Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Last night I was watching House Hunters and I noticed, for the hundredth time, that the buyers would constantly comment on the bad paint color or wallpaper. I have to be honest, we all have our opinions but to hear them constantly say it was driving me crazy. They would explain what they liked and did not like about the house and the dislikes would always include the color paint or wallpaper. I guess what bothers me is that these are things that I automatically change when I come into a new home so why make such a big deal over it? I dunno - came here to see what you all thought about it.

Is the existing paint color/wallpaper in a potential home a big factor to buyers?

ETA: Don't get me wrong - I don't exactly keep my comments on these things to myself when we are looking BUT it doesn't break a deal for me.

Message edited 6/22/2006 12:49:38 PM.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I always say that to myself... when they complain about the paint/wallpaper and the furniture!

The sellers arent going to leave it in the house for them to use!

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I hate that show for that exact reason...and I "think" that is the show that they never tell you how much they pay for the houses!!

when we were looking at houses, I NEVER looked at how the house was decorated, or their color scheme...because I knew that that is easily changed to suite my style!

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I actually tried talking DH into a house that had not been redecorated since the 70s, I am sure. There was foil wallpaper and shag carpet. The thing was that the house was immaculate! The woman must have taken excellent care of it and that won me over more than the decor. And since it was so clean, I could live with the old stuff as little by little we could have spent $ to redecorate.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I understand what you're saying... however, after having gone through hunting for a house this is my opinion.

We looked at a house that we did love and a bonus was that it was 4 doors down from good friends of ours. DH had his heart set on bidding on this house.

The house was listed at $699k.... The house was beautiful except for the decor - ugly, ugly, ugly wallpaper and lots of it (basically the entire house), the three baths needed complete updating and the master bath shower needed to be totally replaced. My thoughts on the house were that for that amount $$ and given the amount of $$ we would have to put in to pull down the wallpaper (and of course we didn't know what we could find underneath that), and knowing there would be a bidding war on this house, we opted NOT to even bid on it. For that kind of $$ we wanted something basically move in condition - which we finally found.

In the end, this particular house sold for over $100k than it was listed for and the new owners actually gutted everything (except the new kitchen) and remodeld.

So, I kind of see both sides.....

Sorry for the longwinded answer!

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I think the reason they do this is because the people already are in contract for the house they chose and their realtor just shows them other houses to make the show more interesting - and they don't know what else to say about the house.

Message edited 6/22/2006 1:15:14 PM.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

No I never take furnutire, paint, wall paper, light fixtures, etc. into consideration.

I honestly care more about the layout and size everything else can be changed pretty easily - including floors, carpet, appliances, etc.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Out of all the houses we looked at, I don't think there was one house that we liked the way it looked based on their decorative ideas. That did not stop us from putting offers in because no matter how perfect a house is, the color of the walls/floor/furniture will NEVER be right.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Our whole house that we just bought is not to our taste- lots of country style, bright colors, matching borders- only two of the rooms do not need new paint or changes- the master and the office. So I don't get that on that show either. The other night this couple almost left of house because of green carpeting- HUH????

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I totally agree with you on this point - I always think the same thing.

BUT -- I think in other parts of the country, prices being lower than NY & CA, buyers can be more choosy if you will. I also think people basically everywhere else buy a house, and move in. I am actually amazed when I see people in their 20s, early 30s buying houses on LI, then even having enough $$ left over to remodel...I never would have been able to do that!

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I got so mad watching it last nite I changed the channel.

First off, the median home price was $180K for these huge brick 3,000 sq. ft. plus homes.

Who cares about the wallpaper?? Scrape it off and repaint. It will take you a few hours and fifty bucks for a gallon of paint.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

No, I don't care about the decorating when I look. I just look at the bones of the house.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

you can change the paint color you can't change the layout. everyone has different tastes. carpet, flooring, colors would never effect my decision.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

wall colors/wall paper is not a major issue when it comes to sales but it is important.

when you walk into a room, it helps judge what you could do to the room. certain colors appear to make the space bigger or smaller.

you could easily repaint a used car you wanted to buy but your don't look to do that at the time.

that would not break the sale for me however, sells should at least but effort into the walls.

not everybody looks for a home that needs work...some people just like to move in

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I saw it last night too... are you referring to the Ft Worth episode?

if so, you HAVE to admit, burgundy wallpaper w/flowers and pink carpeting in the dining room is just beyond BAD!

But to answer your question, a lot of people aren’t very good at visualizing a room with different colors. So if they see something totally grotesque, they have an issue processing it.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Wallpaper in general (no matter what it looks like) is a HUGE turn off to me when looking at a house.


Why? Because it screams work. I've dealt with trying to remove old wallpaper in my current house and it is a nightmare and not worth it. Usually you find years worth of layers upon layers of wallpaper, especially in an older house, because the people who bought it also didn't want to deal with tearing down the wallpaper or putting up new sheetrock, so they just slapped MORE wallpaper on top of it.

You are better off putting up new sheetrock. And that means money, time and work. If the house is absolutely covered in wallpaper, I wouldn't give it another thought because that means I would have to replace every wall in the house. One room or two I could deal with.

Paint - I could care less.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Posted by Lisa

and I "think" that is the show that they never tell you how much they pay for the houses!!

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

I am going to go back on my initial answer slightly. If I see a brand new kitchen that has just been redone and I hate it, it would turn me off from buying a house. I know that bumped the price of the house up slightly and I can't see ripping out all that brand new work, and sinking more $$ into the house just because it is not my style.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

Posted by Lisa

and I "think" that is the show that they never tell you how much they pay for the houses!!

they never give the price... most of the shows are taped in CA - where the housing costs 2x more than here

I'd rather not know

it would be nice though if they told you how much below or above asking the house was sold for (even % wise)

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Posted by Meaghan729

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

Posted by Lisa

and I "think" that is the show that they never tell you how much they pay for the houses!!

they never give the price... most of the shows are taped in CA - where the housing costs 2x more than here

I'd rather not know

it would be nice though if they told you how much below or above asking the house was sold for (even % wise)

last nite it was in Ft. Worth, Tx. They usually mention the "median" home price, which was $180K.

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

paint and wallpaper isnt an issue for me, we looked at size and the potential.
i mean after all i dealt with a bathroom that was hideously covered in wall paper along with 2 bedrooms in wallpaper and wood paneling
it can all be fixed
i'd never move in to a place even if i like the colors on the wall, i'd still repaint . but thats just me

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

Everytime they say, oh I don't like the paint or light fixture (hello, home Depot, $100 or less) I think...

"OK, s u k a, you are going to overpay for decor that you will wind up changing anyway"

Of course, this is from a buyer who bought a diamond with a WHOLE lot of rough, carats and carats of rough

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

OMG-- I get SOOOO annoyed with this also! I totally agree with you- paint is an automatic change-- although sometimes you don't do it right away... I guess people look at it as something that they can visualize themselves in.

I think that those comments really prove that you need to think about how your house shows. But-- the other thing that comes to mind is that I could probably get a great deal on a house that other people are so averse to buying just because I can see past chartreuse paint!

Re: Something that I just don't get on HGTV

OMG! This infuriates me!! I would paint over it and make it my own even if I liked what was already there!! Who are these people that won't buy a house because they don't like the existing paint colors? It's totally idiotic!!