House Hunters

I think we all know the show House Hunters. . .and love the show House Hunters.  Really, what is there not to love?  They condense the long house hunting process down to 3 viable options to choose from and fit the whole experience into a 30 minute show.  If only the actual house hunting process was that easy.  In some situations, it can be easy. . .first house, bam, fall in love and done.  But that is definitely the exception not the norm! 

Being in Real Estate, most of my days are like a really long House Hunters show.  I am constantly looking at properties, researching properties and narrowing down the likes and dislikes for my clients.   I guess it’s a really good thing that I like house hunting and probably why I chose it as my profession!

That special HGTV show has been on my mind a lot lately because House Hunters has been in Naples and even closer to home, one of our listings is one of the properties featured on the show!  Such a cool thing to be able to say. . .for me at least!  Yes, our humble listing was one of the 3 narrowed down to be considered as an option for filming. 

The crew came in last week and I forced myself onto the closed set because I really couldn’t resist the draw of being so close to something I love so much.   From the outside, you would never guess that anything extraordinary was happening at this house.  No tv van sitting out front with a big House Hunters or HGTV logo on it, no blocked streets. . .it was all very unassuming.   My arrival was met with mild resistance from the producer but I quickly began complimenting her on how FABULOUS the show is and how my kids and I watch it together . . .all the while yelling at the tv for the home buyer to pick house #2!!!  After over sharing this with her, she warmed up and shared a lot about the show and herself.  She and her camera crew travel 50 weeks a year and see all parts of the country.  Their goal while filming is to keep the audience guessing as to which house the buyers will pick and if she can get people screaming at their tv’s like me then she feels success in doing her job. 

One thing I read once, that was quite disappointing to me was that it is usually the empty house that will be picked because when they film the house, the buyers are usually already in possession of the property and the other 2 options are really just filler.  I can say that in my situation, the buyers did have a contract on a different house before they began filming for the show.  But the buyers did in fact tour our house prior to making their decision so it really was one of the contenders which they considered buying.  Also, my listing is an empty house so the empty one is not always “the one”. 

Either way. . .how ever they set up the show. . .I still love it and I am so excited that I was able to be a part of something so special. 

Thanks HGTV!