It's the little things that matter

First of all, I'm from Europe and things are a lot different here. Yes, we really build our homes out of STONE.

But what surprised me most the first few minutes watching this show was the prices and the quality of the houses. Well, the later didn't surprise me much actually. I knew Americans live in little more than huts made of plywood, "sheetrock" and fiberglass held together by a timber frame, hehehehehe-muahahaha-*cough*cough*choke*. BUT I also find the mentality over here where everything "has to be solid, made of stone, last for decades and be handed over to your grandchildren" a bit over the top.

The prices, not so much for buying the foreclosure houses, but for renovating them, are really mind staggering. That's what shocked me most. The cost of handymen are extreme here, you would only last a week for the money they invest, or not get a contract in the first place for that money, but assuming you would, for that money you would get the house done only to 3-5%. That's not only because the standards and regulations may be higher here, but because the wages and the demands of the building fabrics are higher, too. In the second episode I realized that their company must only consist of 3 (on camera) plus 1-2 people, Mike, Doug and Ceenée and maybe, but I doubt it, 1-2 other guys, the rest is just local day (hispanic) laborers. Very cheap, in Europe very illegal, but I can assure you that there are ways here for that, too.

The series is shot in an mildly annoying MTV-like reality-show-style with quick cuts and distracting music, but when you have the luxury and prudence to pause the video any time you want and jump back, the little details are really what make this show worth watching. As a Non-American you can learn how the houses are built over there in that much more favorable climate, how they are renovated and how refurbishing business works.

It may seem trashy on the outside, this show, for people who are familiar with the matter and live in Northern America, but I being from Europe I get a lot of insight in the way things are done overseas.

I enjoy the show.