Home Town - General Discussion

[3 is enough]

They started filming Season 5 in Laurel this week.  My guess is that they will see how that goes for a bit before they go to Alabama.

I believe they film blocks of 4 houses at a time.  Realistically it has to take at least  4-6 weeks for each house to be finished. It must be a pretty finely tuned operation since they appear to use the same contractors for each house.  Also, these days it may be taking longer for the materials to be delivered.

HGTV has been pretty resourceful with episodes done via Zoom, and reworking older content. The  coast to coast renovation challenge is just taking old shows and putting them against each other. I have noticed they are also heavily tapping into Canadian content which is new to US viewers.  Renovation Island ( aka Isle of Bryan) is a Canadian show , and they are advertising a couple others.

I don’t think there is a big rush to get the Alabama episodes filmed.

[Grrarrggh]

2 hours ago, irisheyes said:

I think the fact that they redo houses that aren’t Craftsman is about as far out of her comfort zone as Erin is willing to go. 

I was in grad school this past year and drove from metro Atlanta down to Americus, GA once a month. There are A LOT of dying small towns out there. I’d get off 75 and drive for two hours before even seeing a McDonald’s. 

So long as GA keeps voting in who they do it won't change. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

On one of the behind the scenes shows Erin said the woman with the brown hair that's been featured a lot on Season 4 is a construction management background, and is the TV schedule coordinator,   They also have a building coordinator, and the two make sure the construction schedule, and filming schedule are in sync, and they can get all of the houses done, and shows filmed.  

I don't remember who, but one of the former flipper show stars said you have to film 16 or so flips a year for a season, and a lot of flippers just can't manage that with the lag between buying, remodeling, and finishing, or selling the home.  

[RoxiP]

Sounds like this town has endured floods and tornadoes - they need a break!  I wonder if Ben and Erin are going to stay in the Airstream (and how is Ben going to make gorgeous stuff without his Scotsman shop)?

[3 is enough]

34 minutes ago, RoxiP said:

Sounds like this town has endured floods and tornadoes - they need a break!  I wonder if Ben and Erin are going to stay in the Airstream (and how is Ben going to make gorgeous stuff without his Scotsman shop)?

Maybe that is one of the reasons they picked a town fairly close to Laurel- so he can go back and work at his shop. 

[buttersister]

Erin's design aesthetic is a nice change from Gaines/Scott (I have a tiny white kitchen and walls;-)  

Ben and Erin have a clear comfort zone--and a stated mission. Choosing a nearbyish tiny town down on its luck fits both, I guess. Or it's a PR move. Or empire growth. I mean, they haven't remodeled every home in Laurel, but then, the historic district in which they primarily work is limiting. As are the would-be house hunters that, if Laurel's poverty rate is any indication, don't have six-figure budgets. Or down payments. 

Speaking of small and limited, is that why they're always walking to the prospective houses?

[CrazyInAlabama]

My guess is that they'll get a semi trailer, or another temporary facility for Ben to work in.    There might even be an empty building or two that he can use.     Then there will have to be an equipment storage, and office for the camera and production crews, so I'm sure that figured into choosing a town.  

[pasdetrois]

Been to Wetumpka a few times; a college roommate is from there and thrilled about Home Town coming to HER town. Small-town lovers rejoice. Good for Erin and Ben.

The vets at Heartland Docs are attempting something similar - they want to rejuvenate their small Nebraska town and are renovating an old hotel to start. They also appear to live in an old restored car barn-type building in town.

[LittleIggy]

2 hours ago, pasdetrois said:

Been to Wetumpka a few times; a college roommate is from there and thrilled about Home Town coming to HER town. Small-town lovers rejoice. Good for Erin and Ben.

The vets at Heartland Docs are attempting something similar - they want to rejuvenate their small Nebraska town and are renovating an old hotel to start. They also appear to live in an old restored car barn-type building in town.

Next Saturday’s Heartland Docs will feature that hotel renovation.

[suebee1212]

2 hours ago, LittleIggy said:

Next Saturday’s Heartland Docs will feature that hotel renovation.

I had not heard of this show before so I googled it! The names of the two main characters? Ben and Erin!! Almost eerie!

[absolutelyido]

Ben often says that something is going to be "real nice". The way he says it is exactly like Cousin Eddie from the Vacation movies. 

 

[buttersister]

So a title card on one of tonight’s episodes read that Ben wanted to see his products in all 50 states. Felt like part empire growth and part true passion for his woodworking. It’s nice to see someone genuinely in love with his craft.

[NYGirl]

Ben does beautiful work.  I'm often amazed at the pieces he creates out of just various wood scraps.

I love the way they say "tile".  Every time they say it I have to repeat it..

[readheaded]

Did anyone see last night's (7/13/20) show?  I usually love Ben and Erin, but was bored with the Chris Stapleton name dropping.

[LittleIggy]

2 hours ago, readheaded said:

Did anyone see last night's (7/13/20) show?  I usually love Ben and Erin, but was bored with the Chris Stapleton name dropping.

I didn’t watch it, but, when I flipped through it, I wondered why they were FaceTiming with a homeless guy. 🤣

Edited July 14, 2020 by LittleIggy

[chessiegal]

3 hours ago, readheaded said:

Did anyone see last night's (7/13/20) show?  I usually love Ben and Erin, but was bored with the Chris Stapleton name dropping.

That was a rerun. I saw it first time and the name dropping didn't bother me.

[buttersister]

I knew (from the first showing) that Chris Stapleton was a country singer. Although I didn't recall him looking quite so rough. And why he and his wife had a beat-to-shit Airstream they just had to give to Ben and Erin? Yeah, dunno. Heard why. Just. dun. no. Not a camper, myself.

[CrazyInAlabama]

The third Home Town renovated house has just hit the sale market.   

First one was the Major and his wife that worked at Camp Shelby, she was home schooling the kids.   That house had a fire (they were painting, and something got too close to a space heater), fortunately no one was injured, the house was fixed, and I guess the couple moved on (he's active duty Army, or was then) from the first season. 

 Then the couple that moved from Virginia, and she had to have a banquette,   They had a job transfer back to Virginia, and that one sold very quickly.

Now the Kollar house (both are doctors), and it had the accordion doors to the unscreened back porch.   That house had a little wrought iron decoration on the edge of the porch roof.      I bet this one sells quickly too. 

I think it's amazing that only three out of the houses they've remodeled have been sold, over the four seasons.    

Edited August 14, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[Grrarrggh]

On 8/7/2020 at 8:54 PM, CrazyInAlabama said:

I think it's amazing that only three out of the houses they've remodeled have been sold, over the four seasons.    

Why? It doesn't seem as if Laurel is exactly a booming metropolis with lots of people moving into town. It actually worries me a little that the docs place is up for sale. Are they moving out of state? If not, I wonder why they're selling so soon.  

[RoxiP]

An article I read said they were relocating for work.  

I actually went to Laurel last week - I was en route to Destin and was going to go through New Orleans when a hurricane decided to get in my way, forcing me to take the northern route through Louisiana to Florida (I live in north Texas), so when looking at the map for a place to stop for the night I saw Laurel was convenient so why the heck not!  I was only there overnight (highly recommend the Holiday Inn if anybody wants to go - the nicest people!), but managed to eat dinner at Mimmos Italian (a converted movie theater downtown) and went to Laurel Mercantile in the morning and had a great pastry at little cute bakery called Sweet Somethings before we hit the road.  I definitely would like to go again and stay for more than a short period of time.  Fair warning to anybody that visits Laurel though - a lot of places are closed on Monday or close early (made me realize how different small rural towns are after years of living in Dallas - it was refreshing).  Laurel is as cute in real life as it looks on television (and a little bigger than I expected), and the people are very nice and welcoming.

[pasdetrois]

Some of us have speculated that some of these homeowners are buying the properties for investment purposes. I seem to recall that on another renovation show - was it Trading Spaces? - it was revealed that people were selling their greatly-improved homes after their episodes aired. Of course, on that show the homeowners did not pay for the renovations, and on Home Town, they do.

They can do what they want, but it takes away from the "living in my hometown/living in a revitalized small town" vibe.

[RoxiP]

Perhaps some people find out that living in a small town isn't what they thought it would be - I live in a small town (even smaller than Laurel) and although it is great as far as quality of life and safety for raising a family it can be a pain because you have to travel for most everything like major shopping or to get to a major airport.  It's nice once you get there but getting there can be tiresome! Don't even get me started on how everybody knows everybody else's business!!!

[CrazyInAlabama]

On 9/4/2020 at 6:07 AM, Grrarrggh said:

Why? It doesn't seem as if Laurel is exactly a booming metropolis with lots of people moving into town. It actually worries me a little that the docs place is up for sale. Are they moving out of state? If not, I wonder why they're selling so soon.  

From what an article said, the Kollars have great job offers.   With the huge student loans they both have, and their history of moving fairly often, I'm not surprised about them moving on for a better job for both of them.      

Laurel seems to have a good resale market, there are some businesses near there, and I know quite a few people on another forum asking about Laurel saying they were moving for jobs.    There are some colleges in town, (the one former military Chaplain is the dean or whatever the leader of the private religious college is), The Toy Watts family moved to town because she's the superintendent of schools, and some were retirees.   Some retire back where they were raised.   

For the Kollars, I don't remember what the husband's specialty was, but the wife's is emergency medicine, and the salaries can really go up for that one.   They said they had a huge amount of student loans for their medical school, and that's why they capped the house price at $200k total.   So now they have two more years of experience, and can get a higher salary.   I suspected they would only stay a few years, in Laurel, since that's their pattern. 

Edited September 5, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[CrazyInAlabama]

5 hours ago, pasdetrois said:

Some of us have speculated that some of these homeowners are buying the properties for investment purposes. I seem to recall that on another renovation show - was it Trading Spaces? - it was revealed that people were selling their greatly-improved homes after their episodes aired. Of course, on that show the homeowners did not pay for the renovations, and on Home Town, they do.

They can do what they want, but it takes away from the "living in my hometown/living in a revitalized small town" vibe.

Some of the property brothers remodels were on the short term rental market before the show aired.   Especially the ones in Canada (they filmed a lot in the U.S. after the first years). 

 The only Home Town one where I know they were going to rent it part time were the lovely Canadian couple.   They bought the Key house with that huge holly bush.   They were planning on renting the home for short term rental, and vacationing there, and retiring there. 

 Lots of the other people are already living there, and moving into town (the lady that runs Main Street), and many others are retiring there, because they grew up there.    The lady with the tiny house next to her mother's place in the country had actually lived with her mother, and helped her after a couple of major surgeries, and rented otherwise, and the small house was her first house she owned.  

Edited September 4, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[buttersister]

Makes sense the docs are attracting or looking for better positions this early in their careers (so many docs are now employed, as opposed to starting their own small practices). 

Iirc, it was all those Waco remodeled houses that were put on the market/ABnB'd that made the Gaines' limit their clients to friends and fellow church members.

Can I say a good word for the Napier's kitchens. Most are not really my style, but I'd take just about any one of them and be happy in it. 

[justdoit10]

Whatever happened to John Combs's house?  He died months later after they finished the renovation.

[CrazyInAlabama]

The latest rerun of the Comb's episode had a memorial screen at the end.   I think he died around the first of April.   I haven't seen the house advertised online for sale, but who knows.  He seemed like a wonderful person.  

After the second season or so, some of the Fixer Upper houses were redone just for short term rentals (the Knox house was rented a lot, a few others were too, and the Gaines weren't too happy.    

 

Edited September 19, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[3 is enough]

The Combs house could be tied up in probate. I don’t know if he had any children, but if not the estate could be a bit of a mess.

I saw a rerun of the episode a while ago and did not see a memorial screen.  Was it at the start or the end?

ETA:  Nevermind.  I see from @CrazyIn Alabama's post it was at the end. I should not comment on posts I read without my glasses on.🤦‍♀️

Edited September 19, 2020 by 3 is enough

[NYGirl]

I just saw that episode last week.  I didn't notice  a memorial screen but I probably wasn't paying attention.  His house was my favorite on this show.  I didn't know he passed away 😞

[CrazyInAlabama]

Another Home Town house, from Season 1 is on the market.   It was the split level with the rotten carport that Ben pulled down with his truck.   They're moving to a bigger house in town. 

The first house was the Robinson house (he was stationed at Camp Shelby then), second was the people from Virginia with the banquette, then third  the two doctors (Kollar), and now this one.   Four resales in this long is a good record, and they all sell rather quickly. 

Edited October 22, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[justdoit10]

I like the show because I do like older houses with big front porches and not complete open concept.  I like some of the wall left, just with a larger entrance way.   Now  I don't always like Erin's decor ideas( some of her wallpaper's)  but the show isn't cookie cutter like some of the others where they all look the same.  She introduces color and I do like sage and navy and Ben does make some beautiful furniture pieces.    The prices of the houses are also recognizable to me.  I just SMH when other shows are buying fixer uppers for 500k  and that doesn't include the rehab budget.  It is insane.  It will be  good to see some new episodes.

Edited October 24, 2020 by justdoit10

[seasons]

Just found this show recently. Had become sick of hgtv and the Scott Brothers being on so often. Chip and Joanna not my style. Really liking this show though. Erin and Ben are so kuch more my speed. 

Wonder if hgtv will go the way of the food network - all those competition shows, which i don't like. Too much of one thing - like the Scott brothers - not for me.

[CrazyInAlabama]

They also selected Wetumpka AL for the six part redo of the town for the Home Town Takeover (or something like that).   Where with the help of townspeople they'll try to start a revival of the town.    

[Rhetorica]

Wrong thread...

Edited November 6, 2020 by Rhetorica

[CrazyInAlabama]

On today's rerun marathon of Home Town, they're showing some of the Home Town Takeover of Wetumpka, AL., which is the town they selected for helping revive their older downtown section.      

They're also showing how Main Street Laurel was revived, Laurel Mercantile's (owned by Ben & Erin, Jim & Mallorie, Josh & Emily) store.    It's amazing how the town revived, and a fairly deserted street has become a vibrant business district.    

I think a lot of people drive right through to the Wind Creek Casino/hotel near town, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.     I'm hoping some that are visiting the casino/hotel for weekends, or concerts will go into town after the show airs.    The Poarch Creek tribe is so active in the state, and community, that I'm hoping they helped with the show.    

Edited November 29, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[chessiegal]

We have a SIL who is from Wetumpka. His parents still live there. I'm looking forward to it. I didn't think I'd been there, but my husband says I have, more than once. Hah. Obviously made an impression. 🤣

[tvchick]

I just happened upon the "new" episode last night, Local Love, which featured several projects from previous seasons that were done for people in Laurel who own small businesses.  I realized as I watched that it was a way to celebrate Small Business Saturday, the initiative to get consumers to spend on local businesses as an alternative/in addition to Black Friday purchases.  I wish that it had gotten more publicity because it was really nice to see those homeowners and their businesses again.

HGTV indicates that Season 5 will start Jan. 3.  No premiere date yet for Home Town Takeover.

[3 is enough]

Erin and Ben are on the cover of People again this week.  

Ben will have a show on the new Discovery streaming service where celebrities come to visit his workshop.

Despite their constant declarations that have not changed, that they are keeping things "normal" for Helen, they do appear to be going down the same route as Chip and Joanna.  I hope it doesn't get to be too overwhelming for them.

[CrazyInAlabama]

Season 5 premieres on Sunday 3 January 2021, with 16 episodes in the season.    Home Town where they redo Wetumpka, AL, will be six episodes, supposedly in the Spring of 2021.    I can't find out if the Sunday premiere means the show is changing to Sunday, or if the other episodes will be on Mondays.  

[nb360]

On 10/23/2020 at 7:16 PM, justdoit10 said:

The prices of the houses are also recognizable to me.  I just SMH when other shows are buying fixer uppers for 500k  and that doesn't include the rehab budget.  It is insane.  It will be  good to see some new episodes.

You know, I would love to see a show that highlights buying homes on a middle-class budget, say someone making between $50-100,000 a year and figuring out what kind of renovations could be made with that person's salary / budget.

[RoxiP]

On 1/1/2021 at 10:42 PM, nb360 said:

You know, I would love to see a show that highlights buying homes on a middle-class budget, say someone making between $50-100,000 a year and figuring out what kind of renovations could be made with that person's salary / budget.

So true.  My first house cost $70,000 and even a small fixer upper budget was beyond my means.  Most of us have to pick and choose hat we can do - paint, yet.  Bathroom renovation, no.  And the cost of some of these renos - are these people serious?

[irisheyes]

I think that of all HGTV shows, Home Town is probably the closest to that. Their budgets are usually around $200K or less. 

[LittleIggy]

On 12/22/2020 at 12:08 PM, 3 is enough said:

Erin and Ben are on the cover of People again this week.  

Ben will have a show on the new Discovery streaming service where celebrities come to visit his workshop.

Despite their constant declarations that have not changed, that they are keeping things "normal" for Helen, they do appear to be going down the same route as Chip and Joanna.  I hope it doesn't get to be too overwhelming for them.

Wonder if Nick Offerman will visit Ben. Nick is big into woodworking.

[Suzysite]

Can Erin ever let Ben finish a sentence? He starts to talk and she jumps in to talk over him.  All. The. Time.  He's got a lot more patience with that crap than I'd have.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I loved tonight's new episode.   I remember hearing when Brandon (cameraman) died so suddenly over two years ago.   I'm so glad that Brooke and Robbie are determined to keep the little boy's father's memory alive, and I'm so glad for the new baby.    

I love the house, and the transformation.     That house was on the show before, and wasn't chosen, so it was so lovely to see what Ben and Erin did to it.    I loved the family room, and the kitchen.   I was a little apprehensive about the dining room, but it was spectacular.  

That was a big budget for this show, but it was worth it.  

I was worried about the front yard also, but I bet the French drains are very effective, and after all of these years if the house was going to flood, it would have.     I bet the back yard being rather sloped helped too.    They can also grade the front yard to help runoff go around the lower side too, it looked like there was some kind of open drain on the lower side of the house, and along the back yard.   

I bet we'll see the Tudor house on here again.     Like the Key house they showed to the couple that moved the family farmhouse, and later redid for the Canadian couple.    And the lady who opened the art supplies store redid the house with the railing in the living room (as Ben said to keep people from falling into the hallway), that Amanda the calligrapher looked at before.  

Edited January 6, 2021 by CrazyInAlabama

[CraftyHazel]

2 hours ago, Suzysite said:

Can Erin ever let Ben finish a sentence? He starts to talk and she jumps in to talk over him.  All. The. Time.  He's got a lot more patience with that crap than I'd have.

I’m not an Erin fan, to be honest.  I love her decorating style, for the most part, but everything else about her is both twee and annoying to me.

Ben, on the other hand?  Yep yep.

[RoxiP]

Wonder if Erin is pregnant again...I haven't watched the whole show yet but she looked like she had a little belly.

Nobody goes into this to not make money and get famous.  And given the fickleness of the public who can blame them for doing we much while they are hot.  For HGTV they are a product and as long as they bring in viewers (and advertisers) they will get lots of exposure.  I have always felt that Ben is more into the publicity than Erin.

If Ben doesn't care about the conversational dynamics then I sure don't.  I didn't care for Erin at first but she has grown on me.

 

[Grrarrggh]

What a boring house. Outside of the dinning room it was too cookie cutter for me. 

[LittleIggy]

2 hours ago, CraftyHazel said:

I’m not an Erin fan, to be honest.  I love her decorating style, for the most part, but everything else about her is both twee and annoying to me.

Ben, on the other hand?  Yep yep.

I’m not either. Glad I’m not alone. 

[3 is enough]

2 hours ago, RoxiP said:

Wonder if Erin is pregnant again...I haven't watched the whole show yet but she looked like she had a little belly.

Me too. In the People article she was wearing a loose dress, plus this week she posted on Instagram about Helen moving into a "big girl room" - not just  keeping her in the same room and replacing the crib with a bed.  When she was pregnant with Helen they did not announce publicly until she was almost 6 months along.  

She does not like people asking if she is or is planning to be pregnant.  I can understand that- but unfortunately when you are in the public eye people will speculate.  

The house was nice. I really liked the kitchen floor. I am happy for Brooke- it must have been so hard for her to be suddenly widowed at such a young age.