Pet Peeves: The Holy Trinity and Beyond

[chessiegal]

I took the training to become a real estate agent, and real estate agents use the term "price point" all the time. It's a term of art for them.

[Empress1]

On 12/11/2016 at 7:25 PM, Ohwell said:

Most of the apartments I lived in had balconies and I never went out on them to have coffee.  It never even occurred to me.  

I've only ever lived in one place with a balcony -2BR apartment & each bedroom had one. I did drink coffee on it, but I also was a student studying abroad so I didn't have a typical workaday schedule. The bedrooms were the biggest, nicest rooms in the apartment.

3 hours ago, chessiegal said:

I took the training to become a real estate agent, and real estate agents use the term "price point" all the time. It's a term of art for them.

I'm in marketing and we say it too. It's a pretty commonly used word in the jargon dictionary.

[Kohola3]

I am neither a realtor nor in marketing. I appreciate "plain speak".  Just ask me what the budget is or what I plan to spend.  Don't bother to fancy it up.  Annoys the snot out of me.

[chessiegal]

I was just explaining that in a certain profession "price point" is a term that is used, and that because this is a show that uses real estate agents it might explain why it's being used. I'm not advocating or defending it, just explaining why I think it is being used.

[AnnaRose]

I'm sure there are some professionals who use that phrase, but it still sounds fake to me, like the house hunters are coached to say it.  (Probably because they are.)

[mojito]

I heard a house hunter state that she wanted a "farm" dining room table. So let's see, shiplap walls (creating them, not keeping existing), reclaimed wood walls, farm sinks,  barn doors. That's modern design. I think.

[Mu Shu]

18 hours ago, chessiegal said:

I was just explaining that in a certain profession "price point" is a term that is used, and that because this is a show that uses real estate agents it might explain why it's being used. I'm not advocating or defending it, just explaining why I think it is being used.

This is why I could never sell houses.  Instead of "price point", I would couch it as "shit your ass can actually afford with your nebulous credit and Lilliputian budget".

[Bastet]

Ha; I wouldn't last long as a real estate agent, either, given how often I'd wind up screaming "Buy a can of paint, then, you moron!" at my clients.

[QuinnM]

Best House Hunters Tweets on Buzzfeed

I want to watch HH with a live tweet feed now.

[auntjess]

That's wonderful, QuinnM!

[CocoaGoddess]

I live tweet House Hunters all the time.

Every now and then a pissed off House Hunter reads the tweets and will come for my wig. I said what I said, House Hunters. 

[AnnaRose]

35 minutes ago, CocoaGoddess said:

I live tweet House Hunters all the time.

Every now and then a pissed off House Hunter reads the tweets and will come for my wig. I said what I said, House Hunters. 

I've never heard or read that phrase... and it cracked me up!  Thanks so much for the laugh.  I had a super stressful day and really needed that. :)

Also, good on you for owning your snark. ;)

[Honey]

Re: The HH'ers being picky:

I think they're just saying the things they're told to, in their script.  Since they aren't actually shopping for a home.

[CherryAmes]

7 hours ago, Honey said:

Since they aren't actually shopping for a home.

Agreed.  It's not like their other choices were actual choices.  But honestly if the reason they are on HH is for their 15 minutes of fame you'd think they'd want to come across as nice people instead of ridiculously demanding,  entitled, argumentative boobs with high expectations and no common sense!  I wonder how many of them end up being embarrassed whenever their episode gets shown?

[MsProudSooner]

One of my daughter's neighbors in her new neighborhood was on HH last year.  Her story was typical - they had already purchased their home and HH came up with 2 more houses for them to look at for the show.  Apparently, the show wanted her to come across as being difficult.  She said it wasn't hard to do since she was pregnant at the time but the show didn't want this known until the reveal.  She said after 8 hours of filming she had no problem being difficult at the end of the day!  

I've read that the home owners that appear on the show get $500.  What about the owners of the two homes that aren't picked?  Do they get any compensation.

Edited December 28, 2016 by MsProudSooner

[CherryAmes]

24 minutes ago, MsProudSooner said:

What about the owners of the two homes that aren't picked?  Do they get any compensation.

Especially if their homes are being picked apart and criticized!  I know I've seen some episodes that made me wonder what the home owners were thinking when they offered their houses up to be on this show!

[Kohola3]

Of all of the boring trends to chose from, THIS is what they chose?

http://www.hgtv.com/design-blog/design/5-trends-we-cant-wait-to-say-goodbye-to-in-2017

[laredhead]

I would add granite, dark blue bottom kitchen cabinets, Shaker style cabinets, and the list goes on.  Nothing wrong with the things I mentioned, but I'm tired of every designer on HGTV using them.

[juliet73]

I would add two tone cabinetry (uppers one color and base cabinets a different color), "feature walls", granite "waterfall" countertops, using the phrases "open concept/open floor plan" and "entertaining"

[auntjess]

I don't dislike gray walls, or Moroccan design rugs, but they are everywhere.
And OK, I'll say it.  I LIKE brick fireplaces, and I like chrome or brass fixtures a lot better than brushed nickel.
I did see once, that Kohler (I think), makes fixtures that just screw off the plumbing part, so it's an easy fix when they go out of style.

[biakbiak]

If HGTV thinks that shiplap has to go does that mean they are going to fire Chip and Joanna?

[Kohola3]

Stainless steel, stainless steel, stainless steel.....gah - enough already.

[zoeysmom]

15 hours ago, biakbiak said:

If HGTV thinks that shiplap has to go does that mean they are going to fire Chip and Joanna?

She would have to take her open shelving with her.

16 hours ago, auntjess said:

I don't dislike gray walls, or Moroccan design rugs, but they are everywhere.
And OK, I'll say it.  I LIKE brick fireplaces, and I like chrome or brass fixtures a lot better than brushed nickel.
I did see once, that Kohler (I think), makes fixtures that just screw off the plumbing part, so it's an easy fix when they go out of style.

I think brass is back. 

[MaKaM]

On 12/29/2016 at 4:07 PM, zoeysmom said:

 

I think brass is back. 

But only with blue or gray cabinets (which really, gold and blue is so classic I forgive it for being gold/brass). Still not good as your shower surround. :-)

I don't mind "open concept" or the like. I assume the House Hunters have been watching the show for the last 20 years as we have and these words are just the norm now. I do wonder when the whole "white kitchen" trend will die and what will follow it. (don't get me wrong, my dream kitchen back when cherry and black granite were the trends was a white kitchen with sand colored counters and beach-glass backsplash but I have white bedroom furniture and the dust just settles into every design detail. So am just peachy with my natural wood colored kitchen cabinets that came with the house). So what is next, dust colored kitchens? Black kitchens? Red kitchens? Acryllic kitchens?

Seems like cement tiles have been getting a lot of airtime--wonder if they are subway's replacement. I don't see stainless appliances leaving any time soon--yeah fingerprints but our old white fridge also had to be wiped down or it looked dingy. The black stainless I think we'll see/hear more if the sponsors start pushing it harder. Appliances with built in LED screens so you can change the design on them hourly?

I caught one of the "Christmas" themed episodes a few weeks ago and I laughed and laughed. The couple was in NY and it was 100% obvious the producers made them discuss Christmas shit as they hunted. No one looks through their boxes of holiday stuff right after they move, in NY, when the leaves on the trees are still bright green. I hate producer manipulation crap like that. Srlsy, we are addicted at this point. No drama needed. No petulant looking nanny wife wondering where she will craft while engineer husband commandeers the best room in the $900,000 house to be his tinkering room. Show us the house porn!

[laredhead]

MaKaM, laughing at "dust colored kitchens".  I wouldn't mind stainless so much if HH's didn't act like anything else was less than acceptable.  I have stainless appliances, after several years of mixed colors.  I wish all of the makers of stainless appliances would be required to make them with the finish that doesn't show fingerprints. 

[auntjess]

My dream kitchen would be white with that lime green enamel looking stuff, like Justine Simmons (Rev Run's wife) got for her kitchen, but hers is red.
It was some fancy Italian cabinetry from a kitchen store in Saddle River, NJ, where they live.
I do want a kitchen table rather than an island, though, or maybe just a table-height island.
While I like the look of countertops made with recycled bottles, I think I go with white Corian, or something impervious to stains.
As I loathe touching the sticky or gritty camouflaged on a counter, I want one that shows all spills, and a backsplash made of large panels, not requiring grout.
I sometimes actually do splash on the backsplash, and don't want tomato or chocolate stained grout.

[juliet73]

Before I had children, I remodeled my kitchen with white cabinets, white appliances (gasp), beige walls and lighter oak floors.  If I knew then, what I knew now having young children, I would have gotten black cabinets, black appliances, black walls and bare cement floors. :) 

[auntjess]

59 minutes ago, juliet73 said:

would have gotten black cabinets, black appliances, black walls

Black appliances show fingerprints, and black stoves get dusty very, very quickly.

[biakbiak]

So just get rid of the children!

[Tony]

On 12/29/2016 at 4:07 PM, zoeysmom said:

I think brass is back. 

Yup, aged matte brass is the new brushed nickel. Soon to be clamored by House Hunters everywhere

[Kohola3]

Well, shoot, I will have to demolish my 2 year old bathroom and start over with matte brass.  Sigh.

[auntjess]

On ‎1‎/‎1‎/‎2017 at 0:41 AM, biakbiak said:

So just get rid of the children!

Cooking would have to go too, of course.

[Mu Shu]

Most people need to lose weight anyway.

[auntjess]

EMERGENCY UPDATE!

I entered the realtors.com contest as I was entering the HGTV contest, and they sent me 9 Telltale Signs that Your Home is Hopelessly Outdated.
Some you'd expect, but you'd better read these so that you home won't "scream 2006."
Yep, 2006.
http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/9-tell-tale-signs-your-home-is-hopelessly-outdated-and-how-to-fix-it

[suebee12]

I almost stopped reading when I saw, "Not only are white appliances harder to keep spotless, but you’re risking turning off buyers."! How many of you have had to clean black appliances or stainless steel? My MIL had black and it was never without fingerprints and smudges from my kids and they were only over there once a week or so! And supposedly stainless steel is better now but somehow I doubt it! Give me white any day!

[Mittengirl]

I like the one where they tell you to remove your popcorn ceiling because it is so easy - because you hire a contractor.  Oh, and make sure you check for asbestos - and there goes the cheap and easy.

[CherryAmes]

I loved the one about the wallpaper and paint.  I get that prospective buyers might be put off by the idea of having to remove wallpaper but do most prospective buyers really expect to not even have to paint anywhere?  I guess some do, of course, but as an owner am I really expected to remove every single painting and shelf and paint neutrally throughout?  I can understand if you have the time and the money to do it that it would certainly help stage the house but personally I don't have time to paint an entire house for someone else's benefit! and I don't have the money to pay someone else to do it.  

[laredhead]

I have had black, white, avocado green, almond and now stainless steel appliances over the past 40 years.  Of all of them, the green, almond and white were the easiest to clean and did not show smudges or dirt.  The black ones showed all smudges, and the stainless appliances are by the far the most difficult to clean and keep looking nice.  If I could have gotten the range I have in white instead of only stainless, I would have gone with white appliances in my recent kitchen remodel.

Mittengirl, you are correct in your comments about the popcorn ceiling.  Don't forget that it is a very messy process and that everything in your room needs to be removed or covered well and that stuff gets everywhere.     

[chessiegal]

I have a black refrigerator with a textured finish. It doesn't show any smudges.

I sure wouldn't replace appliances based on color/finish. Let the buyers put in want they want. We sold our previous home with white kitchen appliances at full asking price. What a waste of money it would have been to replace them.

Edited January 18, 2017 by chessiegal

[CocoaGoddess]

After selling our house, we had to move in to a temporary apartment two years ago and the Black appliances were absolutely dreadful to keep clean. I honestly don't remember them being that difficult to keep clean when we had them in another house we rented ten years ago! I actually think it depends on the brand and the type of finish on the appliances.

In our last house, the stainless steel was impossible to keep clean. In this house, they don't seem so bad at all. 

We have moved a lot, being in the military. I feel like everything, every style has pros and cons. I think I prefer gray cabinetry because it is a nice compromise between stark white and dark espresso and really warms the kitchen area a lot, so I will stick with that in future homes. 

And not necessarily I've seen a whole lot on HGTV, but I've noticed that buyers are now starting to refer to wallpaper as "wall coverings" and "wall decor". Please, it's wallpaper. 

[auntjess]

12 minutes ago, CocoaGoddess said:

Black appliances were absolutely dreadful to keep clean. I honestly don't remember them being that difficult to keep clean when we had them in another house we rented ten years ago! I actually think it depends on the brand and the type of finish on the appliances.

I think that depending on your light, black stoves can look dusty after a couple of hours.  I didn't notice it when I had them in the last house, but in the apartment I have now, it always looks dusty.
And don't forget that we don't have curtains any more, we have "window coverings."
 

[juliet73]

I like the one about replacing your beige outlet covers to white. FYI...If you have beige covers, you probably have beige receptacles too.  Both of them need to be replaced (and probably your beige light switches too). Better call an electrician! 

I hope they sent this list to the HHR designers. They love brass hardware and busy wallpaper! 

[chocolatine]

For the second time in the past month a millennial HH couple has referred to their first home purchase as "adulting". That needs to stop.

[auntjess]

7 hours ago, chocolatine said:

For the second time in the past month a millennial HH couple has referred to their first home purchase as "adulting". That needs to stop.

I've never heard that yet.  I'm having a hard time dealing with "gifting."

[qtpye]

On 12/11/2016 at 10:49 PM, mojito said:

Does it seem as though more than half the people who claim they hate split levels end up buying a split level?

I have wondered if HH has steered house hunters away from talking about that glass of wine and substituting coffee instead. 

I have my morning shot of scotch, but I knock it down before I even get out of the kitchen. I do drink my second and third shots on the balcony. So sue me, I don't drink coffee. But I love my balcony time before I rush off to work. Driving a school bus ain't easy work.

THIS almost had me rolling with laughter.  Well, let me finish my 9 a.m. bottle of bourbon on my beautiful outdoor balcony, before I spend my day performing complicated surgery.

There was a House Hunters where a woman in Phoenix was aghast at the houses because the brand new kitchens (one of the houses was actually new build) were not white and the houses had tile instead of hardwood.  She made sure they redid the kitchen and replaced the tile before they moved in with their two children. 

She then talked about how she was glad she made such a compromise for the sake of her family, because she still did not have her dream kitchen.  It was a huge sacrifice for her because she is a style fanatic. Her husband was nodding his head like "Yes, dear...your life is so hard."

I am not a violent person, but I wanted to reach through my t.v. and punch her. 

[mojito]

What tends to irritate me is when people demand to have "my______" when they're purchasing homes. Especially when it's very trendy and is the thing that will make today's home look cookie cutter tomorrow, and more especially when they claim that they don't want a home that's cookie cutter. Maybe I'm just not as picky as other people. If I were purchasing a home now, my main requirement would be single-story. I find a lot of things people do with their homes are new to me, or something I'd not given much thought to, but things like shiplap have their appeal, as does one kitchen I saw that looked like a 50s diner with red accents, or other offbeat things people do that I might keep after all (you can always blame the previous owner and your laziness to others if you don't have the backbone to admit you like it). I have white appliances and would be in a quandary if I had to start replacing them. I like my kitchen bright, and I don't think stainless steel brightens up a room. 

What annoys me most is when people turn their noses up at something they consider "dated", as though in 6 years, they're going to gut their current kitchen which looks oh so 2017-ish. I guess I'm just old and tired of what's "in" and what's "out". So much of what's "out" (including, or maybe especially fashion) looks much better than what's "in". (For instance, if you ever sat behind people in bleachers, you will appreciate "mom" jeans.) A small, low-lit kitchen does not look better because it has stainless steel appliances, and if you drop something hard on a tile kitchen floor, there's a good chance that something's going to break.

[StatisticalOutlier]

14 hours ago, juliet73 said:

I like the one about replacing your beige outlet covers to white. FYI...If you have beige covers, you probably have beige receptacles too.  Both of them need to be replaced (and probably your beige light switches too). Better call an electrician!

Or triple check the circuit.  I was changing beige outlets to white and plugged a lamp in one and flipped breakers until it turned off.  Safety first!  Went in with my screwdriver and got the shock of my life.  What the what??? 

It turned out that my outlets were wired such that the top receptacle was on one circuit, and the bottom receptacle was on a different circuit.  All the outlets were the same throughout--top part on one circuit, bottom part on a different circuit.  Crazy.

Life-threatening experience aside, switching to all-white outlets made a HUGE difference. 

[AnnaRose]

3 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

It turned out that my outlets were wired such that the top receptacle was on one circuit, and the bottom receptacle was on a different circuit.  All the outlets were the same throughout--top part on one circuit, bottom part on a different circuit.  Crazy.

Wow, that's awful.  Wouldn't that be against most building codes?

[juliet73]

18 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

Or triple check the circuit.  I was changing beige outlets to white and plugged a lamp in one and flipped breakers until it turned off.  Safety first!  Went in with my screwdriver and got the shock of my life.  What the what??? 

It turned out that my outlets were wired such that the top receptacle was on one circuit, and the bottom receptacle was on a different circuit.  All the outlets were the same throughout--top part on one circuit, bottom part on a different circuit.  Crazy.

Life-threatening experience aside, switching to all-white outlets made a HUGE difference. 

How bizarre!! I wonder what the "electrician" was thinking when he did that?! 

I agree about it making a difference.  We replaced all of ours too. The beige looks dingy IMO.   

Edited January 20, 2017 by juliet73

[Bastet]

On 1/18/2017 at 8:33 PM, juliet73 said:

FYI...If you have beige covers, you probably have beige receptacles too.  Both of them need to be replaced (and probably your beige light switches too). Better call an electrician! 

You don't need an electrician if you know what you're doing, and changing an outlet is quite easy, but, yes -- it's stupid to talk only about changing the outlet cover to a better color.  Which color works best for the room depends on the color scheme, and your fundamental point remains -- the outlet (or switch) and cover should match, and if they don't, that's even more noticeably ugly than having a matching set that aren't the right shade for the room.