Budgets on TV Property Programmes - Who Pays?

[ramblingsonthego]

I am currently catching up with George Clarkes Ugly House to Lovely House.

They all have these budgets for example £150k and then when the build is finished its normally ££££ more than the original budget. One I am watching has gone up to £300k from 150k. How do these people suddenly find this money?

Is it just me who would be majorly pissed off to go on a programme and say my budget is 150k and the architect comes in with this plans that are double the budget? I just don't understand how they can double their budget at the drop of a hat.

Anyone have any insider tips on it all?

No idea
Not easy to find a 6 figure sum st the drop of a hat

alex it has always bemused me on all these programmes. We are moving soon and the new place needs work. We will have a budget of 30k and that is it. There is no more 30ks hiding anywhere that is literally every single penny we have.

Maybe I live in different circles and other people have ££££££ stashed away just to blow when they are on TV.

What always shocks me is they somehow manage to 'break even' with such a huge overspend
Most people I know do the most work they can with the budget they have got, if there's any extra needed then it would be a few k at most

I wonder if the deliberately reduce the budget at the beginning to add some tension to the program.

So the £300K couple actually had £300k to spend all along but said £150K budget at the beginning because the producers told them too.

I expect so. Same with ones where you’re looking for property to buy, they can always magically stretch their budget by quite a bit.

@RedLipsAndRosyCheeks

I wonder if the deliberately reduce the budget at the beginning to add some tension to the program.

So the £300K couple actually had £300k to spend all along but said £150K budget at the beginning because the producers told them too.

Ah this could be a good theory! I had not thought of that! Although surely it just makes viewers pissed off when they do this? It pisses me right off when I see them magic up tens of thousands out of their arse to finish the project.

I had read somewhere that they get access to cheaper material prices through the TV companies but I don't know if that is true. And I can't remember where I read it.

I was hoping someone who had taken part on the shoes could spill all the secrets.

If you’ve got money you can get more money quite easily. Loans, remortgage, whatever.

The crucial thing is that the couple need to have a new baby in the middle of any renovation for heightened drama.

@PuppyMonkey

The crucial thing is that the couple need to have a new baby in the middle of any renovation for heightened drama.

This is vitally important. Otherwise the show is cancelled.

Kevin McCloud is king of babies. They always have babies when he’s around 😂 Sometimes they don’t have the money.. there’s been a few Grand Designs where they’ve literally just run out. It’s a really disappointing watch when you’ve invested 45 minutes into a house and the end is shell 😫😂 I suspect they thoroughly check finances for these shows & I agree that budgets are probably lowered for the drama!

My theory is that the types of people who go on these programmes are such a load of snobby show offs they will do anything to get their house looking swanky as possible without caring where they get the extra money from or how much they overspend. Meanwhile the builders sense their types and add £££ to the costs.
It’s refreshing but rare to get a couple who bung a B&Q kitchen and bathroom in because that’s all they can afford. Bet lots of debt and divorce follows these shows.

Slightly off topic but I heard from a friend of a friend that when tv shows haggle in antique shops and drive the price down by some daft figure like 70% the production team make up the difference afterwards.

What bugs me about George Clark’s architects are they are given a budget to design to - so if they are skilled they should be able to design something suitable to fit to budget. Anyone can design something if budget wasn't a factor 🙄

@RedLipsAndRosyCheeks - I feckin hate those antique type programmes! Why would anyone expect to make a profit from buying a load of old tat from a shop and then selling it at an auction? Dealers buy at auction to make a profit in their shop!

DH loves these programmes. GRRR!

Kirsty and Phil's Love It or List It - the budget is usually close to expected. Think lovely Kirsty keeps a tight rein on the finances.