To think some people on property shows are unrealistic?

[hondagirl500]

I was watching escape to the country the other day...a youngish couple, budget of about £600K, looking for a 'family house'. The one I saw them being shown was 4 bedrooms, garage, big garden, big kitchen diner. But all the way through they kept saying things like 'not big enough for a family', 'box room is too small' and so on.
I was brought up in a 3 bed semi, 5 of us, my brothers shared a room that is literally 10x10 feet, I was in the box room which only had room for my bed, and a tiny drawer unit. My parents were brought up in 2up/2 downs, when they had families of 9!
These people are nuts!

[isabellerossignol]

Just some people on property shows?

I agree. The people always moan about everything, even things they could easily change.

I wonder are they really so out of touch with reality that they think this way, or are they asked by the producers to pick faults in stuff for the sake of making better TV. I suppose an episode of Location Location Location or whatever wouldn't really work if they looked round the first house and said 'this is exactly what we've been looking for, let's make an offer'

[isabellerossignol]

Although nothing beats the people on Wanted Down Under who seem to think that everyone in Australia earns a fortune for working less hours, and spend their every waking moment at the beach.

[oneoffname]

I agree. We still laugh about one particular episode where for some reason, the husband wasn't able to attend the viewings. The wife was shown several properties which seemed to tick all the boxes. She Rebe Ted each and every one because the vendors all had dining tables in their kitchens and her husband wouldn't be happy about that. It didn't seem to enter her head that she could furnish her own kitchen as she liked, with or without a dining table. I've also seen some where houses have been rejected because the couple don't like the choice of wallpaper. Do people not realise they can redecorate to their taste?

[PowerslidePanda]

I was brought up in a 3 bed semi, 5 of us, my brothers shared a room that is literally 10x10 feet, I was in the box room which only had room for my bed, and a tiny drawer unit. My parents were brought up in 2up/2 downs, when they had families of 9!

Did the houses that you and your parents were brought up in cost £600k? If I was spending that kind of money on a house, I'd be picky about it meeting all my requirements too.

[isabellerossignol]

I also like people with one child who need a six bedroom house so that their friends can stay over. I hate to break it to you, but if your friends are the sort for partying all night and needing somewhere to crash, they're not going to want to do it in your family home in the country. They'll want it to be in the flat in London that you've just sold, the one next to all the bars...

[TheLightSideOfTheMoon]

I watched a property show once where the couple walked into the hallway and immediately said,

"Oh, I don't like the lampshade..!"

For a start, the vendors will probably take it, secondly, it was a completely unoffensive paper ball or similar, thirdly, that's probably the cheapest/easiest thing to change...

I didn't like the decor when I looked around my house - it's why B&Q was invented...

[LittleAndOften]

I wonder if they made a realistic property show, outside of London, for people who had £230k budget and were looking at 'projects' or teeny tiny new build flats only, whether anyone would watch?!

I think these shows are meant to be fantasy aspirational.

[isabellerossignol]

I think people do like to see 'ordinary' people too. I agree that the aspirational thing works because people like to have a nosey at houses that they'll never live in. But sometimes people like to look at a 3 bed semi and think 'ah, that's like my house, I like what they've done to the layout' or whatever.

[1Morewineplease]

I scoffed at the wife who loved the cottage and 1.5 acres or so of land but because she could see a rooftop in the distance, declared that she didn’t want to be overlooked.
I also love it when couples declare that the kitchen ( probably three times bigger than the one they have) isn’t big enough for all the ‘entertaining ‘ that they do.

[hondagirl500]

'Did the houses that you and your parents were brought up in cost £600k? If I was spending that kind of money on a house, I'd be picky about it meeting all my requirements too.'

I believe our family house was bought for about £3500 - back in the early 60's. Probably the equivalent of £600K nowadays!

[Lllot5]

I think half of them just want to be on telly.
One couple being shown round a flat in Southampton( I think) said it’s ok but I wish it was nearer London!

[AgathaTheAardvark]

YABU to say it's only some of them 😂.

It's classic. Rachel and Steve have a budget of £2. They are looking for a palace with 27 bedrooms, preferably, near their home turf of Mayfair 😂😂😂.

I swear they set them up to look unreasonable.

[dexterslockedintheshedagain]

Yup. And those that want a 5 bed with en-suite, large kitchen for entertaining, granny annexe, large garden for keeping alpacas, in rural Hampshire.......for £250k

[WorryBadger]

I watch these programmes just so I can get all ranty and chippy about people with half a million quid needing 'help'. Oh you poor darlings, did none of the spacious mansions meet your needs?

[WorryBadger]

Perhaps you can dry your eyes on your WADS OF CASH

[ActualHornist]

I can’t watch those programmes anymore. The people on them wind me up something chronic. They’re so unimaginative they won’t accept a house where there’s a table where they wouldn’t put one.

And they’ve always got a top budget....except it’s not because they always go for the Wild Card that’s over budget.

They never have a couple who’ve scraped together a deposit and have to make compromises on space or location, do they?

[Cleverplayonwords]

I believe our family house was bought for about £3500 - back in the early 60's. Probably the equivalent of £600K nowadays!

Nope

[TheLightSideOfTheMoon]

And they always want a 'wow factor'.

3 bed-semis don't have a 'wow factor'.

[Sandsnake]

I think I watched the one you did. The guy in particular was unbelievable - ‘I thought it was a big house. I was surprised and disappointed when I then learned it was only half a house’ (yes, buddy - this is called a ‘semi-detached’ 😂). Though if I’m brutally honest the only reason I really watch those sort of programmes is to judge the terrible people on them, so I’m always a bit disappointed if they’re actually reasonable...

[LaurieFairyCake]

The 'wow' factor gets my goat too.

The wow factor in mine that I liked was that it's very close to a bus stop 🤷‍♀️

I swear I've watched one where they wanted 'galleries landings like in a church' - wtf

[babybunny123]

I hate it when they use the word space over and over. Oh I like the space, oh its a good space , oh the space is too small, it's a bloody room !!!

[sunshinesupermum]

I love these shows! The people on them are so entertaining. #needtogetoutmore

[AgathaTheAardvark]

Though if I’m brutally honest the only reason I really watch those sort of programmes is to judge the terrible people on them, so I’m always a bit disappointed if they’re actually reasonable...

😂😂😂

Also Perhaps you can dry your eyes on your WADS OF CASH .

[Yoohoo16]

Yanbu.
The retired couple get my goat. They’re downsizing, kids flown the nest, getting older etc but still want 5 bedrooms to clean and at least 3 acres of land to look after. And then they look around they 900k property and declare it’s much to small.

[1forAll74]

I don't watch those property programmes anymore, when I used to,I don't ever remember any of the people putting in an offer,or buying any of the ,sometimes beautiful houses. I remember one woman viewing a lovely country house.and she said that she didn't like the shape of the window, an arched type window, in the hallway,and her husband agreed with her ha ha.