1533 replies to this topic

[marie1111]

According to the listings, it's supposed to be shown in my area on A&E July 24th.

[ChelseaNH]

I'm gonna use this thread for the A&E show, since that's the title.

Unlike Property Ladder, we see how they locate and choose properties. Overall, it has more of a business focus than a renovation focus.

Hey, let's not let a little thing like city ordinances stand in the way of our profit.... Waddaya mean, you don't have permits? What's the big rush? Was this the only time slot the crew had available?

Poor Ginger, getting her dream stomped on. I liked Termite Guy, though. He was fun.

[RacerX]

Okay, I'll go with that. A&E's Flip THIS House it is.

It was interesting. I think I will watch it again. The house was definitely improved by I wonder about the estimates they used to quantify how much the house was. Isn't the value determined by how much someone pays for it? Were the numbers they were using based on the final sale price?

I liked the realism of the annoyed neighbors because these fix it up shows like to gloss over that and only when neighbors call the cops or force them to have a specific shut down time do we ever really hear about the neighbors. This was surprising that they had problems in the first episode because usually they have at leaast a full season done before there is a hint that they are anything but wholly loved. Even in those instances the neighbors are never really shown in a flattering light.

Permits? We don't need no stinkin' permits.

[Ashleigh's Mom]

Seriously, if they had crews of people working day and night next door to me I'd be pretty upset also. Although two weeks? Get over it.

Regarding the permits. That's a sticky issue. When I am representing a buyer and they are interested in buying a house that has had renovations done, the first thing I do is go to City Hall and pull copies of the permits that were issued and make sure all of the work was signed off. This year alone I sold three homes that had major work done, but no permits were pulled. That is a huge mess.

Since the purpose of getting permits is to have the work inspected before, during, and after the project, there is no way to go back and undo the damage. Laws vary by state, but in one home I sold the sellers had to prove to the inspector that the kitchen rewiring was done by a licensed master electrician - and if she couldn't she would have to pull down her walls and show how the work was done!

These people renovate homes for a living, I can't believe that they don't have a close relationship with the building inspector - sure it's a pain to have to have someone come out and check your work, but it usually only takes a day or two. And not having the work checked out makes me feel like they have something to hide (such as not using licensed tradespeople).

[philmphile]

Permits? We don't need no stinkin' permits.

I was surprised they were so cavalier about getting permits and stuff. It looked like, once their arms were twisted, they got permits in one day. I know it would be a pain to wait for an inspector to show up at a job site to sign off before they go to the next phase, but it would protect themselves from getting sued if the house burns down because of bad wiring. I would think an established company like theirs would have some inspectors in their pockets who would come and sign off on their work anytime they needed it. It looked like they had some county councilmen in their pockets. This is the south, isn't it, where a case of Jack Daniels and a freezer full of steaks would smooth over a lot of bureaucratic issues.

The boss was right to reject the project on that termite-infested house. The only thing to be done with that house, IMHO, is to remove all the historically and architecturally significant fixtures, and tear the original house down.

[rhys7]

I was wondering if the whole "we don't need no stinkin' permits" was show for the camera. Richard has to get permits all the time when he's flipping properties. As a neighbor, tho, if I thought the workers were improving the house and they weren't working at nite, I'd be happy that my property values would go up. However, I was less than impressed with the realtor. He got just about what he thought they'd get (which was wonderful) but it sounded as tho he was going to ask for 750k to start. That seemed way too ambitious.

Agree with the poster above about taking the architectural stuff out of TermiteHovel and razing the rest of it. How can one be sure the termites are out of the good wood, tho?

[philmphile]

As a neighbor, tho, if I thought the workers were improving the house and they weren't working at nite, I'd be happy that my property values would go up.

As a neighbor, I would be more concerned about the house next door to me catching fire from uninspected electrical work or flooding from bad plumbing work or exploding from bad gas connections done by contractors/owners who didn't bother to get the proper permits and inspections. I've heard of houses collapsing because some do-it-yourselfer knocked down the wrong wall or decided to convert a deck into a sunroom without adding the proper support. My property values won't go up if a mortgage company refuses to finance a sale because there's not a proper paper trail. Then you end up living next door with a unsellable, abandoned eyesore.

I was wondering if the whole "we don't need no stinkin' permits" was show for the camera

It was probably a show. He wouldn't stay in business long if he did that. The municipality would shut him down or nobody would buy from him because they knew he didn't dot all the i's and cross all the t's.

However, I was less than impressed with the realtor. He got just about what he thought they'd get

I also think his conversation with the realtor was for show. He must have have had a reasonble estimate what he could get for the house before he went ahead with the purchase and renovations. That's why he passed on the TermiteHovel (tm rhys7).

IMHO, upon reflection, I think a lot of the show was staged. When the workers got pulled off the one job, why not move them over to do another house? They must have several projects going on at once. The whole "let's go skeet shooting and not answer the phone" scene was very convenient.

Also, an experienced flipper would know that it takes time to get the proper permits. The whole bust down the fence and start tearing into the house like gangbusters before the ink was dry on the sales contract looked phony.

Anywho, the finished house was gorgeous. Charleston is a pretty place to live.

How can one be sure the termites are out of the good wood, tho?

I meant salvage the non-wood stuff, like the stone fireplace mantel and surround, brass doorknobs, metal light fixtures, etc. Salvage the stone and metal, not the wood.

[rhys7]

Sorry I wasn't clear about my salvage observation. It had some wood floors and wood trim that looked (from the surface anyway) really lovely and could be re-used elsewhere.

Ginger should have tackled a smaller re-do for her first project. I think she was trying to force the issue. She was ticked at Richard when he pulled the plug after the termite inspection. Made sense to me.

[Ashleigh's Mom]

However, I was less than impressed with the realtor. He got just about what he thought they'd get (which was wonderful) but it sounded as tho he was going to ask for 750k to start.

As a realtor? We love to list houses. Just about any house. Here's a house, it's worth $550,000. Owner says "can you list it for $750,000". Absolutely - sign here. Once the contract is signed then you can beat them up about the asking price. Obviously they wanted to sell it quickly and move on to their next project, so $750,000 wasn't even in the ballpark.

[silentbob]

I've never watched the show -- just out of curiosity, is gentrification ever raised as an issue? Because if the homes are located in inner-city neighborhoods, the idea of glorifying "flipping" is a bit repulsive IMO.

[Mommeee]

Because if the homes are located in inner-city neighborhoods, the idea of glorifying "flipping" is a bit repulsive IMO

As a soon-to-be-former D.C. resident, I am all for fixing, flipping, and beautifying decaying neighborhoods.

[etexlady]

I agree that Richard was a bit of a showboat. They didn't need to have the bulldozer sitting in the driveway reving its motor while the paperwork was signed. I would call every official I could think of if someone was working 24/7 next door to me. Just not necessary to do that. He could wait a couple of weeks or a month for his profit. Plus all that stuff about the permits. Miss Ginger needs to learn how to get up on time and get to work. If I had an appointment scheduled with my boss I don't think I would stroll in a hour or so late.

Edited by etexlady, Jul 25, 2005 @ 10:00 PM.

[Ashleigh's Mom]

And not to screw with the theatrics of it all, but how legal was that signing of papers in the driveway and taking possession 5 minutes later? Maybe things are different down there, but where I live the new owner doesn't "officially" own the home until the deed is registered with the state.

Which would mean that if someone fell down, was hurt or died on the property before the deed was filed, the former owner would have been liable.

[stillnadine]

Here in South Carolina, you sign the papers and are handed the keys. That's what happened when we bought our house here. And I think that's what happened when we bought our houses in California, where, at least at that time, we didn't even have to hire a lawyer.

Here's the part that seems totally unrealistic to me: getting ANY work done in two weeks in Charleston. My folks live near James Island where the work philosophy is often "Last week I couldn't even spell carpenter, now I R 1." and "Why do it right the first time?" (Not so good, here with the road planning, et el). This company must keep a steady group of workers who are used to fast turnaround.

That house was sold for its lot, its water front property. My guess is that in one (or two or three) years time, that house will be replaced by a McMansion.

I was thrilled to see how happy the former owner was with the improvements.

[Britty]

This company must keep a steady group of workers who are used to fast turnaround.

I was amazed by the caption that said there would be 10-55 workers on the job site at a time. 55 people is a huge crew! I'm guessing he keeps the same guys working all the time and pays them very well. He did say they were getting paid to drink beer during the days that the inspector shut them down.

[Alyce]

In CA you sign the papers to put an offer in on the house, but then there is usually a 30 day escrow before you actually sign the papers for OWNING the house.

[philmphile]

I'm guessing he keeps the same guys working all the time and pays them very well.

That was my impression. He said something to the effect it was costing him $3000 a day that the guys weren't working. So it looks like he keeps them on the payroll no matter what. That's why I don't understand that he didn't have more than one house flip going on. IMHO, he couldn't maintain his business doing one house at a time.

[rhys7]

Good point. If it rains for several hours or a couple of days, the crew that was planning on working outside can't work. It would make so much more sense to have several houses in varying states of disrepair so that the crews would always be busy.

[truffles17]

Just watched this show this evening. I can't believe that house had been closed for ~4 years. There was still food in the fridge. Bet it all just smelled lovely.

I can't keep everyone straight. Okay, Ginger and Lori are easy to remember, but all the guys get confusing.

Poor Lori got dogged for her choices at every turn and for not knowing what she was supposed to be doing. Last time I checked, she was temporarily doing this job. Perhaps some of the other team members who work on that end of the business permanently could have assisted her a bit. I doubt she's a mindreader.

[ChelseaNH]

Dear Richard and Kevin,

"Common sense" is not mixing beer and guns.

Love,
Your moms

[RacerX]

I don't think they pay the crew regardless of work because when they were having their permit issues Richard said that they spend their time trying to find work so he was not sure he could get the full crew back together.

Beer, guns and a night out on the town. They never said they were trying to change any of the South's negative stereotypes so I guess it was fine. Although there are definite times when this show reminds me of The Office (the UK version), it being a documentary about a nutjob boss and his eccentric staff. I hope this show sticks around, it's pretty funny.

I felt bad for Lori for at first but she couldn't decide anything on her own. Is she going to split her pay with everyone she bugged for help making a decision?

[platys]

I really like this show. I was just dying when they were staking out the house - I commented to my boyfriend that it was unbelievable that the owner of what is sure to be a multimillion dollar business was drinking large amounts of beer with guns, while watching the house. He pointed out that it was the south.

This show is fun because of the personalities. I hardly even care about the house they are redoing.

[Ashleigh's Mom]

What kind of a family locks a house up and leaves it to rot for four years without ever cleaning out the moldy food and dead animals?? That was just bizarre.

[RacerX]

A feuding family. The sisters also had not spoken to one another since their mother died.

[jenners]

I found this version of the House Flipping show to be refreshing. Real professionals, real money, quick turnaround. And the stakeout? A bonus. The "before" house was disgusting, and if I were that family I'd be horrified that it was shown on tv.

[philmphile]

My grandmother's house has been empty for about three years. My uncle does go over there occasionally and do some light cleaning. There's no dead roaches on the floor or rotting food in the refrigerator. I guess it's up to the hiers to maintain the house. It seemed like that the sisters hadn't set foot in the house since the funeral. It's hard to get closure when there's bitterness between the siblings.

I did notice that the sisters made more money than the flippers. Each sister got $95K; the flippers made $75K profit.

I'm thinking a lot of this show is staged for dramatic effect. The stakeout (had a Blair Witch Project feel to it), the painting the house exterior the wrong color (the guy was using a small can of paint), the kitchen cabinet delay (it shows up in a UHaul instead of a company delivery truck), the coincidental discovery of a house that belonged to the mother of a old high school friend (everybody conveniently is available to show the house while the cameras are rolling).

Edited by philmphile, Aug 2, 2005 @ 7:18 AM.

[Britty]

I'm thinking a lot of this show is staged for dramatic effect. The stakeout (had a Blair Witch Project feel to it), the painting the house exterior the wrong color (the guy was using a small can of paint), the kitchen cabinet delay (it shows up in a UHaul instead of a company delivery truck), the coincidental discovery of a house that belonged to the mother of a old high school friend (everybody conveniently is available to show the house while the cameras are rolling).

I think a lot of things are staged for the cameras to add drama, but most of it doesn't come off as too fake to be believed. I would guess that Rich had wanted to redo the friend's house and maybe even already had it scheduled. They just made it seem like Ginger discovered it. I've seen similar stakeouts take place before, but I doubt it's something they do on a regular basis. I'll give them the cabinets. It's possible they normally send someone to pick them up to save on delivery costs or to make sure the order is correct. The house paint mix-up did seem totally fake.

At least this show doesn't make me froth at the mouth like Property Ladder. I actually like these people, and I don't mind that they make money.

[etexlady]

I like this show moreso than the other "flip" show. However, the whole thing seems kind of smarmy, used car salesman-ish. I understand that the point is to turn around the house as soon as possible and it's entertaining to watch but somehow it feels just a little like buyer/seller beware.

[FunGirl]

I really like this show. I was just dying when they were staking out the house - I commented to my boyfriend that it was unbelievable that the owner of what is sure to be a multimillion dollar business was drinking large amounts of beer with guns, while watching the house. He pointed out that it was the south.

platys, I believe that you can find people mixing guns and beer all over our country, not just in the South. Would it have been less offensive to you if they'd had Bronx accents? (Not to mention, he had what he called a "scatter gun" which I believe just sprays buckshot and cannot kill anyone. But I'm not a gun person...perhaps someone else knows more about them.)

But it has been my experience that you can find stupid people anywhere, not just in the South.

[Alyce]

At least these people actually pay a reasonable price for the property, then use quality material and have people doing the work who ACTUALLY know what they are doing. The end result is a home that I would not be afraid to live in.



Edited to add on that note, I became a "Loyal Viewer!"

Edited by Alyce, Aug 2, 2005 @ 10:03 AM.