A Place in the Sun

[bloodyhairy]

I have a love/hate relationship with this show. Mostly I love it, and the escapism it represents. It also makes me question my own future, and whether I could see myself retiring abroad (currently single!). Most of the presenters are very good and amiable, although do try a little hard to 'push the product', often when the person viewing has no interest at all!
What gets on my nerves, is the buyers' obsession with space. Why would you need a huge kitchen, or 4 bedrooms, when it's just going to be you and your other half knocking about there?
And what do you expect for 50 grand?!
And then when they view, it's like they've lost all sense of their own identity; they're literally looking at it through their own children and grandchildren's eyes. One woman rejected a property because it had a shower, and no bath for her grandchild Just how often do you think they're going to be visiting, for this to emerge as a major and insurmountable issue?!
And other went round mentally kidproofing the place, even though there were no grandchildren on the horizon yet Get a life!!!
Don't get me started on those who treat the whole thing as a jolly, with no intention to buy. You can see the presenters visibly sag, when they say 'what we're going to do, is go home and weigh up the finances, then return to the area in a few weeks.'
Worse still, are those who put in eyewateringly low offers, even though the place (invariably in Spain) has already seen its price slashed, and is already way under budget. Where is the integrity???
What are your thoughts on this programme?

Frogs, its because they clear everyone out for filming. One apartment today shares the pool with 32 other apartments, imagine that in school holidays!

I wondered do you have to lug bring your own sun lounger up and down every day with you or are they supplied by the management company ?

I have just been on trip advisor looking at photos of communal pools!!! They all have sun loungers in the photos. So yes, they must clear them out for filming!!! Thanks!!!

I have watched it so much lately because of not being able to go on holiday!!!!

I have noticed how they always stand in a row facing the camera in each room and are obviously told to describe what they see in the room 'lots of cupboards' 'theres a window' 'tiles on the floor'.

The hobbies are always made up.

Those conversations with the expats are so short and fake.

Where they sit at the end to make the calls to the agent, it always looked like they've dragged a table across the road from a local Cafe so there's a nice view. No other tables nearby. It's supposed to be a nice bar that they could visit if they lived there. But it isn't.

And the tours of the hot property are so short too. Just one room with a notable feature, like a garage with a view or a wine cellar, and that's it!

We have a property management company in Cyprus. Yes most pools have cupboards by the pool where the lounges are kept but to be honest most of the pools are hardly ever used.

Two of our complexes have been on the programme. In those more than half of the apartments have never been occupied a few are holiday homes that are never used and only about 10 percent are permenant residents. Also they usually film out of season.

www.aplaceinthesun.com/webinars/webinar-series-house-hunters-re-united

Updates!

There was one this afternoon, i only caught a minute or two, but they were showing the couple a view from an apartment and it was of a quarry with piles of earth or sand or something. Beyond that in the very far distance you could see the sea, but 90% of the view seemed to be this large industrial quarry. And they kept going on about how amazing the view was

Reminds me of the “I’m not racist I have loads of black friends” claim

Ah, the classic method for avoiding having to try to justify the original accusation.

Had to resurrect this great thread; I've just caught up with an episode broadcast on June 2nd. Peter and Karen looking at Tarragona. Here are two people claiming to be into very healthy lifestyles wanting to live off grid and into veganism, fitness, cycling, yoga, all that. Peter one of those annoying blokes who knows everything.

Except when Danni did the bit where they hire bikes and Peter had to be given a tricycle.

So many repeats lately - some of these people are like old friends I've seen them so often.

Oh - and I want to say to Laura, 'Why the big pause?'

'And this is your...[inaudible drum roll]...balcony' 'Who does the...........cooking?' 'Is it a..........contender'? Mind you, I love her barely gritted teeth grin when the useless couples are on.

For me, it's very strange that Brits don't have a clue how to pronounce simple Spanish words correctly. A place in the sun: Torrevieja is pronounced like Torreviekka, Murcia is something like mercy. Sounds ridiculous.

@Josefin33

For me, it's very strange that Brits don't have a clue how to pronounce simple Spanish words correctly. A place in the sun: Torrevieja is pronounced like Torreviekka, Murcia is something like mercy. Sounds ridiculous.

'Some' Brits. Not all of us.

Makes me laugh though when nearly all would-be buyers say they want to integrate, learn the language and go walking a lot. Pull the other one Keith and Brenda.

Speaking of Torrevieja, I'm sick of the sight of those bloody salt lakes on APITS.

This thread nails it !!

A few new presenters on this season, and budgets seem to have increased slightly.

Among the new presenters I like Lee, not so keen on Leah. She seemed a bit squealy and over-excited. Could be nerves I suppose.

Gosh Jasmine gets so excited when people want to put in an offer, every single time.
She squeals.
I mean isn't that the point of the show. Show them 5 different properties so they can choose one to buy.

I just don't understand people with X budget who offer X minus a large amount, which is then rejected, won't negotiate, despite the property coming well within budget and thus lose the property they love. WTAF ?

Jasmine: 'Hello Xavier/Spiros/Pierre. I have some BRILLIANT news for you'. Every sodding time. 😂

Jasmine's voice goes through me !

Danni is gorgeous and friendly, I love her clothes most of the time, , but I find her really distracting, she is so jerky when she is talking to the buyers and to the camera,.

I've grown to dislike property programmes, often shown years after filming, and creating a culture where property is seen as speculation or encouraging second homes.

They were a bundle of laughs today. France is welcome to them

@Cherrypie32

They were a bundle of laughs today. France is welcome to them

I just watched it, I see what you mean, the presenter earned his salary today.

So glad someone else thought the same today, who on earth screens these people as being interesting viewing on TV. They must be so embarrassed when the show airs.

I put series record on it then forgot (possibly distracted by something following people starting businesses abroad, with a fantastically eccentric riding stables in Spain). I went back to it the other day and I had 52 recorded.

Unlike pp, I find the Florida etc ones tedious, next step down is Caribbean (occasionally interesting), then apartment complexes by the sea. I love the wonky townhouses the best!

I'm wondering were any of the buyers in very recent years - 2019 caught up with Covid19 - either stuck at their holiday home and unable to come home or unable to get to their new home.

We sit there pontificating on how much Brexit has or will fuck up their retirement plans and then debating whether they actually voted Leave.

Did anyone see the one in the Azores? God it looked bleak.

Azores looks like an exotic Lake District most of the time. A bit remote, touristy and wet.
Florida has even more bland properties than Spain. Although the 1990)’s decor versus Spain’s er rustic charm is interesting, Easier to modernise hideous bland triple height room made from concrete or a cave house with character but no kitchen.

I do like France. Lots of nice houses to go “OMG look what you get for the money” as another 3 bed with blue shutters , outbuildings and garden is on for the price of a flat where you live.

@StCharlotte - yes it looked as though you would end up going mad there.

Agree @Namechangeforthis88, I turn off Florida and Caribbean ones but watch the terrible Spanish apartments in urbanisations because they are all tiny with that long, inpractical living/dining/kitchen area and tiddly bedrooms - you might as well live in a container. There must be loads of those for sale on the Costas. Agree town houses or older property is the most interesting.

People on the French one today were so dull. I cannot believe that Place in the Sun has a couple of new presenters yet have kept the same boring format. I always laugh when presenter asks how the couple met as if they give a fuck and then have to pretend to be interested.

Whenever they show the very expensive places (God knows why) they always say after being shown the living area and infinity pool 'well I have get on finding a place for my househunters' and the agent always replies 'I will show you out'. The scripts really are so bloody repetitive.

Wish they would return to previous buyers to see how they are getting on especially since Brexit.

I think the presenter today needs to tone it down a bit. The couple looked and seemed dazed. I thought she was going to fall asleep at one point, during the offers bit. You're just negotiating a purchase valued at nearly £200,000 and you
look like you're nodding off? I wonder how they would survive in France.

Right, I've been ploughing through the old ones but as of today I'll start with most recent so I can join in the chat here and be in with the APITS in-crowd.