In my L.B.B. (Life Before Blogging), I spent way too many hours a day gazing at the TV, absorbing countless hours of HGTV programming. Home remodeling shows, home staging shows, home valuation shows, how-to-design-a-room-to-look-like-an-expensive-designer-created-it-when-in-reality-you-only-spent-50-cents shows, and my hands-down, all-time favorite, clear out the DVR to make room for it show – House Hunters.
I’ve been watching House Hunters for so long that I remember when they didn’t show the price of the homes being toured nor the floorplans.
I’ve been watching House Hunters for so long that I remember when Suzanne Whang was the host.
I’ve been watching House Hunters for so long that I can identify the exact pitch of the doorbell used in their theme song even if I was asleep.
How’s that for serious dedication?
My crazy-long list of reality TV star connections, coupled with our habit for relocating and my addiction to the show, you’d think that my dream would be to star in a House Hunters episode. Heck, I’ve written my pitch in my mind as to why we’d be perfect for the show and why they’d have to choose us. Plus, now they segment their featured home buyers by type and we could easily fit into two categories – Relocating Homeowners or Suburban House Hunters.
But?
But.
BUT!
Our behavior on the house tours would be our kiss of death.
First, Craig and I believe that a smart layout reigns supreme and that less is more. But so many buyers on the show expect more space and “man caves” and media rooms and 2-story foyers in their new home. If we walked into a house with a designated “man cave” or a 2-story foyer? It would be an immediate turn-off. We’d sound all old and overly-practical with our “Such a waste of space!” and “Do you know how much extra it’s going to cost to cool and heat that 2-story foyer?!?” Then the show would cut to a short clip where our realtor would be interviewed about our complaints and she’d roll her eyes and say something like, “They are the weirdest clients I’ve ever worked with! Who doesn’t want a ‘man cave’?!”
Then, we would never be the people you see who say, “This paint color could kinda work for our existing furniture.” or “No granite?!? I have to have granite in my kitchen!” We know that items like counters and flooring and paint colors can be easily changed. It’s the location, lot and overall layout of the house that you really need to be concerned with. Our comments as we walk through the rooms would be about the “potential” they had and how we could make them work for our needs.
I don’t know. As awesome as I think it would be in so many ways, I think we’d make for the most boring house hunters that House Hunters has ever chosen.
Would you ever want to be featured on 1 episode of your favorite show?
I LOVE House Hunters International. But is it just me or do the three choices they end up with never seem like that great of choices?
I’m a toilet flusher. Seriously. When house-hunting, I flush every single toilet. That would surely make for great tv.
Oh, that would be epic! Your “Toilet Flusher” episode would be legendary!
I think that would be the best episode so far.
This made me laugh so much as I have been watching forever! I remember all those early shows. I actually did contact them about being on the show!! Years ago. We were looking to buy our first NYC apt– one actually does have to be quite far in the process before they want you on the show. But I totally agree & we would have sucked as guests too. Husband and I were clueless & totally annoying. But love that show!!
Interesting to know that you have to be pretty far in! Would you ever consider contacting them again?
Of course! lol.
that was the situation back then– not sure if they’ve changed how they do the show now. There are more shows that are similar now so maybe they have different criteria. I think it’s awesome–and husband and I would be completed ridiculous as hunters. We know nothing. We walk into a place and are like “we’ll take it,” pretty much within 5 mins.
It is all about the flow of the house for me. If it is all broken up in little rooms, it wouldn’t be on my list.
I’m always surprised at what people will live with, like one small bathroom for a family of 5 and what is a deal-breaker for others -paint colors? Carpeting? I don’t get it. For me it is all about location and layout.
HAHAHAHA! YES! OMG, those people are the ones my husband and I yell at! It truly boggles my mind what people decide is “make or break” sometimes!
I would probably make for a terrible guest on House Hunters too.
I can’t stop watching reality TV but cannot imagine actually being on one. Humiliation seems to be the key to entertainment these days, so no thank you!
I’ve watched House Hunters about as long as you. Remember when it first came out, with Suzanne Whang, when all the homes they showed were in California? I was soooo excited when they branched out to other states.
We’re super picky. We could never find 3 homes we like, so they wouldn’t let us on the show. Oh, and once we set a budget, we couldn’t be like half the people and miraculously be able to afford a house $100,000 over our budget like half the people do.
I totally forgot about Cali-only, but you are right! And I do remember those days! You and I are veterans, apparently.
Maybe you could go with David tospice things up…
I PPH House Hunters but some of the people that go on that show enrage me. I especially hate the ones that have a tiny budget and expect to get a huge house.
They want their dream house on a first-timer’s budget. Oh those are classic. Lots of square footage, updated kitchen and baths, hardwood throughout…blah, blah.
I think it would be so hard to be an agent dealing with unrealistic buyers.
I LOVE House Hunters too! And I started watching when Suzanne Whang was host — loved her! We’re like you on the wasted space stuff; we’re all always in the same rooms anyway so what would be the point?
As for one episode? I’ve always not-so-secretly wanted to go on the Amazing Race!
Yes! I’d rather have a larger kitchen/eating/main living space area and not-humongous bathrooms and bedrooms.
This is awesome! I can’t watch House Hunters International. It drives me nuts to see people getting their second homes in some exotic location that they’ll go to twice a year, and it’s better than my ONLY home.
FIrst, we are the same way with space! Less is definitely more. With kids, we all end up in the same room all the time anyway. Plus, I can be cheap and lazy – who wants to decorate, clean and heat/cool all that extra space?
We end up yelling at the TV when we watch House Hunters over the same stuff you mentioned – it drives us nuts when people get hung up on the appliances or wallpaper or floors. It can all be changed. And if you can’t afford to buy the house AND make the changes, then don’t buy the house. Ooo – I could rant on this one. Don’t get me started on them shopping houses in the range they’re approved for. Approved does not equal “can afford.” Okay, I’m stopping now before I go on a tangent.
What about those people who want to spend $500K+ and then are like, “But this yard doesn’t have a fence and we’d have to pay to put one in.”
Ummmmmm, if you are buying a home at a high price point, how is it that you can’t afford to put in a fence?!
My mom loves House Hunters too, and whenever I’ve watched it with her, we always say the same thing: “Why are they so worried about this-or-that when it can easily be changed!?” I guess we’re also really boring and practical. Although I do have a 2-story foyer. ::hangs head in shame::
I definitely wouldn’t want to be on a reality show, mainly because you have no control over the editing. My husband’s friend, Doug, was on an episode of last season’s Millionaire Matchmaker and they completely destroyed him in the editing room – made him look like a perverted, sex-starved idiot. His date didn’t work out and the show has affected his ability to continue to date normally. He also owns his own law practice and lost clients as a result of his appearance on the show. I don’t feel too sorry for him – he made his bed by appearing on a reality show, and now he has to lie in it – but he (and several of the other contestants) definitely got screwed. That Patty Stanger is a real piece of work.
I confess to watching Millionaire Matchmaker in my LBB. I’m so sorry for your friend! But you are right – it just takes watching 1 episode of that show to know what you could potentially “look” like.
I tried, desperately, to get my wife on What Not to Wear. It’s not that I think she has bad fashion habits . . . it’s just that I wanted her to get new clothes.
But HGTV drives me crazy. I’ve never seen House Hunters, but I fear that I’d be right there with you, questioning the two-story foyer . . . although I kind-of have my own man cave in the basement. I share it with the cat.
Does she know this? I feel awful for her!
I’m also scared to think what types of clothing you’d choose for her.
Yes, she actually asked me to!
And, the whole thing about that show, as I understood it, was that two fashion experts actually picked out the clothes, completely absent of the person who made the request. Because, yeah, if I had to pick out the wardrobe? Plunging necklines…and that’s about it.
I’d don’t want to be on my favorite show because it’s Dateline and if I’m on it, I’m probably dead. And I haven’t heard of TV shows where daughters throw things at their napping dads.
I remember Suzanne Whang! My househunters obsession has been around for a long time. I find that I enjoy House Hunters International even more than the original one.
If you were on the show, it might be boring, but it would also be one of my favorite episodes, because it would be the one time I could watch it without being annoyed at the ridiculous “needs” of the family for their home.
I love House Hunters & House Hunters International. I can spot that doorbell ring as well. Maybe I should have you & Craig come do our home shopping for us. Looks like you’d save us some money.
I once watched that show religiously as well. I remember Suzanne Whang! And the way she said her last name, I swear she pronounced the h.
I was always blown away by how much people were paying for these homes in other parts of the country. Where I’m from, the homes were much more inexpensive.
I was really, REALLY disappointed when I found out the truth behind House Hunters. I felt like they’ve been lying to me forever. I had some friends on Turf Wars. I think that would be pretty fun.
I found some blog last night that talked about the truth behind all the shows. I won’t spoil it for anyone reading here, but I was pretty surprised by what I learned about HH.
What is the TRUTH??? WHAT?
As a lover of HH since the Suzanne Whang era (although what did she really do besides walk along a hedge introducing people she’d clearly never met?) I’m not sure I want to know.
But I NEED to know.
I’m worried now. Should I take a nap to gear up for the bad news? Just in case…
I can’t argue with the “walking along the hedge” line…
I love house hunters, but love house hunters international. My goal in life is to be the kind of person who buys a vacation home in the Carribbean
Holy crap!! You’re just like us!!! We are waiting to do our “upgrades” until we have the cash. We bought house “as is” and I love it. Just enough house for the money, and we don’t spend one penny out of our budget! They wouldn’t let us on the show either. LOL!!
If there were more people like us, there wouldn’t be the mortgage/housing crisis! We need to clone ourselves.
I am ashamed (wait no I’m not) to tell you that I have never seen this show. I don’t watch any Reality TV….;)
If I could be on the first episode of THE GOOD WIFE, LAW & ORDER, BURN NOTICE…yes, yes, yes!!!!!!
and I’d be horrible, since I’d want autographs and interviews, I’d want Kraft services!!!!! LOL
you sound like you’d be PERFECT for that show, NEW STUFF, NEW IDEAS, breaking the mold!
We had friends on house hunters and now know the secrets. It ruined it for us!
OK, so you have to send me an email about it! You can’t dangle something like that in front of me! Ha!
My favorite tv show of all time is Lost. It is no longer on the air but even if it was, I wouldn’t want to be on it. I’d still be afraid of fictional big black smoke monsters!
Bill and I watch HH and HHI (sometimes instead of Monday Night Football. Shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone.).
We just love the men who throw the words “Man Cave” around two hundred times an episode almost as much as the women who want their own “scrapbooking” room.
Oh wait no.
We laugh at them.
I knew it was one of those.
Craig in all his 5’4″ stature wants to throat punch the dudes who repeatedly insist, “Where’s my MAN cave?!?!”
Dude.
Seriously?
Oh my goodness, maybe there will be a late night marathon while we’re at Blissdom. I *heart* House Hunters. And hate the people that are like, “Well, it’s over budget, and we would have to renovate the bathrooms, it doesn’t have the floor plan we want, there’s no back yard for the kids or garage for the cars, BUT…did you see the awesome wet bar in the mancave!!!!!!!”
I’ve never seen the show but it sounds to me that you are not boring. But that you DO have taste. And therein lies the rub.
Rub indeed.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but my favorite show is The Real World/Road Rules Challenge…except now it’s just called The Challenge…
I live for new seasons every few months…sigh…
and I could totally hang…I can backstab and drink just like those crazy bitches…
You two sound just like us! We’re looking at houses and we say the same things–great foyer, but who’s going to USE it?? What a waste! I don’t think I’d be great on TV–I’m too boring.
You are just like me! I love watching the show, but I find myself saying the same things. What’s the point of a 2 story foyer? And why do we need a man cave when our kids could use it as a playroom instead?
I can’t watch House Hunters International though. It irritates me that they’re spending insane amounts of money on houses nicer than mine that they will visit twice a year.
I don’t want people to know how I really act.
I couldnt be on a reality show
No man cave?? ha ha…we are the same as far as layout is the most important. I always think of cleaning too…
I do miss Suzanne Whang and her straight cut bangs.
We would be JUST like you. They wouldn’t want us on there either for the very same reasons. I like how it used to be, smaller houses and more fixer-uppers. I seem to perfer the international version over the U.S. version these days!
p.s. can you tell it’s also one of my favorite shows??
I totally snorted at your “straight cut bangs” line – SO true! And they always swayed ever just so when she spoke.
Uh, yes, I would most definitely want to be on America’s Next Top Model!
I love House Hunters, and I remember all if those older episodes. If I ever wanted to watch mind numbing TV, it was always HGTV. Now I get frustrated when it’s a young newlywed couple with a $400k budget. Seriously?
C and I did the same thing with our house — we can change all the old, outdated stuff and make it ours. Unfortunately we didn’t make it enough of a priority, and didn’t exactly plan on having 3 kids in 2 years. Now finding a newer house where we’ll need to do less work looks really appealing.
Oh my gosh. You know what?
Now you’ve got me wanting a show with you and Craig in it.
You know how funny that would be?
Seriously. Those networks are spending money on the wrong people.
You should do a video sample of you two walking through a model home. It’d be killer.
You’re killing me! And you know what? There are so many homes being built around here and we already walk through them and critique them.
Now if I can teach Kate to man a camera…
I have watched that show on a few occasions and I totally agree. I hate when a couple immediately dismisses a home because of the paint color in the living room. HELLO! That’s an easy fix. I would also take the practical route (and wouldn’t need a mancave either).
YOU AND CRAIG SHOULD TOTALLY AUDITION!!!!