One of my "T.V." love/hate relationships is the HGTV show "Love it or List it". It is a reality show..which in this day and age, means that it is Not Reality...In each episode there is a couple at odds as to what to do with their home..One will want to move to new, larger home and the other will want to renovate and stay in their neighborhood.
Enter the shows "stars"??? A Designer, 'Hilary", who will update and renovate their home so that it will work better for the family. The second part of the 'Not so dynamic duo' is David, the Real Estate agent who will find them a new home that answers their needs within their budget. At the end of each episode the couple will decide whether to "Love It or List It"
As with any reality show...there is lots of drama over unanticipated construction problems and house shopping disappointments...And the "Battle of the Sexes" is also an element...Hilary is sharp tongued and arrogant. David is whiny, egotistical and snarky.... I hate stereotypes even more than "Reality" TV...I guess it would not show well... with real professionals... a talented Male Designer and a respectable Female Realtor...I really thought we, as society had progressed beyond such stereotypes.
To the non professional it all looks like a reasonable and good premise, until during the renovation project, a major expensive obstacle is painfully realized and must be addressed . This will inevitable eat into the budget that Hilary has promised for all the projects she promises...thus...something has to give...and the client is disappointed...and Hilary finds them unrealistic for being upset and doubting her.
At the same time, David is not able to find the right new home to please the couple, and in some cases insults them by ignoring their wishes and occasionally telling them they are unreasonable...after he has told them how wonderful he is and that he can find their perfect home...
All of this could be great fun if perhaps it is done with the tone of a British comedy..and the average person watching would then know this is not how things work in the real world......but it is not.
FIRST OF ALL: An experienced Design Professional will include contractors and structural engineers BEFORE they tear down "load bearing" walls or begin renovating basement plumbing...especially in older homes. Real "Design Professionals" do this so we don't have "over budget" problems, that result in angry, disappointed clients. Over selling the project and understating the scope of what is involved is very bad business. And Hilary does this on every show...there is a lot of talk on HGTV message boards as to whether she really is a designer.
AND SECONDLY: I think any Realtor who treated his clients in the whiny and condescending way as David does...would certainly not be sought after... or even in business. I have worked with many Realtors and have many that are personal friends...and this attitude and behavior is just unacceptable.
I personally think the shows concept could be great. These stories are wonderful and interesting to many home owners..Heck...they could even be truly informative, if shown with real professionals showing us how things can go when done properly....The folks at "This Old House" on PBS have done just that for years....
I used to be a huge fan of HGTV when they first came on the air..I was even invited to audition to be a hostess of a show....but with the "dumbing down" of most of their shows....well....call me old fashion...I think my profession and the work we all do is wonderful without the fabricated "drama".
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