T Tara On Demand: House HuntersMarch 11, 2010
T Tara
House Hunters HD
HGTV HD On Demand
I just realized that I probably take a few steps back as we are in the early stages of looking for a new place. What better show to watch than House Hunters? I know we’re renting but LA is a renter’s market and its just as much a detailed search as buying. Nobody wants freeway noise, traffic, tight quarters or street parking – renting or owning.
I just realized that I probably take a few steps back as we are in the early stages of looking for a new place. What better show to watch than House Hunters? I know we’re renting but LA is a renter’s market and its just as much a detailed search as buying. Nobody wants freeway noise, traffic, tight quarters or street parking – renting or owning.
Jeff and Carmen are a couple with kids and they are looking to move for more room and more quiet. They have no formal dining room and, while the freeway is convenient, it’s preventing them from sleeping. Zoinks. We’re looking to move closer to a 101 entrance or a main street to take us where we need to go. Maybe not. Like us though, they are looking to not move again for a while. When searching for apartments in LA (I’m about to turn into a Craig’s List ad), it’s easy to get frustrated and forget the key points you’re looking for just for the sake of finding the perfect place. Welcome to my life House Hunters!
The first house is mid renovation. On the low side, the new buyers have to continue on. Wait, this is not a renovation. This is a “Life After People” episode! It looks scavenged! Big orange X’s mark something – perhaps where zombies come? But it is a huge house and it’s only $1.8 million. Yep, that’s all. And it’s quiet. What I learned from this house? Space is wonderful. Plaid rugs in rec rooms are scary. Pools require work. Buying is for mature adults.
The next house is POLISHED! Is this a show house? I’d feel nervous I’d break something in this well kept place even though there’s nothing in it. Hey, the husband cut his Shaggy hair since the last house. Things are moving up already. Now they look like the belong in this joint. Built in barbecues, tennis court, a pool with no leaves and a three car garage. This is a REAL grown up house. Cons? Power lines. The wife says brain tumor when she sees them. She’s a doctor so I trust her. Note to self: look for power lines near net apartment. Can they get over it for a mere $1.5 million? We shall see.
House three is $2.15 million. At this point that’s just monopoly money in my head. Not even real. I’ve got to say though, for that price, this house isn’t great at all. Counters are not granite (even some of the apartments I saw had that! Ha! The wife just said what I typed!) and the wallpaper looks a little bit like a burlesque show. The plus though is the backyard is quiet and there’s a Jacuzzi. Down side? Who parts green carpet in a bathroom? Was there a sale on crazy wallpaper? They kinda like this place. I’m over this one. But I don’t have the check so guess who’s overruled?
Which one did they chose? (Play music). They picked the “Life After People” house! Raw space! Smart. Flash forward 9 months. Decorated nicely. They spent more cash on remodeling than they thought. For $1.8 million, I want no problems. Hence us not being ready to buy. But I did learn to look for key things like power lines, potential space issues, the value of quiet and to remain thankful we are in a renter’s market.
House Hunters
Available on HGTV On Demand until 3/22/10
T.Tara Turk is a contributing writer to On Demand Weekly. She is a writer living in LA, navigating the world of "writing for a living" minimally. She maintains a blog at www.ttaraturk.com while working on screenplays, fiction and plays.
