MovieChat Forums > Love It or List It (2011) Discussion > Love It or List It: The True Story

Love It or List It: The True Story

posted 8 years ago by easjr1991
7 replies | jump to latest

Over at Previously.tv (http://forums.previously.tv/topic/4604-all-episodes-talk-if-hilary-cant-give-me-what-i-want-im-gone/page-2), users BearCat49 and aguabella both separately developed a theory for the true story of Love It or List It. Like most reality TV, it's fake. The theory is that the decision the couple makes to either love or list their home is made before taping of the show even begins. Hilary completes the all the things that the couple/family wanted. This includes the "unforeseen issues." The "unforeseen issues" were discovered via inspection before taping began. When Hilary says that she is forced to eliminate one of the renovation projects, in reality, those projects were never going to be done.

It's like this: Alice and Bob call the show. They tell the producers that they want to list their home because it's too small for them and their four children, and no amount of renovation will fix the size. An inspection finds that the foundation is cracked and sinking, and that they need a new furnace/air conditioner. What they want done to the home is to create an open concept main floor, and to update the kitchen and master bedroom/bathroom, all to increase the value for when they sell.

The show then claims that Alice and Bob want an open concept main floor; updated kitchen; updated master bathroom; extra bedroom for one of their children; and a deck for outside. Their issues are that they have three bedroom for a family of six, and that's not enough space for them and their needs; their oldest child needs their own room. They also don't have any real outdoor space for when they have guests over. When Hilary gets to work, she finds that the foundation is cracked and sinking; she tells Alice and Bob that she can't do the deck because she has to use that money to fix the foundation, later on, as she's updating the master suite, she finds that it is very cold in the room. It turns out the furnace is on it's last legs. She then tells them that she can't add the extra bedroom because she has to replace the furnace. At the end the couple decides to list the home because although Hilary did a great job, there's still the fact that there is not enough space, and so they will list it.

Again, in reality, Alice and Bob never really wanted a deck or a new bedroom.

[–] cherylelliotcrna 8 years ago

Well, that was fun. I rarely watch an entire episode, but I do like the part where David and Hillary tour the present home without the annoying homeowners along, and make snippy remarks to each other. (I don't care if it's scripted; it's funny.)

I love that on two of the last few episodes, David has actually had the audacity to step into the 4000 square foot $600,000 McMansion that "doesn't have the flow and function we need", looked around incredulously, and said,"It's huge and gorgeous, - what are they complaining about??"  Exactly! Thank you, Mr Vizentin.

[–] missydog1120 8 years ago

So, what about the money the couples say they have to spend? Do they actually pay for the renovation or does the show pay?

[–] Zippy B 8 years ago

My guess would be that there is some fee or budget just associated with the show and if they wish to add to that they can. in most cases, the renovation costs are covered if they move and if the intent it to move anyways, there is no loss, and usually about a 10% gain on the investment.

[–] rj-27 8 years ago

Well, that certainly does explain the foolish aspects of the show that no one with reasonable intelligence would believe or go along with in real life.

And it makes sense it is all predetermined with the structural problems because even a novice would know you have to anticipate such things with a renovation project. Which Hillary for all her experience never does.

Democracy is the pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. H.L. Mencken

[–] ewd76-944-910685 8 years ago

They even had one where Hillary's assistant was the client. She had the same issues and had to go with the whole "I thought you knew what the hell you were doing" schtick.

[–] SataiDelen 8 years ago

Sorry, easrjr1991, but all I can say in response to your post, is... Duh. Of course it's fake. It's HGTV. MOST of their shows have been proven to be fake. But it's entertaining. That's why I watch. I like Hilary. She amusing. David's a bit annoying sometimes, but I like a lot of the homes he finds because they're beautiful homes (most of the time). Yes, I think the homeowners most times are ridiculous, but again, it's entertainment. It's like House Hunters. I think a lot of the hunters are morons for a lot of the comments they make. Now that I know that show is fake, and the people on it have already bought the home they're "being shown" some of the comments' stupidity makes sense. They're being told to say these dumb things. So, now I just roll my eyes and try and figure out which of the three houses they bought.

This is also why I miss Property Virgins. That show was probably the most real because not everyone wound up buying a place on the show. Sometimes the show ended with no purchase. I also liked Sandra (I think her name was). Egypt or whatever her name was just irritated me. But I wish they'd bring the show back with the original host. It's like when Suzanne Wong left House Hunters. It lost a lot of its flavor and appeal. The way they do the reveal now is annoying. Which is why I only watch once in a while now, instead of daily like I used to. I actually stopped watching altogether for a while, but after it was revealed to be as fake as it was, I found that kind of refreshing and started tuning back in because now I could watch with a different view.

So, as to this show being fake, I kind of expect that. Now I just watch because maybe it's the only thing on at the moment, and I want to see what designs Hilary came up with and what "disasters" she's going to have to contend with part way into the show.

Just take it for the entertainment it's supposed to be, or find something else to watch.

EMOTICONS ARE BACK! YAY!   

[–] Zippy B 8 years ago

Yea those things are always ridiculous. They are either things the contractors are responsible for, and they will sure as hell check before committing to anything, or there is a clause where any unforseen problems are the problem of the home owners, which would be more usual. If your place hasn't been maintained for 30 years and isn't up to code whatever budget you might have dreamed up will be gone just making the place inhabitable, forget making it nicer.