House Flipping Shows

[WildPlum]

It might save money from the "time value" standpoint but it isn't going to save money from the "ooops" and rushed work standpoint. It takes time to do things right, and it particularly takes planning in advance to do things right.

 

Say you need to tile the kitchen floor. Day 1 would be demo and floor repair. Day 2 would be tile install. That has to sit and cure 24 hours and no work can be done in the kitchen while it cures. Day 3 would be grout and that should sit at least 24 hours when you are done as well. What about plumbing, electric, cabinets, counter tops, appliances? 2 days for that? I think not, particularly not if you have to have plumbing and electric inspection.

 

The only show I've seen address the time value standpoint is Flip or Flop, where I've seen them talk about the cost of the loans they are paying on a property that they are renovating - since they are generally dealing with investors and not banks, they have what you could think of as "payday loan" style payments. They are borrowing, say, $400,000 for 3 months and they owe 10% or so, which works out to an annual rate of several hundred percent.

 

Of course, that is how house flippers go bankrupt. On Flip or Flop they've worked themselves up to a point where they have a better cash flow and multiple projects and what I think is a pool of investors, but I have a friend locally who flips lower-end houses and he has some serious problems with tight margins, cash flow and payment deadlines.

Edited March 1, 2016 by WildPlum

[proserpina65]

I can't be alone in my "open concept" hatred can I?

 

Definitely not.  I like distinct, individual rooms, preferably with doors that I can close when I wish.  And no way do I want the dirty dishes in my kitchen to be on full display to my guests when I'm entertaining.  Known in my house as having friends over.

[auntie thesis]

Ugh, open concept. 

 

I'm a loyal viewer of Fixer Upper and I truly loathe the way that almost every single house has to be open concept. Even when the current layout of the home is actually workable or even nice. Personally, I think Joanna Gaines is just remaking the same house (the farmhouse!) every time. Almost every kitchen is some shade of white, with an island and a farm sink. WTF? Don't some homeowners opt to have kitchens that are closed off, more formal, or just say no to having a fucking immobile island hogging like 20-50% of the space?

 

I also watch Love It or List It on occasion and they too are guilty of open concept abuse. EVERY SINGLE FAMILY/COUPLE just has to have an open concept. In some cases, open concept is necessary (visually impaired couple, people with lots of kids or pets, people with large furniture or media centers) but EVERYBODY? No, not everybody needs to have a kitchen that is visible from the front yard and has a clear view of the living room.

 

I just hate the idea of planning on gutting houses from the get-go. Half the time, I think they'd get more bang for their buck if they just used the original layout and tweaked the design to fit the couple/family. 

 

I also get hung up on why 90% of the living rooms don't have a TV on display during the reveal. Who doesn't have a TV or at least a screen (computer, tablet) in their living room? How the hell are they going to watch the show if they don't have a TV? And why bother with elaborate designs and vintage furniture and such if it's just for show anyway? 

 

The more I think about it, Joanna Gaines seems particularly irrelevant...

[Jaded]

I liked Fixer Upper at first....

Now that the Gaines have gotten popular it feels like the show is one big act for each episode.  I quit watching during this past season. 

I've always liked Flip or Flop more because they'll show what can go wrong and etc. It's not like they are trying as hard to put on some sort of cutesy act for everyone. 

Even though Love It or List It can seem like people are acting I like to watch the banter between the decorator and realtor on both versions. The realtor on Love It or List It too was an actor in a show I watched when I was young so it's weird seeing him on this show trying to sell homes to people. I realize real estate is a profession a lot of out of work actors take up pretty frequently though.

[auntie thesis]

This season of Fixer Upper seems kinda...blah. It seems like they are running out of "old houses in dream neighborhoods" and are now just taking anyone in the region who wants them to redo their property and is willing and able to waste a certain percentage of their budget on Joanna's pointless decorative crap. Plus I've got this tinfoil hat-ish theory that some of their homeowners are likely fixing to rent and not to actually live in these places.

 

At some point, they are going to run out of Baylorites who can afford to drop 200k+ on rehabbing old homes. They are also going to run out of side projects. Farmhouse, silo, B&B, what's next? Adopting a block or a town? Building a church? Tbh, I'd like for them to do something that isn't all about Magnolia Homes and making $$$. It might restore some of their "small-town folks making it big" charm that they had the first couple of seasons.

 

As it stands, I give the show 1-2 more seasons at the most before people get tired of it and the whole shebang shows up on Netflix.

[chessiegal]

Anyone see a show on HGTV this afternoon called "Turnkey Renovation"? My on-line guide said it was supposed to be Flip or Flop reruns, but this show ran for several hours, so I have no idea if it was a new show or not. It was 2 female friends flipping houses in SoCal very similar to Flip or Flop.

[auntjess]

I saw Turnkey Renovation on the schedule, but didn't check it out.
When the market gets flooded, as it did with tiny houses and flips, I usually pick a couple and don't watch the others.

I do rather like Carolina Sullivan and Miami Flip, in part because she's very hands on, and also, she's not in California.

I'm not even liking Texas Flip N Move as much as I did the first season, because they seem to be playing around with cast and format, and the last few episodes don't have the auctioneer I love, Myers Jackson, shouting "auction time, auction time."

Oh, I see they're running a few episodes of Renovate to Rent from a few years ago, and I like those guys a lot.

[stillhere1900]

Just saw a promo for  "Nicole & Jionni's Shore Flip.

 

Really ?   Really ?

[Grumpbump]

Re: Zombie House Flippers - I live in Orlando and while watching the show, I get on the Property Appraiser's website and I have found that on the last few shows, they exaggerate the price they pay for the homes and the sales price. 

 

Also, the episode from this past weekend, "Monster House" included a gator in the pool.  The show included a scene where the team placed fried chicken (I swore to my husband it was from Publix - which is a great grocery store found in the South) as a bait to coax the gator out of the pool and patio area.  That's so illegal.  You are not allowed to feed gators.  Period.  Alligators should never see people as a food source.  

 

They only paid $315,000 for the Monster House (the show says they paid $350,000).  According to the county records, the house has not sold and it's on the MLS at $649,900.00

[Talky Tina]

Seeing the words "monster house" reminded me of the old show by the same name. It was hosted by Steve Watson and they'd do crazy home makeovers.

Does anybody else remember the show? I don't remember all of the episodes but the one I do remember had the home of the actress who played the sister on Mad About You.

[Happy Belly]

i remember Monster House Talky Tina! I loved that show.The one episode I remember most was turning a man's home into a castle. I was jealous because I wanted it.

Edited March 12, 2016 by Happy Belly

[Talky Tina]

I'm so happy somebody else remembers it.

I remember the castle episode. That show was crazy, I remember a gangster house too but I don't remember a lot of details. I'll have to look and see if I can watch it online, I used to love the show and I thought the host was hot in a weird way.

Edited March 12, 2016 by Talky Tina

[Happy Belly]

Do you rememer In A Fix? That show had a lot of hot guys on it. Marc "Sparky" the electrician and Justin the drywall installer extradinnaire. A woman designer named Franzella? It was such a fun show, great designs, likeable cast and TLC cancelled it only because they were going the way of reality type shows.

[chessiegal]

TLC used to have such fun shows before they became the freak show network - I never watch it anymore.

[WildPlum]

The Canadian show (set in Memphis, TN, huh?) Masters of Flip debuted on HGTV. Wow, I did not like the couple, did not like their reno. It is so "cute" to lie and badger your spouse. No, it isn't.

 

The only thing that made me happy was the wife - who touts herself as an experienced expert - screwing up a cabinet paint choice color and having it painted again to get the right color. I've done that more than once, picked a paint based on chip color, gotten it on an item or wall and said "hmmm, nope" and had to repaint.

[auntjess]

I just watched Masters of Flip.  Like him OK, but disliked her.  You're really wearing those heels when you know the condition of house and yard?
I may or may not give it another chance.
Still liking Miami Flip and Five Figure Flip the best of new avalanche of flipping shows.

[Talky Tina]

The guy on that Flip or Flop show is always in sandals at the construction site. I hate open toed shoes on a man anyway (ewwwwwwwww) but on a job site it's ridiculous.

[auntjess]

Flip of Flop has its own forum.  One of the threads mentions flip-flops.

[Saylii]

Did anyone else watch Good Bones last night? It was the series premiere I believe.

I liked the women and thought they worked well together. It's a mother and daughter. Their style seems to be hipster urban which is a little more different then Flip or Flop or Fixer Upper.

But the exterior of the house...... Lime green with a turquoise door. Uhhhh, no thank you. The entire rest of the neighborhood looked to be standard whites & greys.

I also thought some of their numbers were a little wonky. In their budget breakdown in the beginning, they talk about spending $140,000 on the reno. Then the younger woman freaks out when the estimate comes in at $131,500 when she wanted it to be $115,000. Then they spend $160,000 in the end on the reno, but sell the house for more then they were budgeting. Just seemed like typical HGTV drama that I didn't enjoy watching.

Edited March 24, 2016 by Saylii

[auntjess]

I remember seeing Good Bones on the schedule, but didn't record it.  There are so many of them now.

[smlait]

I quite like Masters of Flip.  I appreciate that they don't just do the exact same reno every episode and I like that they often use colour (rather than having everything always white/grey/beige).  

 

As for the heels, I'm betting that's producer-driven since all the women on reno shows wear them.

 

Unrelated: I just saw an add for a female Property Brothers (right down to them being twins) called Listed Sisters.  It looks awful.

Edited March 25, 2016 by smlait

[topanga]

Has anyone seen "First Time Flippers?" I've watched two episodes, and I love the banter between the flippers and the little sarcastic comments that the show posts on the screen--who writes those hilarious things?

 

Some aspects of the show are unrealistic: e.g., there's no way the flippers really plan to do everything themselves then "all of a sudden" have to call in help because they don't know anything about plumbing, installing ceiling beams, building additions onto a home, etc.  

 

And I don't like that we don't see much of the actual renovation. We see the couple doing demo at the beginning, we see a few minutes during the reno process, and then Bam!, we're at the open house seeing the fully completed home. I've gotten so used to "Flip or Flop" that I want to see more of the actual renovation process. But I like the show so far, and I'm sure I'll watch more episodes. 

[chessiegal]

Yes, we've been watching. It seems to have replaced "Renovation Realities" - always a fun time.

[auntjess]

I saw the Listed Sisters, and realized I'd seen them once before.  I found them less annoying than the Property brothers, because they don't have all that schtick.

 

Some aspects of the show are unrealistic: e.g., there's no way the flippers really plan to do everything themselves then "all of a sudden" have to call in help because they don't know anything about plumbing, installing ceiling beams, building additions onto a home, etc.

I wonder if they thought youtube would see them through.

 

[Tosia]

I saw Listed Sisters....who wear boots, not heels, btw, cuz its Tennessee, y'all. Its was ok...very similar to Fixer Uppers and Love It or Leave It. They tried to be upbeat and quirky, but same ole flipping show. Nice family, but lots of concern for kids' "needs", including a craft room for a 10 year old(?!). No. Just no. Hope they have budget for a regular cleaning service for the ginormous house.

Good Bones was better cuz they found an old house with awesome architectural details inside. ...many built in cabinets with glass doors intact (?), and upper floor with wonky roof indents--which they made look beautiful. Very white throughout, which made it look gigantic. Kitchen had enormous ceiling which you wd need a ladder to access for sure. I guess for, seasonal storage decor items. It was ok. The mom made plaster moulding to match existing moulding which was cool.

With both shows, and most Hgtv, I now just go to the end of the show for results, cuz I'm not about to do my own demolition or plumbing, electrical, etc.

I used to LOVE Christopher Lowell cuz he made decorating do-able. Now we get in-show commercials for HomeGoods, etc.

Actually, I am going to go white in my 25 year old house that has a lot of wood moulding, stair rails, cabinets, doors, etc. Cuz its kind of scratched up from pets. But I m starting on spring break with painting walls, tables, and chairs white, and then moving onto some of the moulding and kitchen cabinets--maybe this summer, if i have the nerve.

Edited March 30, 2016 by Tosia

[Maharincess]

I saw the end of a flipping show the other day that I'd never seen before. It had what looked like a mother and daughter who were both red heads.

I just got the end and had to leave so I wasn't able to check my guide. Does anybody know what show it was?

[chessiegal]

I saw the end of a flipping show the other day that I'd never seen before. It had what looked like a mother and daughter who were both red heads.

I just got the end and had to leave so I wasn't able to check my guide. Does anybody know what show it was?

The show is called "Good Bones" and yes they are mother and daughter.

[Maharincess]

Thanks Chessiegirl.

[izabella]

Good Bones was better cuz they found an old house with awesome architectural details inside. ...many built in cabinets with glass doors intact (?), and upper floor with wonky roof indents--which they made look beautiful. Very white throughout, which made it look gigantic. Kitchen had enormous ceiling which you wd need a ladder to access for sure. I guess for, seasonal storage decor items. It was ok. The mom made plaster moulding to match existing moulding which was cool.

 

I just saw that episode and really enjoyed it.  I'm glad they stuck to their plan in restoring what they could, and I thought they did a great job with it.  It's a house that I can see a young family living in for a long time. 

 

When the woman whose family used to live in the house came to see it, she had tears in her eyes, the real kind.  I think she was touched that they had kept so much of what made the home memorable, while refreshing it and even enhancing with that attic and deck. 

 

I like the ladies - their dynamic is funny and warm-hearted, and I like that they work in a reasonable price range.  I guess I also like the kinds of houses they are choosing to work on.  It's not so cookie cutter.

[JasmineFlower]

I like Good Bones. They did a preview episode to test them out last spring or early summer and it was called Two Chicks and a Hammer then, I prefer that name especially since it's their company name. I don't mind a rename, but not really feeling Good Bones. Anyway, I like the show a lot, enjoy the mother and especially the daughter. I've been keeping an eye out for their show after enjoying their test episode so much. Theirs was basically the only one I watched last spring that I actually liked a lot.

 

Just watched Master Flip a lot. Felt really forced. The end rest was good, except I wasn't a fan of the yellow front door, it didn't pop and sort of diminished how nice the outdoor remodel was because it didn't feel like the right design choice. Definitely feel like both husband and wife need some time. I didn't hate them, but I can't say that even if they aren't so forced in the future, I'll want to watch them regularly. Think I definitely could grow to like him more than her (she seemed to have a really high opinion of herself and her designs), but based on personality alone, this show in general may come up a bit lacking in the end. Chip and Joanna Gaines they are not.

 

Listed Sisters. Maybe I'll give that another shot soon. I watched the preview of that one last spring as well and wasn't feeling how ultra forced that was. Also, I'm not a fan of acting like they came up with a new concept when this is just another attempt at Property Brothers and Buying and Selling, which are all just Designed to Sell. And that's how their preview came off, like they were describing what they do and their approach and it was like, you could have saved your breath and those few minutes, we know they are trying to come up with a female version o the Scott team. And I distinctly remember watching the preview episode of this wishing for a return of Designed to Sell, because at the end of the day, I'd greatly prefer that over this. Think HGTV is trying to do much in the way of copycating their successful current shows. Don't need another sibling team just because if it's not gonna feel right. And they need to remember they've had a host of successful shows in the past, no need to just look to the current ones when trying to create new ones, it will all feel one note when that happens.

[Tosia]

I loved Designed to Sell also. Simple, classy design ideas that were doable for many, or ideas for changing your own rooms.

[auntjess]

I saw a Designed to Sell was on somewhere last week, maybe on Discovery.
Check your search feature and you might find it somewhere.

[Terrafamilia]

I saw Good Bones and though I liked the interior of the house they did, I agree with my mother who said the exterior looked like a chicken coop. Especially so because of the style of fence they put up. It was the kind you'd see out on the farm rather than in town like the picket fence they replaced.

[auntjess]

I see now that it's Property Ladder, with Kirsten Kemp Beck, that's on sometimes on Discovery Family Channel.
It may be on NOW, 11P ET Saturday.
You'll have to check for more times, but it's on again this coming week some.

[NYGirl]

I like 5 day flip and also first time flippers on DIY.  I like Cheri in 5 day flip and her houses always come out nice albeit there's no way it took 5 days.  First Time Flippers is so funny.  I always laugh when I watch.

 

I am also amazed at Texas Move and Flip...just amazed.  Randy does a nice job all by himself.

 

I saw a couple on HGTV ..Courtney and her husband..I hated them.  They're not even close to Christina and Tarek.

Edited April 3, 2016 by NYGirl

[JasmineFlower]

I see now that it's Property Ladder, with Kirsten Kemp Beck, that's on sometimes on Discovery Family Channel.

It may be on NOW, 11P ET Saturday.

You'll have to check for more times, but it's on again this coming week some.

 

That's a top 3 favorite real estate/house flipping show for me. Probably #2 behind Buy Me. The people on Property Ladder were such a hot mess. Here's hoping First Time Flippers on HGTV is even a 1/4 as good as those were.

[JasmineFlower]

I like 5 day flip and also first time flippers on DIY.  I like Cheri in 5 day flip and her houses always come out nice albeit there's no way it took 5 days.  First Time Flippers is so funny.  I always laugh when I watch.

 

I am also amazed at Texas Move and Flip...just amazed.  Randy does a nice job all by himself.

 

I saw a couple on HGTV ..Courtney and her husband..I hated them.  They're not even close to Christina and Tarek.

 

I watched the preview of 5 Day Flip last spring and a bit of a new episode recently. I think the houses comes out nice, but I'm not really liking the woman a ton. I don't dislike her strongly or anything, I'm closer to indifferent about her, but I can't see intentionally watching her show either.

 

Interesting you mention that about Courtney and her husband. My mom mentioned watching Master Flip and I said, they are no Chip and Joanna, and she said, they aren't even Christina and Tarek. I agree and that's really a better comparison for a show probably. I don't love love Christina and Tarek, but I like them for the most part and think their show works for what they are doing. And Master Flip does come up short to that, even if I will like the architecture of the Nashville homes more than Orange County ones in large part.

 

I've never watched the Texas one, but I guess I'll try that out soon.

[auntjess]

I'd love to see Buy Me reruns even.  Loved the "man in black."

[Wings]

There doesn't seem to be anything interesting on.  Marathons of real estate shows and Love it or List it is always on.  Am I missing a good one.  I just scanned through several days on HGTV and didn't see anything but the usual.  

[JasmineFlower]

I'd love to see Buy Me reruns even.  Loved the "man in black."

 

Yeah, they could put that in primetime, just the reruns, and it would still do well. I don't think the current people remember how freaking fantastic that trainwreck was and how much the audience loved listening to the Man in Black guide us through their nonsense.

Edited April 4, 2016 by JasmineFlower

[Broderbits]

auntjess, thanks for the heads-up about Property Ladder! Discovery Family is not a channel I usually check, so I'd never have known it was on.

 

I,too, miss Buy Me. Gone too soon.

[auntjess]

Broderbits, I don't usually check it either, but I scroll through the kids channels for my nephews, and saw it.

[auntjess]

Broderbits, the Discovery Family channel has some WYWO (While You were Out) shows on!
One's at 11 tonight, and midnight.  With U-verse, you can push the info button, then click on "more showtimes." to find others.

[selhars]

I stumbled across "Listed Sisters" -- and clicked away in about two minutes (or less). Could stomach it.

It was so clearly an exact copy of Property Brothers, that just that alone turned me off.

One sister in a suit, the other dressed for construction. The same complaints and comments from all the other couples we've seen before, the same contraction issues and design changes. I'm just over it.

 

For years I've commented from time to time that HGTV should have an overnight -- or prime time weekend block -- just for its classic older shows from day one:

Chris Casson Madden, Kitty Bartholomew, Room by Room, Decorating Cents, Sensible Chic, Decorating with Style, Around the House, Dream House, Dream Home, Fantasy Open House, Gardener's Journal, Gardening By the Yard, Fix It, Before and After, The Carol Duvall Show, and there are many more!!

 

These shows would be perfect for an overnight or weekend block of programming. called HGTV Classics. That's what This old House has done.

[Tracer34]

I happened to catch a new episode of "Good Bones" and thought that it stood out from the many other flipping shows because:

 

– the two women aren't afraid of being different in their design choices (Crikey! Screaming yellow-striped house!)

– they didn't skimp on the unseen repairs, but took the house right down to the studs, including the outside walls and interior floor, and rebuilt everything.

– in staging the house, they didn't go for bland, but made it a very cute design.  Very "hip cottage" (if there is such a thing).  Not my style, but it looked nice.

– there was very little fakery that I could tell, other than nattering about not breaking the front window.

 

There could have been a lot less yelling between the mother and daughter (not angry yelling, just the two of them being over-the-top loud).

If it is on again, I'l plan to catch it.
 

[Tosia]

The yellow stripes was ridiculous! Clowny. The interior was like updated vintage grandma but in a good way...and the furniture was very unique. .cool unique. Only complaint was the woman who walked through with them at the end because she kept repeating, "It's so pretty!" Over and over and over. Or, "It's perfect." Again and again and again. Prep your compliments/vocabulary people. Yeesh.

[Maharincess]

It's not as bad as the word "awesome". I saw a flipping show the other day and when the home owners were seeing the house for the first time, I counted 32 "awesomes" from the guy in the couple. Everybody and everything was awesome. I hope that once the guy saw the show he realized how ridiculous he sounded and expands his vocabulary a little.

[JasmineFlower]

I didn't care for the yellow on the exterior, but liked almost everything inside except the huge chandelier, it was too big for the room even though I liked the style. But even then, as bad as that yellow seemed initially, when they panned back it looked less awful than I initially thought it would. I do recognize that their area is definitely more eclectic though, there was a periwinkle blue house up the block from this house that was showing in the background shots every once in a while. So even though it's not my thing, it's clear someone likes these more out there colors. I'd be happy if they went more with the periwinkle and less with the yellow and lime colors though.

 

Definitely still my favorite among the new shows, just as it was when they all had their previews in the spring.

 

I tried out Listed Sisters and it's just a carbon copy of Buying and Selling, like they made no effort to make it different an I find that confusing. Now, I barely watch Buying and Selling, but I've watched enough episodes and know enough that Drew and Jonathan's is far superior to what I saw on Listed Sisters just from an interaction standpoint. They aren't unlikable, but they don't feel natural either. Not something I picture watching much at all.

 

I think HGTV has forgotten they have several personalities who are very natural on-screen that maybe they should try to develop around again they way they did a few years ago. I don't know why they are so set on discovering a new talent, if it was so easy to find them, they'd have come up with someone other than David who has stuck for more than a hot minute from their challenge shows. This year feels like it's full of talent misses.

[selhars]

A friend of mine said just the other day she'd like to see David Bromstad with another show.

I'd like to see another "decorators challenge' kind of show. I LOVED seeing three different designers each come up with a plan and present their boards, searched and samples. It was sooo interesting to see three different approaches to the same space and project. I'd like to see more decorating in general, especially 'budget' designs like on Decorating Cents or Sensible Chic. AND reasonable cost remodeling -- like on Weekend Warriors. But they ruined even those when they went crazy with shows like Designed to Sell, and Takeover My Makeover, or Renovation Realities…where they had homeowners doing STUPID stuff like cutting into a wall without knowing pipes are in there, or cutting water lines with the water still on. 

 

I want to see more realistic projects….and most people to SOME kind of due diligence of research before redoing their kitchen. They don't just start tearing out cabinets.

 

I suppose I wouldn't even mind new flipping shows if the formula wasn't so…well, formulaic. 

 

Whatever happened to the Kitchen Cousins?…..who had another show also before that one -- which name I can't remember.

Edited April 7, 2016 by selhars

[Saylii]

Finally caught a couple episodes of the Masters of Flip. I couldn't quite understood what Kortney and Dave? contributed to the flip past the $$$. It seemed like there were constructions guys who ran the project and the staging/design was done by another woman. This really should be half an hour like Flip or Flop.