Friday, April 9, 2010

Love it or List it

Just lately I have discovered a new show: Love it or List it. Essentially the basis is that people will get a Realtor to find them a new house and a designer to redo the house they already own. Then the people decide if they are going to stay or if they will move. Basically, everyone does all the work for them.

But here's the thing, the people this show are terrible!! They usually end up telling both the designer and the Realtor that they have no idea what they are doing. And this usually happens right at the beginning of the show when they have just gotten started and are figuring out what works. I mean, you can't blame the designer when it's a supporting wall and she can't take it down like you wanted. Or you can't blame the Realtor when you only want to pay $400,000 but all the houses in that neighbourhood are $700,000. It's just to frustrating to watch!! And it's beginning to make me angry. Why can't people just be reasonable??? I just don't understand sometimes.

I just wish somebody would come and redo my house and find me a new place to live at the same time!

36 comments:

  1. I have watched that show and completley agree with you. It's like that other show where one couple moved up into another couples home and that couple moved up into another couples home and after they had all moved in and redecorated, they all went back to their original homes and made cranky and bitchy comments about the new decor.Why should they even care? Come to think of it, why was this show even on the air?
    And on all of these shows they tell you to take down all family pictures and personal affects and make the house kind of barren so other people can imagine their own things in there.How unimaginative is the general public? Personally and maybe it's just the voyeurism in me, but I enjoyed going through homes where they had all their things intact. The house looked like somebody actuallly lived there, yet I could still look passed it all and see what needed to be done. I enjoy the "lived-in" look, which is why my dust bunnies are all free range.

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  2. I find it interesting that there is ALWAYS a major problem, such as the wiring, plumbing, new floor joists needed, can't move a wall, leaky basement, and so on. Come on, every episode? And the couple act so surprised! The producers had to know about these problems beforehand. It just makes a show. The couple is always frustratrated and angry that so much money had to go to fix major things not included in the budget, but then Hilary does some finishing touches, wooing many of the couples to "love their home again." As for David, he never seems to get it right, but comes close or hits the bull's eye on the LAST house. I may give up my day job and write some scripts for this show. SO predictable!

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  3. I love the concept of the show, but only watch the first 10 minutes and the last 2-3 minutes. That way I don't have to listen to the homeowners be abusive. I'm sure this is a tactic to get folks to watch the show, but it really is doing quite the opposite. If folks could all be civilized the show would be so much more popular!

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  4. Gotta say I'm excited to finally have a place to vent about this show! I love the premise, but like all of you, I agree it's obvious that all episodes are made using the same script. I could write this stuff in my sleep! It could be a fantastic show if they'd vary it a bit. The homeowners go from hating Hilary and David one minute to loving them the next. They blame Hilary because she discovers the existing flaws in their homes! Everyone knows that you never know what you're going to find when you renovate! I now believe that the homeowners, Hilary, her crew and David are all told to act as stubborn and angry as they can and to argue as much as possible. It's the only way people could be this disagreeable and then suddenly turn around and be friendly again.

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  5. I realise this is an old post, but I still had to throw my two cents in and say, "I agree!"

    I also find it interesting that in EVERY episode one person wants to stay in the house, and the other is determined to move. It also generally seems to be the females that are the (pardon my language) bitchiest.

    The comment with major problems that every episode runs into when it comes to renovations was dead on. It never made sense to me why the couples would be as shocked as they seem to be to find out they've run into a renovation problem. C'mon people, you're renovating, not creating a house from scratch. Just like you found issues with the house the way it is, you'll find issues if you dig even deeper.

    I really hope the producers stop making the show so predictable! I'm sure it would be just as interesting if it wasn't scripted.

    Thanks for posting this site! It felt great to vent about this!

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  6. I know someone that did the show and I found out it was all fake.... the renovations do happen but the director types two endings and then they pick one.....

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  7. This comment is being written as I'm watching a rerun, and it's 2012! That says a lot for the show and so-called SCRIPT! I love this show and I admire HILARY. She puts up with a lot and has to take the BRUNT of the homeowners rants and raves...IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, Hilary should FIRE the CONTRACTORS! I'm sure there are a lot of other contractors out there who would be able to solve all the structural flaws without taking all of HILARY's Budget!!! Damn they're getting free advertising for their so-called businesses...I wouldn't hire those contractors if they were the last in CANADA!

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  8. As previously mentioned in other comments, the idea is a good one. But seriously, I cannot stand this show, Hillary, David, the contractors or the stream of obnoxious 'clients' or whatever you want to call them that spew through every episode. It is so redundant, so predictable and so BORING. I honestly don't know why anyone watches it.

    I tuned in tonight after having not watched it for 8 months, and if anything, it's worse than when I stopped watching it. I'm done with it.

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  9. What happens after the show???? It is annoying, but i keep watching. Does anyone really move? Same as the property brothers. Are people really happy.... I doubt it. Spoiled people... I say.

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  10. I agree with the other comments. The premise is ridiculous. In EVERY show, the budget for what they want --- renovations or new house are completely out of line. So annoying to watch. And the homeowners couldn't be more clueless jerks! Grrr....HGTV, get a grip. Love the premise, but the fakery is completely off putting!!,

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  11. Serioursly, everything about the Love it List it shows are so fake. It is clearly scripted, and very poorly. Plus, there is no way that Hillary and the contractor actually do all the remodeling, upgrades, new appliances, flat screens, furniture, etc., for the budget they are given. The show has to be covering the labor and getting material comp'ed to make it happen. I saw a show today where she had a $25K budget but provided at least $50 in remodeling and new furniture...come on...they need to be honest and tell it like it is!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. IF they chose "list it", I want to know:
    1- if they SOLD their house for the price they thought it was worth
    2- if the house they wanted to BUY was still available to purchase after they sold their house
    In my experience, buying and selling real estate does not usually go smoothly, and you end up having to reduce your price to sell- then the house you've set your heart on already sold or is off the market!!
    How about a "followup" show to let us see how these families managed after the cameras left??

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    1. Precisely the points I was going to bring up. Listing a home doesn't mean it sells, much less for what is expected.

      Another thing: most of these shows take place in Canada; I have never heard the word "contingency" sale yet; it's always the premise that the buyer now has two mortgages (as in Property Bros)

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  13. Entertaining show but knowing 2 couples that have been on it, it is confirmed that the couples are coached as to when to be "angry" and when to be "happy". They also film the couples choosing both "love it" and "list it". The producers later decide which one to air. They do use the couples actual names though.

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    1. So if they choose which one to air later, what do the home owners actually do? How would we ever know which one they actually did?

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  14. I'm with Anonymous...my daughter and I always wonder how they guarantee their house with sell and that the other house will still be available. We've had our house for sale for 3 months and have "lost" a few we've been really interested in because our's hasn't sold...also, we've lowered our price drastically.

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    1. they never take real estate commission into account either, which can make a huge difference in funds available for purchasing another home.

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    2. They also never take into account with the pre versus post reno values that if the couples took out a home equity loan for the renos that the post reno value is actually the post reno value MINUS the loan MINUS commission fees. In some cases tht would be next to NOTHING in increase or even a LOSS.

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  15. Sorry...I love the show. I don't care about "fake parts". EVERY TV show in America is, for the most part, fake. But as far as LOVE IT OR LIST IT...simply enjoy it for what it is...a fabulous escape from the daily news, both domestic and foreign, vividly detailing unspeakable crimes and atrocities. I have given that up and thoroughly enjoy this show as my harmless escape. At the end of each episode you get to see Hillary's "magical" redo of the owners' home after seeing some very nice homes that David has researched. I do love the interplay between Hillary and David...I almost feel that they are actually married in "real life". Whenever he "loses" and she "wins", he almost always beams at her! Sweet! So...carry on LOVE IT OR LIST IT...your show is BETTER than 90% of what is aired on American TV.

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  16. I like watching the show, even though the homeowners' acting is bad and it's obvious that they're coached to "get angry" at Hillary and David. I do get annoyed though that it always appears that David can find a PERFECT house for what seems like barely more than their current crappy house is worth, in the same neighborhood. That part seems fake to me. Does anyone have any knowledge on this? Also, Hillary's remodels sometimes get more than a 100% return - bs!!!

    I'm not sure I will watch it anymore, now that I know that even the final decision is fake. It's like American Idol when they showed how fake the auditions were - i.e, everyone is screened before they make it to the judges and they let the baddies in just for interesting tv.

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  17. I hate the hosts more than the couples. Hillary promises the moon before she even sees the house. David ignores the couple's wish-list until the final house. And Hillary and David's dialogue is identical from one episode to another -- you can say their lines before they do! And of course there is no reality to the remodels or home selections. Atrocious scripts and horrible acting!

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  18. I come away with the same questions EVERY freaking time:

    a. How can Hillary promise stuff without seeing the house?

    b. Does Hillary walk through without a contractor? How can you promise something not knowing what a supporting wall is? Either she's an IDIOT for making promises or is portrayed as being a complete MORON...as though she doesn't know that this is a supporting wall.

    c. Does EVERY house have major problems when they dig into it?

    d. Are the people ALWAYS that RUDE?

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  19. All I have to say is...thank goodness for a place to vent about this show! I understand there are bigger problems in the world, but for my little universe, I enjoy watching the HGTV programs and design shows so here it goes...

    I love the transformations in these types of shows, seeing the ugly duckling become the beautiful swan, but this one is difficult to listen to sometimes. Are these people really that angry and rude? I like Hilary and David, but they are always frustrated and discouraged. Hilary's renovations always catch the homeowners off guard when they come in halfway through the reno. Then David always shows them houses that don't match their requirements until the very end. And the clients will find fault with EVERYTHING, even though the prospective house may be exactly the kitchen/location/space they are looking for. You can guarantee that the last house will always be the one they enjoy. Also, what is with the homeowners having to live in their exact same neighborhood on every single episode? So everybody always finds a home their ideal neighborhood? Some of them even want the same street? WTF? Are the clients where these shows are being filmed just that stubborn? Their arguing isn't very realistic. No one ever says "Ok, I understand. I'm not happy about it, but how could we have known there would be so many issues with our house?". I've never heard a person talk to someone else with that much attitude.

    I do enjoy the banter between Hilary and David but if the competition was a little more lighthearted and friendly and the homeowners were actually pleasant, this would be a much more enjoyable show.

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  20. Short and to the point "I hate this show"

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  21. to make the show lagitamite they should visit the couples 6 months after shooting to see how they really feel about why they stayed or moved into the new house. the script for property virgines was the same.... no follow up.

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  22. Now that there is a new Love It or List It Vancouver, it looks so funny to see the new "actors" repeat the same style of speaking. That's what made me fully realize that it's all scripted and that it's all a show. True you can learn about all the complications of doing a reno, but after awhile, its gets repetitive and boring. No longer watch it, live or reruns

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  23. I love the show to see the transformation of their present home, but dislike the staged script. Way too much drama and budget setbacks. Does anyone else get annoyed with the moment of silence before they announce if they are loving or listing? Just spit it out already!!

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  24. If all of you don't like the show, why are you still watching it??? Just saying.

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  25. How hard is it to spot a supporting wall? Just go down to the basement. How about looking for moisture/bad gutters or peaking around in the attic or looking for shingles curled up before promising a remodel price.

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    1. They don't "promise a remodel price". The homeowners tell them what they want and what they are willing to spend and Hillary tries to deliver.

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  26. Has anyone seen the episode "Di Palma Family" which aired on Feb 16th 2014 at 2pm? I sat thru the entire show, obnoxious clients and all, only to have the ending cut off just as the clients were about to announce their choice !! Now I feel like I need some closure!

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  27. Lol, thanks for making this site, I too was wondering about this show. Especially do the people really list the house after putting ALL that money into renovating it. It does not seem real. When you put a home on the market you usually do a few cosmetics changes not $50k plus! After reading these comments they probably do not its just for the show.

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    1. If you watch the end of the show the upgrades always up the value. Even if they sell the upgrades benefit them.

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  28. Does anyone know what the benefit is for the homeowner? Free design services & realtor? Or just to be on Tv?

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  29. My daughter and I love to watch Love it or List it and Love it or List it too, but a lot of it does seem fake. Our new favorite show is Fixer Upper. Everybody is so much nicer on that show. No complaining by the homeowners. Chip and Joanna are so kind to each other and they do an even better job with the designs.

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  30. Are home owners who decide to "List It" required to utilize David as their realtor under contract ?

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