02-23-2010, 10:08 AM
Aloha Guys!
I've been reading the posts for years, love KonaBob & John Rabi, recommend this Forum to all of my Mainland buyers especially, but haven't made an entry until now. Thought I'd better speak up for myself now!
Remember, HouseHunters is in TV Land. The object is to gain viewers. I moved here from Burbank, in the heart of Hollywoodland, and even I was surprised by what I said & did when I saw myself in the episode. Good guess on one thing, the film crew thought I should use their rented red Mustang convertible in an episode in Hawaii. I love my practical Honda CRV!
Househunters, what it looks like: Some people want to buy a house. They work with a Realtor, look at three houses (which one will it be????), choose one, sign a (two-page) contract, get the house, & everyone lives happily every after. NOT! Good catch, some of you! Wanna hear the skinny? Read on.
Househunters: People who want to be on the show send a 20 minute video of themselves, auditioning. They get accepted (or not). THEN THEY ACTUALLY BUY A HOUSE. HouseHunters assures themselves the house is owned or is in the last throes of escrow. THEN a film crew films that house and two other "decoy" or "dummy" houses. They are not homes the buyers originally looked at because (A) those homes are no longer available after escrow and the film crew can schedule themselves and / or (B) HouseHunters "helps" pick and the final say on the homes.
In this instance the guys were already working with me & asked me if I wanted to be on TV. I'd be famous for 15 minutes, sure, why not. They came over, we looked at 58 houses in one week (my personal record - they wanted to see 68). They picked one & bought.
Months later the film crew showed up. We shot 8:00 to 8:00 for three days. Some months later they found their "sound" was poor (or they wanted to come back to Hawaii??) and they had to come back for a second three-day shooting. So six days distilled into about 20 minutes. Sure, I know they can edit, do magic with computers, etc., but I'm not sure I said what I looked like I said on TV, and they edited out miles of film to get what the audience saw.
Realtors, don't feel incompetent because you show more than three houses to buyers!
The two "dummy" houses were really nice. The one by the ocean (in Hawaiian Beaches) is still available. Not sure about the other, but it was big & beautiful, but not very close to Hilo. Besides, neither was EVER in their budget! TV Land!
The guys love their home, are still trying to get proper grass to grow (the lot was ripped & rolled), and are doing really well in their lives & careers. In the interests of confidentiality they will have to tell more if they so choose - but I think they should! They say they would never do HouseHunters again, and I'm not sure I would either. Too much work, exposure, phoniness. I love Hawaii because most of us are real, not in some TV Land.
John R I've had awe and respect for you for years. I was in Real Estate in Burbank for about seven years, and here now about six and you give great advice & must have the world's record for designations. When I tell Mainlanders re the Forum, I give them the caveat that if there are mistakes or errors regarding Real Estate on the Forum, not to worry, John will set the record straight! Hope to do a deal with you sometime.
I've been reading the posts for years, love KonaBob & John Rabi, recommend this Forum to all of my Mainland buyers especially, but haven't made an entry until now. Thought I'd better speak up for myself now!
Remember, HouseHunters is in TV Land. The object is to gain viewers. I moved here from Burbank, in the heart of Hollywoodland, and even I was surprised by what I said & did when I saw myself in the episode. Good guess on one thing, the film crew thought I should use their rented red Mustang convertible in an episode in Hawaii. I love my practical Honda CRV!
Househunters, what it looks like: Some people want to buy a house. They work with a Realtor, look at three houses (which one will it be????), choose one, sign a (two-page) contract, get the house, & everyone lives happily every after. NOT! Good catch, some of you! Wanna hear the skinny? Read on.
Househunters: People who want to be on the show send a 20 minute video of themselves, auditioning. They get accepted (or not). THEN THEY ACTUALLY BUY A HOUSE. HouseHunters assures themselves the house is owned or is in the last throes of escrow. THEN a film crew films that house and two other "decoy" or "dummy" houses. They are not homes the buyers originally looked at because (A) those homes are no longer available after escrow and the film crew can schedule themselves and / or (B) HouseHunters "helps" pick and the final say on the homes.
In this instance the guys were already working with me & asked me if I wanted to be on TV. I'd be famous for 15 minutes, sure, why not. They came over, we looked at 58 houses in one week (my personal record - they wanted to see 68). They picked one & bought.
Months later the film crew showed up. We shot 8:00 to 8:00 for three days. Some months later they found their "sound" was poor (or they wanted to come back to Hawaii??) and they had to come back for a second three-day shooting. So six days distilled into about 20 minutes. Sure, I know they can edit, do magic with computers, etc., but I'm not sure I said what I looked like I said on TV, and they edited out miles of film to get what the audience saw.
Realtors, don't feel incompetent because you show more than three houses to buyers!
The two "dummy" houses were really nice. The one by the ocean (in Hawaiian Beaches) is still available. Not sure about the other, but it was big & beautiful, but not very close to Hilo. Besides, neither was EVER in their budget! TV Land!
The guys love their home, are still trying to get proper grass to grow (the lot was ripped & rolled), and are doing really well in their lives & careers. In the interests of confidentiality they will have to tell more if they so choose - but I think they should! They say they would never do HouseHunters again, and I'm not sure I would either. Too much work, exposure, phoniness. I love Hawaii because most of us are real, not in some TV Land.
John R I've had awe and respect for you for years. I was in Real Estate in Burbank for about seven years, and here now about six and you give great advice & must have the world's record for designations. When I tell Mainlanders re the Forum, I give them the caveat that if there are mistakes or errors regarding Real Estate on the Forum, not to worry, John will set the record straight! Hope to do a deal with you sometime.
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