Something Just Doesn't Click With "House Hunters"

House Hunters (1999)

Reality TV

The Story:

Suzanne Whang takes us on  journey behind the scenes as a realtor and buyer begin the arduous journey of finding their next dream house.

Again, as one who doesn't watch too much television until I stumble across it on Netflix, apparently House Hunters has been on for a decade and change.

That still doesn't make it a great show.

:)

Don't get me wrong, it's fine, but unlike Love It or List It or Property Brothers, there is no quirky Canadian duo to entice the viewer to stick around from episode to episode.

;)

While a slight exaggeration, upon further reflection, maybe not.

We've got different realtors, different people, different reasons in every episode, and while that's fine, there is no dynamic duo leading the viewer to care if these people succeed or fail at what they are doing.

I believe that is the hook that makes those shows work while I found this one to pale in comparison.

There is a handful of episodes now streaming on Netflix. I've watched one, while I've finished all episodes available of the other 2 shows, and both are in the running for Best of the Year honors.

House Hunters remains unfinished, and I'm in no hurry to return to see who buys the next house.

Final Grade: C+

So Are You Going To "Love It, Or List It" ?

Love It Or List It (2008)

The Story:

Homeowners face the dilemma of moving to something bigger and better, or staying put and remodeling. This HGTV series takes it one step further by enlisting the aid of realtor David Visentin and decorator Hilary Farr. Armed with a series of renovations and what it would take to get them to move, each tackles their part of the job in the hopes of luring the reluctant partner to change their mind and either stay, or go.

But is this show really worth watching?

Yes, yet it is.

Hilary and David are both pleasant to watch, and you can get a lot of tips and ideas on how to decorate or what to look for during your next move.

What does it teach you?

1) Prices in Canada are insane, eh?

Seriously, it seems like every couple lives in a dump.

A dump valued at $650,000 or more!

: /

I'm thinking I need to move to Canada and earn some of their money to buy a dump like that!

2) There is almost some problem in the house that destroys Hilary's budget, and makes her unable to provide all the renovations she planned on.

Seriously, the amount of times she doesn't run into a problem can probably be counted on one hand. So yes homeowners, you aren't alone. Apparently anything that can go wrong will go wrong to the homeowner.

3) Everyone wants to move to a bigger house...in the exact same neighborhood they are in... for about the same price.

Seriously.

The hoops David has to jump through to get people to even entertain leaving their neighborhood (my friends are here... my family is here... my kids like it here...) are astronomical.

Live a little people.

Get out of your comfort zone!

Life is an adventure.

Finally,

4) The homeowners are normally annoying as all get out.

Can't lie about this one, it's amazing the whining and mind-changing these guys do in the course of an episode.

I don't recommend binge watching this show, as those 4 things become repetitive quickly, but taken one or two episodes at a time, it's doable.

I suppose one last thing often happens in each episode as well:

5) The owners make the wrong decision.

Normally they are always offered a better house, not much more than they're spending now, in a newer house with less problems.

Then they get sentimental about how much they love their drafty house... and they stay.

Morons.

:)

Some episodes available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B