House Hunters International - General Discussion

[BAForever]

Kaila bugged. Maybe she's funny and charming in person, but all I saw was a spoiled woman. Why have a budget if you're going that far over? They got a nice place, but there's no "English charm".

[javajeanelaine]

in the Gloucestershire episode, the husband bugged more than the wife for me. His wife wants to be near city and he keeps on talking about cows and sheep. He also works 48 hour shifts since he wouldn’t be the one to take care of the cows and sheep, I find his request rather moot 

[cinsays]

12 hours ago, javajeanelaine said:

in the Gloucestershire episode, the husband bugged more than the wife for me. His wife wants to be near city and he keeps on talking about cows and sheep. He also works 48 hour shifts since he wouldn’t be the one to take care of the cows and sheep, I find his request rather moot 

i didn't think he actually wanted to tend the cows and sheep, just be able to watch them graze

[aghst]

South Africa to Brisbane - Australian wife returning to Australia with South African husband and two young boys, one of them a toddler.

They talk about wanting to live in Australia for the schooling of the boys, even though the older one says he wants to go back to South Africa, not live in Australia permanently.

She wants modern, he wants character and he is strict on budget, she isn't.  They both gave up jobs in South Africa but by the end of the episode they both have jobs, though they don't say what they're doing.

So while he wants to stick to a budget, there really isn't a financial constraint because of lack of income, even if they portray it that way at the start.

First home is about 15 minutes away, modern with a nice pool in the back yard.  He doesn't like it being modern and likes the yard for the boys but she says it would be too much maintenance.  They don't like the stairs.  It's also furnished while the other two aren't fully furnished.

Second home is about 30 minutes away from center of Brisbane but it has its own shops and restaurants nearby.  Another modern home, small yard, big kitchen.  Hubby grouses that it's a generic white box.

Third home is a Queenslander, near the center but it only has one bathroom and 2.5 bedrooms.  Not furnished but husband, a skateboarder, loves the character he says.  It's got a bigger yard but nobody talks about it being on a busy street -- you can hear the cars whizzing by --  though the property is fenced off.

They eliminate the first house and wife talks up the greater space in home #2 but husband says character of home will be good for the kids and she agrees, even though it's constrained in space and only has 1 bathroom for the 4 of them.

3 months later they said they got jobs.  I suspect location was the prime factor probably for their jobs and schools for the kids.

They shoot a lot of the episode along the expansive open spaces along the river which runs through Brisbane CBD.  Certainly a good thing to be nearby, all the parks and river walks.

[Chit Chat]

1 hour ago, aghst said:

First home is about 15 minutes away, modern with a nice pool in the back yard.  He doesn't like it being modern and likes the yard for the boys but she says it would be too much maintenance.  They don't like the stairs.  It's also furnished while the other two aren't fully furnished.

I don't remember seeing a pool, just a patio.  I'm probably not remembering it correctly!  I liked this house best, but I understand her concern with the smaller child and the stairs. The older child seemed old enough to manage stairs.   She didn't want to spend "all weekend" taking care of the lawn either, but that backyard would take about 30 minutes to mow.  It's not like it's the Biltmore Estates!  That house was near a park too.

The second house was okay, but there wasn't much prep or storage space in the kitchen, as it was an open floor plan between that and the living room.

I liked the third home, but the one bathroom could be an issue.  The rooms were chopped up weird too.   I agree that the location is probably what sealed the deal though.

I just wanted to see Brisbane, as I have a relative from there.  Now I can imagine what that city looks like whenever she talks about her trips there.  

 

[Jodithgrace]

The first house didn’t have a pool. They certainly would have mentioned it, with two very young children.

I do love the look of a Queenslander, and right now the kids are too young for the one bathroom to be an issue. If they were buying instead of renting, it would be a factor, but for right now it’s fine. 
 

The husband reminded me so much of somebody, but I can’t think of who. Oh, I know…it’s the British guy who was on This is Us as Kate’s second husband. No idea of his name. 

Between the South African and the Australian, there sure was a lot of accent going on. I love them all, but have a hard time telling, Australian, New Zealand, and South African apart.  

[Schnickelfritz]

South Africa to Brisbane:

Did anyone else notice at the end of the Snag (Australian sausage) vs Boerewors (South African sausage) bar-b-que that when the couple was in the foreground given their thoughts on how similar (or dissimilar) the sausages were, Maxine the realtor was in the background - first smelling the South African sausage then chucking it into the bushes and then she tossed the bun after it and picked up a drink?

👍

 

[Chit Chat]

3 hours ago, Schnickelfritz said:

Did anyone else notice at the end of the Snag (Australian sausage) vs Boerewors (South African sausage) bar-b-que that when the couple was in the foreground given their thoughts on how similar (or dissimilar) the sausages were, Maxine the realtor was in the background - first smelling the South African sausage then chucking it into the bushes and then she tossed the bun after it and picked up a drink?

I saw that and wondered if that was exactly what I was seeing!  I'm glad you posted and confirmed it!!

[aghst]

Los Angeles to Tuscany.

Chef and restauranteur goes back to Tuscany -- he was born and raised in Florence before coming to LA to become chef -- to lease a villa to shoot an upcoming show called Ciao House, a food competition show on the Food Network, premiering this Sunday, 4/16/23

He requires 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, large professional kitchen, large communal dining and living spaces, big grounds, swimming pool.  Budget is $50-100k a week lease.

He wants to be in the Mugello area, outside Florence, close to the land, the farms, the vineyards.  Also imagine that most of the villas large enough with expansive grounds wouldn't be within Florence centro.

They have no problems coming up with 3 villas which are all within the large budget of the show.

Villa 1 has large kitchen, 14 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, large grounds and swimming pool.  But no large dining communal space.  

Villa 2 is a Medici villa dating back from the 12th century, with gorgeous exterior stone walls.  it has enough bedrooms, bathrooms and large communal spaces but the kitchen is too small.  It's the first one they eliminate.

Villa 3 has a watch tower, has big grounds and pool, 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.  The bedrooms are suite like, very large with large bathrooms.  Too luxe maybe.

It has a large kitchen space but only one sink and a large wood table in the center.  Chef Gabe says he can't prepare food on wood and it has to be a larger, stainless steel island, slightly higher height than the dining table.

Villa 3 is the choice, just one month later.  They will have to do some renovations to fit the camera crew and all 10 chefs though.

I didn't pay attention to where these villas were located relative to Florence and some other attractions but if I were staying in one of them, it would be one of the suites in Villa 3.

 

[abbyzenn]

RE:  Tuscany location for food competition show

I thought this was one of the most interesting episodes of this show.  All of these villas were gorgeous.  I suspect one of them (maybe it was the first one) is actually a hotel.  Since the chef kept talking about how he needed  rooms for the 10 competitors as well as the crew I'm surprised he didn't take villa #1 which had 14 bedrooms.

I never watch these food competition shows but I might watch at least the first episode just to see how they modified the villa for the show's needs.

[aghst]

1 hour ago, abbyzenn said:

RE:  Tuscany location for food competition show

I thought this was one of the most interesting episodes of this show.  All of these villas were gorgeous.  I suspect one of them (maybe it was the first one) is actually a hotel.  Since the chef kept talking about how he needed  rooms for the 10 competitors as well as the crew I'm surprised he didn't take villa #1 which had 14 bedrooms.

I never watch these food competition shows but I might watch at least the first episode just to see how they modified the villa for the show's needs.

 

I created a show topic.

I never watch cooking shows of any kind but it's Tuscany so lets hope for food and scenery porn.

 

 

[slasherboy]

4 hours ago, abbyzenn said:

RE:  Tuscany location for food competition show

I thought this was one of the most interesting episodes of this show.  All of these villas were gorgeous.  I suspect one of them (maybe it was the first one) is actually a hotel.  Since the chef kept talking about how he needed  rooms for the 10 competitors as well as the crew I'm surprised he didn't take villa #1 which had 14 bedrooms.

I never watch these food competition shows but I might watch at least the first episode just to see how they modified the villa for the show's needs.

They said one was a resort, but I don't remember which one. If you think #1 might be a hotel, that just might be the one they mentioned.

[aghst]

They all have to be operational faculties to an extent, presumably all available for the high leases the show was willing to pay.

Otherwise, the condition of the grounds and the rooms would be in a poor state.

[ECM1231]

6 hours ago, abbyzenn said:

 I thought this was one of the most interesting episodes of this show.

Absolutely! I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and look forward to seeing chef Gabe's new show next weekend on the Food Network.

[buttersister]

Well, this was fun (caught up). Tuscan Villa porn! What a challenge to the HHI script writers to shill the "losing" villas. But showing the likely hotel or corporate B&B (kitchen in the basement) and a damn Medici villa was good smoke.

No wonder the production company had booked #3. It had enough rooms, a kitchen they could fuss with that wasn't in the basement and grounds they can use on the show. LOL, no the co-host and an attractive realtor don't chose the show location. 

Now I'd like to see the nearby villa where Alex, this guy, the crew and the production company are staying. 

[aghst]

1 hour ago, ECM1231 said:

Absolutely! I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and look forward to seeing chef Gabe's new show next weekend on the Food Network.

It's this weekend, this Sunday, April 16th.

Check your DVR.

[seacliffsal]

I really enjoyed this episode as I love seeing the higher end options.  It makes sense that they are operating hotels/resorts/etc.  I usually don't like shows that are only advertising another show, but I didn't mind it here in the least.  I would love it if they started showing other episodes in which production is looking for properties for movies, t.v. shows, etc.  It's a different aspect of rentals and the properties are ones we normally don't see.  AND, I will actually watch the show they were promoting (at least give it a few looks).  So, it was a wonderful and successful episode.

[Grizzly]

Munich, Germany. I have to wonder at Estelle's eyesight. Bailey might have the best personality (we haven't experienced it yet) but to fall in love with him just on sight? Kevin, yes! But not Bailey. To be young and able to sit on the floor like that.

[buttersister]

Kevin! Long-suffering Kevin with the clients who say things like having no kitchen is a negative (it's in the mail, dude, you don't have to find a negative). 

I have no idea what the regulations are in Germany, but EMT Bailey said he was job searching in research or science (so no patient contact). He's got the personality for working in a lab. 

A 90-minute daily commute was a no sale, no matter how much room there was. And looks like Bailey is a biker, too, which is a good thing, because she's hard core.

I guess they sit on the floor if they don't want to put away that bed everyday. Didn't look like they'd done much to "make the place their own" either. LOL.

[Chicken Fingers]

I thought they were sweet, though. Their neighborhood looked kind of dull.

[Crashcourse]

I thought they were sweet, too, and while she was cute, I thought Bailey was nerdy cute.  

[BAForever]

7 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

I thought they were sweet, too, and while she was cute, I thought Bailey was nerdy cute.  

I liked them too. They were appreciative and thoughtful in their wishes. Place they got was tiny, but 3rd place was too far out, so wasn't surprised they picked #2.

[proserpina65]

On 4/8/2023 at 11:27 AM, aghst said:

hird home is a Queenslander, near the center but it only has one bathroom and 2.5 bedrooms.  Not furnished but husband, a skateboarder, loves the character he says.  It's got a bigger yard but nobody talks about it being on a busy street -- you can hear the cars whizzing by --  though the property is fenced off.

They eliminate the first house and wife talks up the greater space in home #2 but husband says character of home will be good for the kids and she agrees, even though it's constrained in space and only has 1 bathroom for the 4 of them.

I loved the Queenslander.  I'd have picked that one in a second, despite there only being one bathroom.

On 4/8/2023 at 1:28 PM, ChitChat said:

I liked the third home, but the one bathroom could be an issue. 

Eh, having grown up in a house with 5 people and 1 bathroom, I can say that it doesn't have to be a big deal.  You just have to schedule for the peak times, like getting ready in the morning.  That house had plenty of space for 2 adults and 2 children.  The only thing I didn't like about it was the missing wall between the kitchen and the living room.  (You could see that there was one originally.)  I'd have put up a screen or curtain there.

On 4/11/2023 at 11:29 AM, seacliffsal said:

I really enjoyed this episode as I love seeing the higher end options.  It makes sense that they are operating hotels/resorts/etc.  I usually don't like shows that are only advertising another show, but I didn't mind it here in the least.

I generally don't like seeing higher end options, but since this was Tuscany, I made an exception.  It was gorgeous, but they ran a commercial for Ciao Kitchen before the end of the show which made it obvious which villa had been chosen.  Oops.

[ECM1231]

4 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

but they ran a commercial for Ciao Kitchen before the end of the show which made it obvious which villa had been chosen.  Oops.

I missed that b/c I normally watch from the DVR and just zip through commercials.

[ECM1231]

4 hours ago, BAForever said:

I liked them too. They were appreciative and thoughtful in their wishes. Place they got was tiny, but 3rd place was too far out, so wasn't surprised they picked #2.

 I would have gone with choice #1, the city center flat. Yes, it was $100 over budget, but it definitely was larger than the studio they chose. They wanted outdoor space, which the city center flat did not have, but with all that snow on the ground, how much use was that patio going to get in the colder months?  Bailey was raving about the induction stovetop in choice #2, but at what cost? They didn't even have room for a couch to sit on in the studio they chose. Estelle is very outdoorsy, so couldn't she get her outdoor fix by cycling to/from work and on all the bike trails? Bailey said flat #1 was old-fashioned, or not modern enough, but what was so great about their choice? An induction stovetop?  Perhaps it was just the $100 over budget, but to me it was well worth it to be so close to work and right in the heart of things. 

[Chit Chat]

4 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Eh, having grown up in a house with 5 people and 1 bathroom, I can say that it doesn't have to be a big deal.  You just have to schedule for the peak times, like getting ready in the morning.

I agree, but it seems like the wife made all of the compromises with their choice.  She mentioned during the show that she and her husband butt heads on things, and that the more bullheaded of the two (not her exact words) would prevail.   I think that "character" won out over practicality, but in the end, they seemed happy with their choice, and that's all that matters. 

The first house had a big kitchen (which she said was important), and it was close to a park.  She wasn't sure about the lawn maintenance though.  The house they chose didn't have much in the way of workspace in the kitchen, or storage, but if they're making it work, then good for them!  

[seacliffsal]

So, of all of the 'deal-breakers' the house hunters have tried to sell us over the years, Bailey decided to go with 'induction oven'?  Hopefully he is able to do a lot of cooking in order to justify the priority of that induction oven.  I liked the city center choice best in terms of location and space.  Bailey said he should be able to get a job (and had an interview lined up) so the $100 extra per month should not be a hardship.  Ooops, I forgot-that choice didn't have the induction oven...

I love Munich so was happy to see various parts of it.

[chessiegal]

5 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

Bailey decided to go with 'induction oven'? 

Not an oven, an induction range top. They rival gas in ability to control heat when cooking,

[Jodithgrace]

Munich! I just laughed because “three months later,” it was still winter. Makes me think that the deck isn’t going to get as much use as they thought. 

[aghst]

So Estelle moves to Munich for a chance to be with the bf from CA?

Has to be more than that, maybe it’s a great job opportunity for her and this was the only way he could tag along and they could be together.

Else she could have stayed in France and him join her there.  Why would his employment prospects be better in Germany than in France?  They’re not married so unless an employer sponsored him, he couldn’t work, period.

Or she could have moved out to CA but she’d had problems getting a work visa though she speaks English better than he speaks German or French?

be interesting to see if they’re still together, living together, in 3 or more years.

[proserpina65]

17 hours ago, ChitChat said:

I think that "character" won out over practicality,

I think that probably location trumped everything else, but since we didn't see them talking about where their kids' schools were or where their jobs ended up being, we won't know.

[aghst]

Canada to Brisbane.

They showed a of the beautiful waterfront, as the Brisbane river snakes around the CBD.  Lot of boarded paths for walkers and bikers, with free ferries.  
 

When I visited in November, there was a pelican and other wildlife sharing this space with humans.

So Brisbane and other parts of Queensland offer a wonderful outdoor lifestyle but Amy prioritized having a bathtub, AC and a large kitchen to bake brownies.

The properties were all fine but she chose the one with the bathtub and a kitchen she could mess around in.

She didn’t mention a job, which could factor into her decision.

She May not like the hot weather but it might be better to spend more time outdoors than in the kitchen or bathtub.

She moved out of a small town in Canada so there are more events or social scenes for her to join.

[Chit Chat]

9 hours ago, aghst said:

She didn’t mention a job, which could factor into her decision.

She mentioned that she does social work and had a job lined up, so she was basing her rent on her salary.  Someone (maybe the realtor, advised her on the ratio of salary to rent that she should spend). 

9 hours ago, aghst said:

So Brisbane and other parts of Queensland offer a wonderful outdoor lifestyle but Amy prioritized having a bathtub, AC and a large kitchen to bake brownies.

I liked the first apartment she looked at.  It had a lot of charm.  She freaked out about the outdoor space and the "maintenance," but good grief, it was just a picnic table sitting on a landscaped yard.  There was no grass to cut!!   Of course, she hates the humidity, so outdoor space didn't matter.  She wouldn't survive the humidity here in the south.  We all have air conditioning, but you've got to go outside at some point and deal with it!  Unlike the realtor, we don't call it "air con",  it's air conditioning!!   The realtor was funny with her snarky comments!  They've been friends for 10 years, she said, so she can get away with that.  The freakout over the hole in the wall was unnecessary too.  It's going to get fixed!!  It's how you repair a pipe!

The 2-bedroom option would be ideal if she's expecting family and friends to come to Brisbane to visit.  If I traveled halfway around the world to visit someone, I really don't want to sleep on an air mattress in the living room.  That was an option she mentioned for her guests.  I'm not above sleeping on an air mattress (I did that for a month when staying with my parents), and it's tolerable, but if I were traveling that far, I'd at least like to sleep on a sleeper sofa, not on the floor.  Maybe she could give her guests her bed and she can sleep on the air mattress!  

The apartment she chose was my least favorite, but I'm glad she likes it.  A tub vs. a shower would not be a deal breaker for me though.  Brisbane looks like a lovely place.  

[HappyHanna]

On 4/12/2023 at 10:44 PM, aghst said:

Or she could have moved out to CA but she’d had problems getting a work visa though she speaks English better than he speaks German or French?

This seems most likely,  since Germany appears to have a much easier work visa process than the US does.  If he speaks German, he could possibly find a job as a paramedic (not sure about certificates transferring) But while he would have learned Moldovan (or Russian maybe) in the peace corps, I didn't see any indication that he knew more than how to order gluhwein in German. So many the apartment is so small bc it's really only her living there,  and him visiting. 

[Pi237]

Canadian mentioned going home and people finding her new Australian sense of humor to be rude, but I felt like she was a bit rude. Her Australian friend/realtor demonstrated that brand of humor much better. You can have a biting wit, but you have to actually Be witty, not just insulting or demanding.  Hated the apartment she chose. Funny to move somewhere known for its Heat & humidity when you can't stand it. 

[Pi237]

Cupid Costa Rica-Looked like a really sweaty place to live.  Pam talking about how it’s not for everyone, and very different than what she’s used to in the city, “ but I love it.” I immediately heard in my head, “Pam, did Not, in fact, love it.”

Edited April 17, 2023 by Pi237

[Chit Chat]

2 hours ago, Pi237 said:

Canadian mentioned going home and people finding her new Australian sense of humor to be rude, but I felt like she was a bit rude.

I think she crossed the line from new-found confidence to being slightly rude.  Maybe she was trying to fit in with their kind of humor and overcompensated by trying to be snarky.  

[aghst]

11 hours ago, Pi237 said:

Cupid Costa Rica-Looked like a really sweaty place to live.  Pam talking about how it’s not for everyone, and very different than what she’s used to in the city, “ but I love it.” I immediately heard in my head, “Pam, did Not, in fact, love it.”

Seems like a short term home while she launches a new career, some online job after she completes some new education.

They didn't say the Internet situation has been addressed or how they're dealing with collecting rain water.

 

 

[Grizzly]

Valencia, Spain. Gorgeous city. I think I would have chosen the "sterile" place by the old section. It's easy to add color to a room. Their pick was on a really busy street and that apartment was very choppy and just seemed to keep going. Lovely details in the moldings and floors but being over budget plus adding AC would not sell me.

[eel21788]

14 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Valencia, Spain: adding AC would not sell me.

The realtor spoke as though it was a simple thing to add a portable air conditioner. I really had to wonder if the electrical systems in the older buildings could handle having an AC unit. I once lived in a building newer than those where the lights would dim every time I turned on the toaster oven. Trying to add even one more small appliance while the toaster oven was on would blow the fuse (and they were actual fuses, not circuit breakers). Any real energy hog like an air conditioner would have been impossible to attempt.

[laredhead]

eel21788, I added a portable A/C unit in my den last summer because that room has always stayed a bit warmer than the rest of the house which has central A/C.  It plugs into a 110 outlet, and I didn't notice any unusual or added increase in my electric bill after using it for 3 months of the summer.  It seems to pull as much power as a lamp, but it definitely made a difference for the better.  Of course, in an older building, in a hot climate, I think I would choose cool air over light if only one could run at a time - lol.

   

[proserpina65]

On 4/15/2023 at 12:29 AM, aghst said:

She May not like the hot weather but it might be better to spend more time outdoors than in the kitchen or bathtub.

Depends on how you feel about the outdoors.  I like looking at it through a window, not interacting with it.  Also not a fan of hot weather so I'd never move to Brisbane.  It's fun to look at, though.

On 4/15/2023 at 10:34 AM, Chit Chat said:

I liked the first apartment she looked at.  It had a lot of charm.  She freaked out about the outdoor space and the "maintenance," but good grief, it was just a picnic table sitting on a landscaped yard.  There was no grass to cut!!

Yeah, that was the one I liked too.

[Chit Chat]

20 hours ago, Grizzly said:

Gorgeous city. I think I would have chosen the "sterile" place by the old section. It's easy to add color to a room.

Me too.  I thought that one checked most of the boxes for them, but as long as they're happy with they chose, then that's all that matters!  

They mentioned that most homes didn't have dryers.  Is that because the buildings are older and can't be retrofitted with a vent, or is there another reason? 

[Chicken Fingers]

I was just a teenaged military brat when we lived in Spain, but I remember my mother hanging up laundry and saying it dried incredibly fast.

[proserpina65]

17 hours ago, Chit Chat said:

Me too.  I thought that one checked most of the boxes for them, but as long as they're happy with they chose, then that's all that matters!  

They mentioned that most homes didn't have dryers.  Is that because the buildings are older and can't be retrofitted with a vent, or is there another reason? 

Dryers don't appear to be common in Europe at all.  Not sure why.

Personally I liked the first place the best.  The others were not my thing at all.

[Bastet]

2 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Dryers don't appear to be common in Europe at all.

I think they're only common in the U.S. and Canada.

[Chit Chat]

13 hours ago, Chicken Fingers said:

I was just a teenaged military brat when we lived in Spain, but I remember my mother hanging up laundry and saying it dried incredibly fast.

Growing up in Florida, my mom used the solar dryer instead of the electric one quite a bit!  Clothes dried quickly in Florida too!

3 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Dryers don't appear to be common in Europe at all. 

It takes a bit of space to hang everything up, but if you're not used to having a dryer, then I guess you get used to it.  When I first got married eons ago, we had a dryer, but I also had a clothesline.  I actually enjoyed doing laundry that way. 

[amarante]

I just watched an episode of ONLY the wife moving from Maine to a really tiny village in Northern France,

There seemed to be no rational reason as to why she felt the need to move without her husband who had to stay behind because of his job and also because his bio son was still in high school in the USA.

Explanation was that she wanted to pursue her gardening and writing interests and her college age daughter was in university somewhere in England

Still made no sense as to why you would uproot your life in that manner. 

Also another episode in which the finances made no sense - their budget was no more than $150,000. I guess buying a ramshackle place in the French boonies is not more expensive than a ramshackle place in the US boonies.

[Thumper]

I was snowbirding for two months and unable to watch any HH shows, but I swear every other show I see now is a rerun from last year! 😂😩

The depressed-looking woman moving to Sweden(?) with two daughters was just on again. 

[aghst]

I've stayed in a lot of vacation apartments in Europe over the years.

I do look for places with dryers and that's something you can filter for in Airbnb and also on booking.com, you can easily see if they have them.

General rule is that in Southern Europe, they may have a washing machine but they're likely to have a drying rack rather than one of those all-in-one units which wash and dry.

Northern Europe, those combo units are more common.

Probably an issue of cost and hang dry also works really well, at least for the typical summer wear I've washed.

 

As for Valencia, looks like they had no issues installing the mini-split air conditioning, which is easier to retrofit in older buildings than say central air.

They've renovated a lot of older buildings, often to rent them as holiday apartments, so I think they can upgrade the electrical and they get creative with lighting, such as recessed lights in floors to light up a wall, for instance.