Property Brothers - General Discussion

[David T. Cole]

I don't want to start a fight but my favorite -- by far -- is the cute one.

[NYGirl]

I'm a fan of Drew. However I always snicker when Jonathan gets mad at a homeowner for not liking his aesthetic.

[LazyToaster]

Ha! I don't blame him, some people are impossible. I would let him do whatever he wants because I almost always like his designs. So, I guess my favorite is Jonathon.

[formerlyfreedom]

I thought it would be Jonathan at first, but his highlighted hair bothers me way too much. After watching (WAY too much of) this show, I've discovered that Drew is my favorite - I like his sense of humor. Although both of them have good moments.

[Unironical]

I think it's funny that on every show, the couple always falls for the dream house the brothers show them at first. Then as they look at the fixer-uppers they "can't see how this house can be our dream house". And there's always an expensive problem with a load-bearing wall, or a leak, or insect infestation, etc. etc. so the couple has to give up something out of their budget to pay for it. And it always turns out gorgeous and they love it. Doesn't matter which episode, it's wash, rinse, repeat. But I watch it for the design aspects anyway so I just skip the first 20 minutes and I can miss the manufactured drama!

[txvoodoo]

The boys have a new show coming up this fall: http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/04/18/hgtv-adds-nine-new-series-to-2014-schedule-including-the-jennie-garth-project/255434/

The Brothers Big Reno Project
Premieres: November
Hosts: Jonathan and Drew Scott
The Brothers Big Reno Project is an entertaining new series featuring HGTV's popular Property Brothers Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott as they join forces to complete a massive renovation of the Scott family home Las Vegas just in time for a family reunion.

[Mrs Huffnagle]

Does Jonathan actually do the remodeling work?  I know there are assistants, but does he get his hands dirty, or just show up for some brief filming?  So many of these shows are faked.

[LuckyBitch]

persiaa, from what I've read on TWoP, the show is totally fake. There's a design team and a construction crew doing all the work, and the brothers just pop in to film phony, staged scenes.

Edited June 1, 2014 by LuckyBitch

[Mrs Huffnagle]

Thanks, Lucky Bitch.  I suspected as much.

[roseha]

I'm  still trying to figure out if they are twins?  They look like it and have almost identical voices too.

I like Jonathan although maybe it's just that he seems to be doing more of the work.  If that's really the case.

[katalizt]

I'm still trying to figure out if they are twins? They look like it and have almost identical voices too.

As per the FAQ on their website:

Are the brothers twins?

Drew: Identical – Minus the hair

Jonathan: AND minus the fact that I work three times as many hours as Drew does.

http://www.thescottbrothers.com/.

[Honey]

I like Drew because I'm a sucker for guy in a suit and tie.  I also like his sense of humor.  The more I watch the show the less alike the brothers look.  Jonathon's eyes seem to be bigger than Drew's.  I too hated the blonde hair on Jonathan.

[oceanblue]

I like Jonathan because he's so sweet with the little kids, but I have found him getting a bit pissy with homeowners who don't immediately agree with him.  

[Pestilentia]

What annoys me about this show is the exteriors of the homes that the buyers are shown. They almost always look terrible- at least equally as terrible as the interiors and just horrobly run down and neglected. Then once the interiors are rennovated the bvuyers are still pulling ino the driveway of a terrible looking home.

I can't speak for anyone else but when I pull into my driveway I want to feel good.

I'm all for great interiors but the exterior matters to me as well. In fact when I sold my last home it sold entirely on curb appeal- had to have been what did it because the interior was dated.

And the first things I did to my new home involved the exterior as well.

Maybe I am unusual, but I can live with almost anything inside but the outside must be perfect- probably because I am a serious gardener. I just care more.

 

Aside from that this is one of the only HGTV shows that doesn't regularly make me livid. It's not so much that I like J&D, just that for some reason they don't annoy me.

 

I have also read that more rennovations take place than what are shown- I think it may have been in an interview with Jonathan.

Anyone have any inside scoop on what's behind the curtain?

[roseha]

Are the brothers twins?

Drew: Identical – Minus the hair

 

 

Thanks katalizt

 

with some of the customers Jonathan has to deal with who want to argue every little thing, I can't blame him if it bugs him a little.  They are getting his services free, correct?

[ashley]

I like Jonathan because he's so sweet with the little kids, but I have found him getting a bit pissy with homeowners who don't immediately agree with him.  

I'm such a goner whenever he interacts with the kids. Or holds babies? Forget it. I actually don't mind when he gets a little pissy with the homeowners who give him a hard time. Probably because I'm sitting there yelling at the TV like "shut up and trust him! It'll turn out great!"

[DownTheShore]

I wasn't that fond of either of them the first year they appeared on the air, but I think the Brother vs. Brother show humanized them a bit more and gave me more of a sense of separation of their personalities, so when I watch them on Property Brothers they are less annoying.

[DownTheShore]

I always wonder what the second floors look like, because they only seem to work on the first floor.

 

I have to admit to a sneaking sense of "ha ha" when they show the couple that first home that contains all of their wishlist and they are shocked by the cost.  I don't feel sorry for them because they obviously haven't done any homework at all into what houses cost.  And isn't it amazing how none of the couples can see beyond what is actually in front of them, when Jonathan is trying to describe what can be done with the houses?  Their vision is immediately stopped by walls, paint colors and dead bugs.

 

If I had a contractor with his name on the line like Jonathan who was guaranteeing that my home would be remodeled within 5-6 weeks, I would jump on that offer.  I'm watching the rebuilding being done after Superstorm Sandy and there are people with small cottages (500 sq. ft) who have had contractors working on their homes for almost a year.  The contractors around here have so overbooked themselves that you're lucky if they give you a day's work per week on your house.

 

What I do like about the show is that it is made obvious that the brothers are taking the couples around to a lot of potential remodels - not just the magic three potential purchases houses like House Hunters.

[oceanblue]

Is it just me, or are all the finished houses starting to look the same?  

[NausetGirl]

It's not just you.  Every one of these homes look very similar to each other.  All decors are contemporary, modern.  Apparently, not one designer who works on TV - and I'm talking ALL channels who deal with home design etc - is capable of coming up with traditional, colonial, Victorian etc design plans.  BORE-RING!  Even the colors are the same.  Black, white, dark brown, lime green and maybe a butternutty brownish-orange once in a while.

[oceanblue]

And the layouts are all open concept, regardless of the style of home.

[Kiddvideo]

Saw an Atlanta episode tonight. The brothers renovated the pool area and turned the pool house into a "couple's cave"/media room. I ended up really liking them. They weren't demanding expensive changes during construction (and blaming Jonathan for the increased costs), and they were so thrilled with the end product. They even got dressed-up for the reveal!

It's nice to see people who aren't jerks on these shows.

[Cowgirl]

I liked that  couple too!  I just wanted to hang out with them.  

 

One thing that's missing this season is that they don't bring the couples to their office and show them both designs at once.  Instead, you get snippets of the new floor plans while the couple is still touring each potential house.  I don't like that change and wish they would go back to the design reveal and the couple's decision in the office. 

[auntjess]

I liked the couple well enough, but those houses were so much nicer than the usual crappy houses they fix up, that I was feeling cheated.

[auntjess]

Assuming the new one was also in Atlanta, (I saw peach logo at the end,) I'm amazed at how prices have recovered, a LOT.

Seems like just a year or so ago that people were buying large impressive houses for $250k, and now they pay more for a fixer upper.

 

It was a nice change not to see, or even hear mention, of the kitchen.

On the other hand, hated all the gray in the nursery.  Keep it yellow, and have white or some wood color for the furniture.
Babies have no need to be trendy.

[MrMattyMatt]

OK, so I was watching the marathon today...  Did I miss something in the "Brothers helping brothers" episode?   The whole thing just seemed odd to me.  Those guys had to have been in their mid to late 30's, still living in the parents pool house, and now buying their dream home together???  I've seen other shows where siblings buy homes together, but there is usually some sort of explanation and discussion surrounding what will happen if one plans to marry, etc.. and what will become of the dream home...   still baffled on this one...

[BearCat49]

What annoys me about this show is the exteriors of the homes that the buyers are shown. They almost always look terrible- at least equally as terrible as the interiors and just horrobly run down and neglected. Then once the interiors are rennovated the bvuyers are still pulling ino the driveway of a terrible looking home.

I can't speak for anyone else but when I pull into my driveway I want to feel good.

I'm all for great interiors but the exterior matters to me as well. In fact when I sold my last home it sold entirely on curb appeal- had to have been what did it because the interior was dated.

And the first things I did to my new home involved the exterior as well.

Maybe I am unusual, but I can live with almost anything inside but the outside must be perfect- probably because I am a serious gardener. I just care more.

 

Aside from that this is one of the only HGTV shows that doesn't regularly make me livid. It's not so much that I like J&D, just that for some reason they don't annoy me.

 

I have also read that more rennovations take place than what are shown- I think it may have been in an interview with Jonathan.

Anyone have any inside scoop on what's behind the curtain?

The bros try to claim that they do the entire home - they don't.  It's bs.  The show participants are stuck with whatever you saw on the show unless they expand the deal with their local contractor to finish the entire home.

 

It's funny to me the way they keep trying to make that claim.  If it were true, then why don't they do the front yards, too?  What about the importance of curb appeal, Drew, Mr. (Faux) Realtor???

Edited July 14, 2014 by BearCat49

[BearCat49]

I always wonder what the second floors look like, because they only seem to work on the first floor.

 

I have to admit to a sneaking sense of "ha ha" when they show the couple that first home that contains all of their wishlist and they are shocked by the cost.  I don't feel sorry for them because they obviously haven't done any homework at all into what houses cost.  And isn't it amazing how none of the couples can see beyond what is actually in front of them, when Jonathan is trying to describe what can be done with the houses?  Their vision is immediately stopped by walls, paint colors and dead bugs.

 

If I had a contractor with his name on the line like Jonathan who was guaranteeing that my home would be remodeled within 5-6 weeks, I would jump on that offer.  I'm watching the rebuilding being done after Superstorm Sandy and there are people with small cottages (500 sq. ft) who have had contractors working on their homes for almost a year.  The contractors around here have so overbooked themselves that you're lucky if they give you a day's work per week on your house.

 

What I do like about the show is that it is made obvious that the brothers are taking the couples around to a lot of potential remodels - not just the magic three potential purchases houses like House Hunters.

Just like on HH, in order to apply for the show, you must have already purchased the home.  If you see them walking up and down multiple driveways to front doors, I believe that's all they're doing - being filmed walking up and down driveways!  No, Drew isn't their realtor.

 

Likewise, Jonathan isn't their contractor.  Production companies don't take that kind of risk, i.e. the potential future liability from a RE transaction gone bad or defective construction work.  They use local contractors.  That's why Jonathan's supposed "crew" consists different guys for basically each and every home.  If there's any requirement to finish a home within a certain length of time, it would depend on the shooting schedule.  They typically shoot 4-6 episodes simultaneously.

 

I'm sure the couples have whatever vision the producers instruct them to have in exchange for their 15 minutes of fame plus a discounted, albeit only slightly, renovation.

 

The other floors look like you initially saw them on camera unless the couple expanded the contract or did that work themselves.

 

Not trying to just throw cold water on everything but this is reality television, i.e. not real.  If you like them and/or the show, then enjoy it as drama.  Jonathan and Drew are actors - it's their family business, going back to their father.  The only work Jonathan does on these homes is the one board he nailed in that they captured on camera or piece of crown that he placed - and he probably nailed that same board or did that piece of crown multiple times, from every camera angle, etc.  

 

And, you guessed it, Jonathan isn't the designer, either.  Most of the basic design work is handled by an off-camera, Toronto firm.  Staging is completed by local design firms in the various areas.  Given the time it takes for them to shoot a 1 hour program, edited down to 44 minutes - that is, about 80 hours - they simply don't have time to fulfill any other function than that of actor.  Well, it's either that or pretty face, lol.  Take your pick!   

Edited July 14, 2014 by BearCat49

[BearCat49]

Thanks katalizt

 

with some of the customers Jonathan has to deal with who want to argue every little thing, I can't blame him if it bugs him a little.  They are getting his services free, correct?

His services as an actor but that's all.  Do the homeowners need that?  They must pay for the local contractor who actually does the work.

 

My favorite quote about them was from an interview where Drew stated that if he was down to his last $$$ he'd spend it on pr.  That's what these two really do, that is self-promote, IMHO.

Edited July 14, 2014 by BearCat49

[ZaldamoWilder]

OK, so I was watching the marathon today...  Did I miss something in the "Brothers helping brothers" episode?   The whole thing just seemed odd to me.  Those guys had to have been in their mid to late 30's, still living in the parents pool house, and now buying their dream home together???  I've seen other shows where siblings buy homes together, but there is usually some sort of explanation and discussion surrounding what will happen if one plans to marry, etc.. and what will become of the dream home...   still baffled on this one...

 

Matty I'm so glad you asked this.  I marathoned yesterday too.   And fell asleep apparently because one minute, their bid had been beaten out by an investor who went way over asking and the next minute (okay maybe 15 minutes later) they were talking about that stained glass window.  I was like, what happened?  first bid fall through.  Are the real estate prices fake too?  because someone please tell me where in America they were in that that gorgeous, droolworthy thing was $569,000? 

 

Do they intend to be lifelong bachelors?  Estate or not I don't really see two, one at a minimum, women agreeing to live with her brother in law and then later, his wife and potentially all their kids forever. 

 

The lady who was the runner and her husband who cooked and gardened - her voice, her facial expressions, her everything, I wanted something bad to happen to her.  lol.

[MrMattyMatt]

Zaldmo, (love the name) - yes, if you blinked you'd have missed out on what happened with the bidding, I was awake at that point and still don't understand what happened, regardless, they got the house.  

 

At one point in the beginning, when being interviewed with friends there was a random hand caressing the bearded brother's shoulder and back, but we never saw who it was attached to.   The whole thing is odd....  maybe the storyline was just a setup for the show and only one of those guys bought the house and intends to live there.

[ZaldamoWilder]

Lol, thanks!  Dang, I was kind of hoping there was some sort of bidding war I missed.  Unless as you said, that whole thing was set up for chain yanking, which I'd kind of hate, I just want to see the house porn please.

 

The production is in Georgia, are the houses too?  Do they say?  I really should let it go, I  can't get my mind around the prices. 

[MrMattyMatt]

I never know where they are and can never make heads or tails of any of the pricing.

[auntjess]

For years they were mostly in Toronto, then they were in Austin one year, and maybe California-not sure.
Then, if you see mountains, it's probably Vancouver, cheaper prices and a peach logo, probably Atlanta.

[NYGirl]

I absolutely LOVED last night's episode.  The HHs were twin sisters and they drove Jonathan crazy switching name tags and doing stuff he and Drew had always done in the past.  They were sweet and when they requested things they did it so nice that Jonathan didn't even whine once!!

 

It's my favorite episode.

 

However I didn't like the barn door on the pantry in a new modern kitchen and it looked like he crammed too much stuff in the living room.

Edited July 17, 2014 by NYGirl

[daisydonut]

I also loved that episode! The sisters were too cute.

Didn't like the barn door, and I liked the trim he took out, but everything looked great when he finished.

I wish they had shown how you access the deck from the kitchen after he closed in the french doors.

[auntjess]

Oh dear, this new one has couple set to be married.
She's in school and needs a chef's kitchen, commercial sized fridge and all, because she plans to start a catering business.

I mean I suppose it's no worse than being a scrapbooker, or planning to give yoga/dance/you name it lessons,  but I just didn't get any sense that she'd looked at all into health department requirements, et al, especially when she's saying, at the hotel where they were living, that she was having a hard time doing it there, because the dogs were always underfoot.

I love dogs, maybe more than I do most people, but if I were planning a catering business, I'd be more discreet on TV.

And in one house, she seemed totally unaware of the concept of a coat closet. 

 

Edited because I really do know the difference between discrete and discreet, but didn't see I'd screwed up until I was quoted.

Edited July 29, 2014 by auntjess

[MrMattyMatt]

 

I love dogs, maybe more than I do most people, but if I were planning a catering business, I'd be more discrete on TV.

 

I thought the same thing.  I have a close friend that started her own custom cookie business and transformed her basement into the "cookie cave" - health inspected and approved, etc.  However, she has three cats and is constantly posting about their shenanigans on her Facebook business page.  I need to subtly indicate to her that some people may think about cat hairs in the cookies, if she keeps it up.

 

I found the episode with the Kosher Kitchen very interesting, but the part where they suddenly demanded a skylight in the stairway kind of irked me.

[auntjess]

Cats would be worse than dogs, because they can get more places.
When I was in the DC area, and I'd imagine in other places, there was a place that rented out  commercial kitchen units, for people who needed them but didn't have the business built up to need or afford their own.

[laredhead]

Just watched an episode where the buyers wanted a foreclosure, well the wife did more than the husband, so you know how that worked out.  Anyway, they ended up getting the foreclosure along with some huge foundation repair bills.  I wanted to strangle that wife because the husband knew it was going to cost a lost of money, and he was willing to be sensible and keep looking for house that needed fewer major repairs.  The wife whined about that house until they finally were able to make a deal with the bank, and surprise - there were even more problems than anticipated.  They ended up not getting as much floor space as planned in the basement and having to give up some amenities they had planned to have.  I would also expect that even though the major foundation repairs had been made, if they ever sell that house, they will take a hit on the sales price because of previous foundation problems.  The house has a beautiful view from the back of it, but the front of the house was not that attractive.   

[MrMattyMatt]

 The house has a beautiful view from the back of it, but the front of the house was not that attractive.   

Many times this is the case.  Also, sometimes we never see the "upstairs", what kind of disrepair it's in and if any work was done there or not....

[laredhead]

Regarding the engaged couple, she absolutely had to have a house with a grand entrance to impress their friends and a huge, perfect, updated kitchen.  He had to have a wet bar and his 70" TV.  I think he said 70" TV at least 5 or 6 times.  They wanted all of this, but also were planning a wedding and wanted to save money on the reno to have a band at the wedding.  How about either delay buying a house and having the wedding of their dreams, or scaling back on the wedding to have a house with everything in it.  $450,000 was a nice budget for a couple buying their first house.  Call me an old fogey, but I just don't get this mentality of young buyers who want it all immediately with no sacrifices involved, and if they can't get what they want, they almost throw a tantrum.    

[funkymunky]

Call me an old fogey, but I just don't get this mentality of young buyers who want it all immediately with no sacrifices involved, and if they can't get what they want, they almost throw a tantrum.

I'm 30 and I agree with you.

 

Question: Watching the American episodes, it seems like school districts play a big role in parents' decisions about where to buy a house. Is this an American thing? I'm Canadian and haven't really noticed it being a factor here. Public schools are pretty much the same wherever you go, unless you're looking for one offering a specialized program.

[auntjess]

 

I'm Canadian and haven't really noticed it being a factor here.

It is a big factor here, but it certainly mentioned in Love It or List It, when those people's ives will be ruined if they're moved out of their school district, so I guess it depends on whether you're where there are good and not as good, districts.

In the area I know, schools are given grades based on certain criteria, and you want good districts.

(I checked, and here's what's in Ontario, and it's like that in my state too.  http://ontario.compareschoolrankings.org/ChooseReport.aspx

Edited August 17, 2014 by auntjess

[MyAimIsTrue]

I'm in the US and school districts are a huge selling point.  Even though I'm childless by choice I made sure to buy in a top rated school district as it could aid in resale value.

[radishcake]

Yep, we bought a house in a GREAT high school district but not great elementary school district. It's been annoying since we have a kid so we've had to do some private school because of those issues. 

[Diane]

Watched the episode the other night with the single mother and her son.  She had to feel like a princess and called her friend her BFF throughout the entire episode.  She made my head want to explode.

[auntjess]

Yes, this house was for TWO people, one of whom will likely move out with the next 10 years.
And just when I've seen shows that made me thing Atlanta prices were recovering, we have prices that I've seen nowhere else but Waco, on Fixer Upper.
I assume the peach logo means Atlanta, and it sure as hell ain't Toronto, Vancouver, or Austin.

When I saw her master bathroom, I saw a half-day's worth of cleaning.  Don't people think of that?

[radishcake]

An Atlanta episode auntjess?! I'll have to check on demand!

[Diane]

I know, I couldn't believe the price and what she expected for it.  And I swear if I had heard BFF one more time I would have lost it.