I was on a property relocation TV programme abroad AMA

[simplepimple]

That is if we're not a little bit tired of all the AMA's now.

When I said “howhas it worked out?” I meant how has living abroad worked out. Are you happy. Any regrets. Have you made some nice friends. Do you miss the U.K.

I'm happy here but I was happy in UK too. Happiness is not perhaps about where you are but I know people who thought moving abroad would solve their problems but if you have problems in UK it's likely you'll have them wherever you go. I miss some things from the UK but if I was there I'd miss some things from here so I concentrate on what I love about where I am.

Did they show you more houses than they showed on the program?

All the houses on the programme were the ones I viewed but in a different order.

Did you feel pressured to put an offer in for one?
There is a little bit of pressure because the producer of your episode wants to be the one that gets the happy ending but you're buying your home here so it has to be right.

Did they give you a script or could you say whatever you want? You're allowed to say what you want. They only make suggestions if you're struggling.

Were you happy to be on the programme? I always wonder why so many of the people on those programmes look so bloody glum. You'd have thought someone had gone into their house on Christmas morning and pissed all over their kids' presents!

Ooh I think I know the programme, love it.

Did they change the order of the houses they showed you when they put the prog together?
Are the houses pre chosen or do they actually change what they show you when you feed back? Like - oh I’d like more kitchen space, so they find a different property? Or do they have extra ones on standby?

Did they do any checks beforehand? Such as income/agreements in principle for mortgage etc??

Yes newdad they do ask about your financial circumstances but they didn't seem to need actual proof. Though you do sign a contract.

Their researchers ring loads of agents in the couple of weeks before. They want places that they can film in, that are empty (eg not rented out to tourists during those couple of days of filming) and that vaguely fit the buyer's requirements.
They get the agents to have the owners sign waivers to have their properties filmed. Everyone runs around for them. Then they pick a handful of properties, some of which they will cancel with less than an hour's notice (eg after it has been cleaned and staged).
Apart from that the researchers ask the agents for advice on where to film attractive views, what the technicalities of buying are and general info like which A listers holiday there. Also advice on which hotel to put the (4-person?) crew up in.

Some of the advice is relayed to the potential buyers on camera.

IMO buyers are better off calling the agents and getting the advice first hand.

*Really?

So unless we know which show you were on, we have no way of relating to what you are talking about. They all have hundreds of episodes.*

I don't mind if there is no way to relate to me because I haven't mentioned the specific show crafty.

Did they pay for any if your expenses? For example a hotel or meals?

The main question is it the European on or the Aus/NZ one.

Were you happy to be on the programme? I always wonder why so many of the people on those programmes look so bloody glum. You'd have thought someone had gone into their house on Christmas morning and pissed all over their kids' presents!

I've seen those episodes Blanche. The whole thing was a new experience for me and I always love looking round houses. I'm a rightmove fan so I thought it would be interesting. Which it was.

Did they change the order of the houses they showed you when they put the prog together?
Are the houses pre chosen or do they actually change what they show you when you feed back? Like - oh I’d like more kitchen space, so they find a different property? Or do they have extra ones on standby?

They won't show you anything you have seen already online, I felt that as mmzz explains (you must be a researcher mmzz!) they weren't all that set on meeting my requirements and it was more that they wanted to show a different type of property each time. They have a specific set lined up and there is no time to change to see anything else. The programme showed viewings in a different order.

Did they pay for any if your expenses? For example a hotel or meals?

Flights and accommodation was paid for and a set amount for meals which was a little too much unless you could scoff a ten course dinner every night.

No, not a researcher but I've been through similar mills (3 times). That's why I asked what you did it for? In my case - first time was sheer naivety, second time was because the researcher called me up and asked me to (and i thought it might be beneficial) and third time was because I thought I knew what I was doing now and I could make sure I benefited (I was wrong). After that, I promised myself there would not be a fourth time.

Did you make an offer on any of the houses? Did it help you to choose the house you live in now?

Was this over a period of years mmzz and did you buy any of the properties you were shown?

It would be too outing to describe. The programmes were not all the same (just of the reality type) and my role varied too. I didn't buy any of the featured properties though.

Were you already familiar with the area and had done research or do they prefer you to come across as naive?

Did you make an offer on any of the houses?

Did it help you to choose the house you live in now?

None that they showed me were as nice as one I'd seen online. They wouldn't show me that one because they felt I wouldn't be 'surprised' enough but that's the one I eventually bought.

And yes it was over six years.

Sounds intriguing mmzz!

Were you already familiar with the area and had done research or do they prefer you to come across as naive?

I guess if you came across as a bit too smartypantsy they might not let you through the pre-tests. I didn't know the area at all which is another reason why I thought the programme might help.

What would you advise someone moving from the UK today to your adoptive country? Would you tell them that the programme is helpful or would they be better off in a airbnb for a week when there are no tourists?

Did you opt for a well known holiday area, an expat enclave or a locally populated area? How have you integrated into society?

There's often a lot of information to be found on facebook about local communities wherever you want to live so that's a good place to start. I'd say the programme gave a minimal amount of practical help. I'm not interested in watching those kind of programmes anymore whereas I used to love them because I know now how it's created but that's probably true of a lot of TV.

Did you opt for a well known holiday area, an expat enclave or a locally populated area? How have you integrated into society?

Socialising isn't my highest priority so I opted for somewhere quiet and peaceful but not too isolated. I wouldn't want to be in an exclusively expat area as many have been here a long time and some have quite challenging opinions. An example of this is my next door neighbour (who comes out once or twice a year) came round to tell me about the 'nig nogs' they saw driving a truck 'probably casing the joints'. I was horrified that they didn't even realise how inappropriate that comment was.
I live much the same as I did in UK but with more sunshine and snorkelling.