stop watching.

I feel the same way.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

the families obviously can't afford the taxes on the houses. even if they pay off the mortgage for them(which they rarely do), the taxes still sky rocket when you have such a large, nice looking house.

not to mention all of the utilities that you have to pay. the heating and the electric and the water....it's just crazy!

i really think they do need to scale it back a bit. those people don't need lavish houses, they just need safe homes that will fit the size of their families, or accomodate to their needs.

 

[Jestocost]

The Wall Street Journal covered the same issues today:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304017404575165840903285032.html?KEYWORDS=extreme



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304871704575160312975375930.html?KEYWORDS=extreme

 

[mousey]

I think some of the designs and decorating are really unreaslistic. Would you like to clean a bedroom with books suspended from the ceiling?? A white couch in the living room??
They could help a heck of a lot more families if they didn't spend as much money on the chosen family. Ty and cast have little to do with anything but the reveal. They hire a local contractor and he gets all the volunteer help and donations. They tape some small segments with the cast and show them during the rebuilding process. The contractor is ultimately responsible!
Whoever said that these families can't afford the after home is totally right!!

 

[CF'er]

My question is also.... the My Little Pony room is cute for Janie now but what about in a couple years? Some of the special rooms they design aren't practical after a few years.