Flipping The Block - General Discussion

[auntjess]

Like that awful bathroom in the master bedroom, that she put in one of her houses.

[auntjess]

They really are a stark contrast to the Rowhouse contestants.
I didn't understand, though, why they didn't have the heavy equipment in at the start.

[walnutqueen]

They really are a stark contrast to the Rowhouse contestants.

I didn't understand, though, why they didn't have the heavy equipment in at the start.

 

Yes indeed, auntjess.  I am glad the shows are running concurrently, because it really highlights the very different vibes these two shows have.  The constant contestant backbiting turns me off that Rowhouse show.

[Wings]

This is the first I have heard of Rowhouse.  Just put it on my DVR!  

[auntjess]

Wings707, I'd bet you can probably catch up on all the episodes.
It would be more fun in order if you can avoid watching the later episodes.

[Wings]

Wings707, I'd bet you can probably catch up on all the episodes.

It would be more fun in order if you can avoid watching the later episodes.

 

 

Sometimes shows do a marathon before the finale.  I will try to watch them in order, I get it that it will be much better.  

[auntjess]

Friday morning there are some of them.
The thing is, there's a big surpise in the middle of these, so it would be more of a spoiler than usual.

[needschocolate]

Fridays marathon starts with episode 4.  If you have Comcast, Rowhouse Showdown is on Demand. Available until sometime in November.   

 

I think I will give it a try. I hope the Rowhouse contestants aren't too obnoxious.

[Wings]

Fridays marathon starts with episode 4.  If you have Comcast, Rowhouse Showdown is on Demand. Available until sometime in November.   

 

I think I will give it a try. I hope the Rowhouse contestants aren't too obnoxious.

 

I have that all recorded for Friday.  I will watch it this weekend.  

[Madding crowd]

I never understand master bathrooms which provide no privacy. I don't want anyone including my spouse to watch me use a toilet and I wouldn't take a shower without a door to close .

[chrisvee]

Really enjoyed the lack of interpersonal drama (other than Big Hair's attempt at the bathroom vanity) and the focus on getting the work done. Like that they all seem to like each other. That practically guarantees EPs will ruin it before S2.

Feel like marrieds have a terrible location that can't be overcome (who wants to have a pool right outside their unit? The noise!) Brothers might have a similar issue since they are near that common party space.

Big Hair's condo would take too much work to undo (tin backsplash, all that reclaimed wood) so gotta give it to the sisters since the orange can be easily removed.

Feels like Nicole Curtis isn't enough of an authority to be a judge.

Edited September 3, 2014 by chrisvee

[GaT]

I think I will give it a try. I hope the Rowhouse contestants aren't too obnoxious.

Post again after you start watching :-)

[auntjess]

Yes, there's a good RS forum.

[DownTheShore]

I don't think that pool is going to be as big a negative as we might think.  There are only four townhouses using it and probably whoever owns the one right in front of it will be at work during the daytime.  Once school starts, any kids in the townhouses will only have a narrow window of time to use the pool.  Depending on who lives in the townhouses, it might not get much use at all - or just have adults lounging around it.  Besides, they have their side yard to escape to.

[DownTheShore]

Ditto that.  I don't want a spa tub right in my bedroom nor do I want a sink.  I want a bathroom with a door that closes.  I don't want to watch anyone urinate or defecate, nor do I want them to watch me doing the same.

[ShellSeeker]

I never understand master bathrooms which provide no privacy. I don't want anyone including my spouse to watch me use a toilet and I wouldn't take a shower without a door to close .

 

Our house is like this. There is an opening to the master bath area, but no door. There is a separate room for the throne, with a door that closes, which is the most important thing. But the shower is positioned so that anyone walking up or down the stairs can see right into it, which is a huge design flaw. We have 2 daughters, so it's not that big a deal for me, but it's my husband's biggest pet peeve. The door to the master bedroom will swing open unless it's completely closed, so there is potential for scarring the children (hee). He wants to put a sliding barn-door type thing in, so you can close the door while showering, but then it can stay open the rest of the time for air flow and to keep the bedroom from looking to closed off.

[auntjess]

Yes, I'm wondering if these will sell to party-loving singles, or maybe to an investor to rent out to singles.
 

[Wings]

I don't think that pool is going to be as big a negative as we might think.  There are only four townhouses using it and probably whoever owns the one right in front of it will be at work during the daytime.  Once school starts, any kids in the townhouses will only have a narrow window of time to use the pool.  Depending on who lives in the townhouses, it might not get much use at all - or just have adults lounging around it.  Besides, they have their side yard to escape to.

 

 

I agree.  I prefer the back 2 units because they have a private side yard and a front yard that is likely to be private most of the time, especially in cooler weather. 

 

I think the Brothers unit will go first and probably for the most.  I can see them winning because of the location and less about what they did inside.  The interior is fine.  The furniture and accessories will be ignored. I have forgotten what their kitchen and master bath look like but I am sure they are doable.  

 

I hope we see what they all sold for but given the odd editing I am not sure we will.  

 

I wonder, too,  auntjess. Auctions draw people who want to flip or rent.  

Edited September 3, 2014 by wings707

[walnutqueen]

I don't think that pool is going to be as big a negative as we might think.  There are only four townhouses using it and probably whoever owns the one right in front of it will be at work during the daytime.  Once school starts, any kids in the townhouses will only have a narrow window of time to use the pool.  Depending on who lives in the townhouses, it might not get much use at all - or just have adults lounging around it.  Besides, they have their side yard to escape to.

 

If there are kids or partying adults, there will be noise, noise, noise unless pool hours are strictly enforced, believe me (now get off my lawn!).

[biakbiak]

I also don't think there will be that much noise, they are fairly small units and only two bedrooms each so I can't imagine they will be purchased or rented to families with tons of kids and it also limits the number of singles or couples that will occupy them. 

 

I think the married couple and twins units will be the first to go and go for higher prices because they are neutral and have much larger private yards. The sisters apartment is also neutral and their private yard much nicer than that sand trap. I think that unfinished ceiling monstrosity will go for the lowest because even if they find a buyer who likes their shitty aesthetic I can't imagine it will be more than one or two so there will not be competition for it. 

Edited September 3, 2014 by biakbiak

[Hero]

Josh should be a judge on the show. I think he knows what he is talking about and he is blunt. Him being just the host is stupid. I think having just Nicole judge the construction of the house is a bad idea.

[hkit]

Josh should be a judge on the show. I think he knows what he is talking about and he is blunt. Him being just the host is stupid. I think having just Nicole judge the construction of the house is a bad idea.

I'd be OK with that. Disclosure: I hate Josh. His is the only "crasher" show I can't watch. He comes off as obnoxious and someone who is very loud, all the time. His buffoonery didn't show up as a host on this show, and being a judge may actually give him something to do other than trying to be the entertainment.

I like Nicole because I respect her passion for saving older homes and what she has done for Detroit is fantastic (and Minneapolis/St. Paul as well). But her style leaves much to be desired, and if you watch her own show, she cuts too many corners to play the quality card. I agree, she doesn't belong here.

[Wings]

Nicole is not doing anything noble for Detroit.  That is a city where the network can buy a rundown house for little money for the TV show.  And I bet it is VERY easy to work with Detroit officials, too!  The city no longer exists, it has been gutted by fires and abandoned save a few who have no way to relocate.   I am from a suburb and, when I was there, it was a fully functioning city.   Alas, no more.  Fires still happen almost daily. 

[auntjess]

 

Disclosure: I hate Josh. His is the only "crasher" show I can't watch. He comes off as obnoxious and someone who is very loud, all the time.

I felt that way too, but recently came across a blog from someone whose house was crashed, and she said he worked hard the whole time, and was pleasant to work with.

Other stars of these remodeling shows, especially the Scott brothers, apparently only show up when the camera's around.

The crasher show I won't watch is Bath Crashers, as the stuff is too over-the-top.

Not fond of Yard after Ahmed left.

[Wings]

In defense of the brothers:

The show is not faked like most of the others. 

 

They really do let the contestants choose the house they want.  They are for sale.

 

Of course Johnathan doesn't do the work!  They have a crew.  Why would he?  He has the background and skill to do it but he has parlayed his skill into a TV show where he is paid much more money! 

 

And yes, a decorator does the interior design but gets input from both of them. 

 

Same thing with Drew.  He is a Realtor and works with a local real estate agents.  He has to because they are in different states and he isn't licensed everywhere.  He takes their information back to a local agent; he is the middleman.  

 

They bring in more viewers for HGTV than any of the others.  They are gold!

 

I like them and their programs.  

Edited September 4, 2014 by wings707

[needschocolate]

Disclosure: I hate Josh. His is the only "crasher" show I can't watch. He comes off as obnoxious and someone who is very loud, all the time.

 

Mileage obviously varies - Josh is my favorite of the crashers hosts.  He seems to have the most fun and everyone seems to like him.  I don't watch any of the crashers shows on a regular basis, but if I have a choice between house crashers on one channel and any of the other crashers shows on another channel, I will pick House Crashers. However, that is not entirely because of Josh - my kitchen and bathrooms are too small for any of the stuff they do on those crashers and I am just not into any of the yard makeover shows. 

[needschocolate]

Ditto that.  I don't want a spa tub right in my bedroom nor do I want a sink.  I want a bathroom with a door that closes.  I don't want to watch anyone urinate or defecate, nor do I want them to watch me doing the same.

I recently watched an episode of Genevieve's Renovation with Genevieve Gorder.  She is turning two apartments into one for her and her daughter.  She couldn't put a hot tub on her balcony, so she put a bathtub in her office - the office she plans to see clients in.  There is nothing around the tub, it is just there in the office like the desk and file cabinets.   

[Double-S Mom]

Not sure if this is the right place...but stumbled on this & I am very happy!

 

http://jscasting.com/now-casting/flipping-block-season-2/

[Wings]

Not sure if this is the right place...but stumbled on this & I am very happy!

 

http://jscasting.com/now-casting/flipping-block-season-2/

 

Excellent!  I will look forward to season 2!  I like this show. 

[txvoodoo]

Also, none of them had the exposed brick she always wants, that drives me crazy. Everything must be authentic, except if Nicole likes something that isn't.

 

That one drives me & my husband crazy. We're both from areas with a lot of very old homes, as in colonial homes. They had stone around hearths or areas like that, but red exterior brick was supposed to be exterior.

 

My grandmother's home in Philadelphia was from the late 1800s, and when a young couple bought it after she passed away, they renovated it. When stripping off the 1940s wallpaper, they found turn of the century murals of the Philly area countryside! Victorians didn't want brick!

 

Another thing I always wonder about - if you're stripping back to the brick, where's the insulation?  There are legit reasons to have internal framing, drywall, etc.

(I should take this to Rehab Addict forum :D)

[Wings]

I recently watched an episode of Genevieve's Renovation with Genevieve Gorder.  She is turning two apartments into one for her and her daughter.  She couldn't put a hot tub on her balcony, so she put a bathtub in her office - the office she plans to see clients in.  There is nothing around the tub, it is just there in the office like the desk and file cabinets.   

 

 

Very odd.  So she is divorced.   She is beautiful but humorless.  

[needschocolate]

Very odd.  So she is divorced.   She is beautiful but humorless.  

And her designs are just the opposite - not so beautiful, but rather funny.  Note: This was the only Genevieve show I have watched, and she used really busy wallpaper in some rooms and lots of gold/brass fixtures.  Plus she put her kitchen cabinets up to the top of her 12 foot ceilings (L-shaped kitched layout) - nothing wrong with that, gotta get the storage where you can, but she attached one of those rolling ladders to them so she could reach the stuff, even though she said it would only be seasonal stuff - so now she will have a rolling ladder in her way when she is cooking. 

 

But I am now very off-topic, so let me just add ... I am very glad they didn't make Genevieve Gorder a judge on Flipping the Block. 

[Wings]

I don't like her style, for the most part, but she would be a better judge than Nicole by a long shot. 

[hkit]

Nicole is not doing anything noble for Detroit. That is a city where the network can buy a rundown house for little money for the TV show. And I bet it is VERY easy to work with Detroit officials, too! The city no longer exists, it has been gutted by fires and abandoned save a few who have no way to relocate. I am from a suburb and, when I was there, it was a fully functioning city. Alas, no more. Fires still happen almost daily.

She's raising awareness beyond showing ruin porn. I'm sorry you feel the city is beyond saving, but I appreciate any effort to remove blight, even if it is done for less than altruistic reasons.

[Hero]

Josh is my favorite crasher. At first I couldn't stand him, but he grew on me. He is loud sometimes, but he is entertaining.

[txvoodoo]

I lke Josh. I didn't intially, but then he grew on me. He seems sincere, and not fake.

 

I like Matt Meunster, too. I would LOVE them to crash my master bath, because it's a weird, huge space, built in the 80s, and half of it is open to the bedroom and I can't figure out how to reconfigure it. Also, they always end up using $5000 tubs, and having all the bells & whistles. 

[Sarnia]

Just watched this episode. As many here I'm really disappointed in Nicole Curtis as a judge. Stainless steel bannister will not be to everyone's taste, but an exposed-beam ceiling that looks very much unfinished with exposed plumbing and wire will? She's judging very much to what she likes, and her style is pretty specific and definitely not fit for a wide audience. The only thing that I liked in Curtis and Amanda's room was the understair storage, it looked interesting (we didn't see much of it though) but to me the room does not give a good first impression (neither does the rest of the house, for that matter). As many here, it really grates me that they are praised for doing good work on so little budget when the fact that they have no money is because they so badly managed it.

 

Speaking of budget, it's not very clear to me what the budget is exactly and where it comes from. They have the initial budget, but they get plenty of free stuff on top (furnitures, accessories), they get some free tradies, and for several challenges there was additionnal budget (as here), so I'm a bit lost.

 

John and Whitney did a great job except for the turquoise frames. What the hell were they thinking by nailing them to the wall? Their redone kitchen looked so much better as well.

 

My favorite was the sisters' , they managed to have a warm and inviting place but it's mostly through the accessories so the bones are rather neutral so easy to adapt to anyone's taste. The brothers did a good job but a bit "meh". I laughed when they said that it was great to see their design style flow through the whole house, I hadn't really noticed they had a design style!

 

It'll be interesting to see how these places fare at auction. They all have good-looking condos with rather neutral bones which could appeal to a lot of people (except, I think, Curtis & Amanda).

Edited September 6, 2014 by Sarnia

[Wings]

I loved stainless staircase struts and had to laugh when Nicole infered that it will be a turn off to many buyers.  Oh no it will not!  There are many more people who like contemporary and modern than Victorian.   I think they are a contender for the win. Their washer and dryer upstairs trumps anything the other units have. 

 

Nicole also loved big hair's traditional banister and railing!  That does not go with rustic schlock.  It goes with NIcole.  

 

 

Speaking of budget, it's not very clear to me what the budget is exactly and where it comes from. They have the initial budget, but they get plenty of free stuff on top (furnitures, accessories), they get some free tradies, and for several challenges there was additionnal budget (as here), so I'm a bit lost.

 

 

They were given a budget at the beginning for the entire project (all rooms).  I have forgotten how much it was.  It was up to each couple to decide where and how to spend it.   The big hair's did not budget wisely so had to do a lot of dumpster diving.  Nicole loves that shit so they won the guest room challenge because they did it all for $200, leaving only $83 for the living room.  They won another room but I forget what it was.  Living room?  Could that be?

 

Joss and Main gives them free furniture and accessories to use for staging.  

[Wings]

Who is everyone's guess to win.  

 

Mine is the young couple (John and Whitney?).  The main reason is the washer and dryer is upstairs. They also made the bathroom larger and installed 2 sinks. Storage under staircase and stainless on stairs are all selling points.  The pool in the front yard is a drawback but they have easy access to the common area next to it so in essence they have 2 yards. 

 

The brothers are in a good position too.  Though they cannot decorate well, that is of no concern to the buyer.  They made a closet larger and did some other structural changes that make a difference.  i can't remember them. 

 

The site is not well organized.  I wish they would have a page that showed each design team and their rooms.  

[Bungalow]

i have thought that Big-haired and her partner planned to spend everything they had in the budget to get that $10,000 win for the kitchen. They had a much better chance at winning that challenge that the whole $50,000. Wlak away with nothing or $10,000?

[Hero]

I also think it's either down to John and Whitney and the brothers. The other two teams houses were way too taste specific. The sister team has that orange wall and the other team has that torn down ceiling thing going on.

[Sarnia]

 The sister team has that orange wall.

Oh gosh, I forgot the orange wall. Then I also think that John and Whitney and the brothers have the best chances at auction since their flat are more neutral when you get all the accessories and furniture out, and will appeal to more buyers. John & Whitney have the pool working against them, I think, so maybe it depends on how well they can "sell" this come open house. But they have a lot of positive (laundry upstairs, bigger bathroom...). The brothers have no bath, maybe it is a problem.

Curtis and Amanda have a great flat on paper (direct access to the garage, private path to the pool...) but they have made design choices that are very unfortunate and that will be costly to change (the living room ceiling of course, but also their first bathroom, the sand pit, and many others).

Speaking of garages, I thought there were very poorly finished when they showed some internal details (no finishing around some power outlets and so on) and the concrete outside was cracked all over, not very appealing.

 

I laughed at Curtis stuck into the tractor, and seeing the writing on the side : "use on level ground only". Maybe he should have read that before running it over all the piles of earth and tipping over.

[mlp]

I'd definitely select the one the brothers did if I had to choose one.  First of all, I'd prefer the two that aren't right on the busy street and I wouldn't even consider the one with the exposed beams.  Between the open ceiling and the sand in the yard, I'd never feel like it was clean in there.  Of the two in back, I wasn't crazy about John and Whitney's kitchen layout choices and I hated the blue frames nailed to the wall.  Worse though, for me, would be the pool right smack in my yard with all the attendant noise and the possibility of people letting kids scream and yell directly outside my windows. 

[Wings]

The blue frames are so easily taken down I was surprised that it was even mentioned.  Pull them off, spackle the holes and touch up the paint, just like we all do when we move a picture and the hole is exposed.  pffffffffft 

 

The sand in big hair's yard is one big kitty litter box and you know cats are all over that cheezy neighborhood.  Nicole liked it.  Figures.  I don't like her, her taste or her questionable skill.  

Edited September 6, 2014 by wings707

[Sarnia]

The blue frames are so easily taken down I was surprised that it was even mentioned.  Pull them off, spackle the holes and touch up the paint, just like we all do when we move a picture and the hole is exposed.  pffffffffft 

You might think this is easy, but I know many people who wouldn't be able to do that. Paint touch-up will show if you don't manage to get the proper paint or if you don't do it properly (which, again, some people might not know how). It's not a huge issue (nowhere as big as as closing up a ceiling), but it still might put some people off.

[LizBug]

I like the sisters for the win.  Yes, they have a lot of orange touches throughout their condo but they are easily removed.  Their kitchen has a great backsplash, new appliances and a closed area for the washer/dryer.  They didn't rob space from the 2nd bedroom to expand the bathroom.  Their bathroom is nice even though (according to Nicole) they should have added a shower curtain.  Their back yard is practical, not cluttered, and drought tolerant.

 

John & Whitney made some mistakes with their uncentered tile in the bathroom, cluttered yard, poor kitchen layout (even after adjusting it), adding the empty frames to the wall.  And, they used touches of that teal throughout ... maybe a more popular color than the orange but still might not be everyone's taste.

 

Curtis & Amanda ... yikes!!  They had a lot of great ideas but didn't know how to edit themselves and include those that were more generic and less suited to their specific taste level.

 

The twins came along once they realized that they had to finish things.  Their decorating sense isn't strong but they made quality improvements to their condo.

 

BTW ... these are smallish (approximately 1000 sq ft) condos.  That may limit the number of families with children who'd even be interested in them.

[NeenerNeener]

 

When we watch the auction we may be able to guess who won,  since the price was left up on the young couples condo.  It sold for $352,000

 

There's some interesting price history at the bottom of this redfin page: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Glendale/1119-Sonora-Ave-91201/unit-D/home/7148824

In May all four units were taken off the market, and then sold on different dates in late June, which is probably when each buyer actually closed.

Two of the units went for $352,000, one went for $357,000 and the last went for $325,500. If the married couple's condo was one of the ones that went for $352,000, and Big Hair's condo went for $325,500 (I suspect), then there's a good chance that the brothers won.

Edited September 6, 2014 by NeenerNeener

[Bungalow]

C & A figured out early that $10,000 for a kitchen (even when overdone) is better than a chance for $50,000.

[Sarnia]

There's some interesting price history at the bottom of this redfin page: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Glendale/1119-Sonora-Ave-91201/unit-D/home/7148824

Thanks for the link, very interesting. It shows that the building was sold for $1,500.000 in September 2013. Woud that be when it was bought for the planning of the show? Because if so, the added prices of the 4 units is less than that. Am I missing something? (I am not really familiar with how real estate works in the US).

[QuinnM]

It shows that the building was sold for $1,500.000 in September 2013. Woud that be when it was bought for the planning of the show? Because if so, the added prices of the 4 units is less than that. Am I missing something?

That's why I was thinking the June dollar amounts were the amounts the units went for when a construction loan or some such and not the auction amount. I can't see them losing money. They have new appliances and a pool at the very least. The market us pretty stable in the last year.