ConstructionDeal.com Update

One of my favorite shows is House Hunters on HGTV (Home & Garden Television.)

Yeah, I know -- it's sometimes very staged, with homeowners being shown homes that aren't on the market. But I like it. Most of the homes are in my neck of the woods, my friend is a show editor, and I worked with Suzanne on a film project a few years ago (she's a very funny stand-up comedian, by the way.)

The one thing about the show that always disturbs me is when a prospective homeowner is viewing a house. They'll walk into a loudly bright fuchsia room or one with pitiful wallpaper from the 1960's -- and they'll declare that they don't like the room. Or the whole house. I guess it was odd to discover that some people don't see the potential of a house when they're walking through it. Like everything must stay exactly the way they bought it... so it has to be "perfect" before they'll move in.

I could see if a master suite was too small. Or if the property had no garage or any room for a garage. Room additions and moving walls ain't easy. But replacing a countertop on a dated 70's bathroom-from-hell is not that hard.

Do you have problems "visualizing" the potential of a house? Does it have to be "move-in ready" or you wouldn't buy?

When considering a home purchase, it's understandable to want to move into a house that you don't have to do much to. But many want to change even a brand new house that they designed. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a perfect house.

Look for good "bones" in a home that you're viewing. Bones mean the overall basic structure. Does it have enough rooms? Are the rooms big enough? Is there a basement? An attic? You can always move into a house and make changes down the road. But adding a basement to a finished house might not be a good project to take on.

Better to find one that already has the spaces you want.

If you get a chance, bookmark the ConstructionDeal.com website. We can help you find a home improvement contractor at no cost. So... when you do want to make some of those changes, you'll save time and money when you look for a local contractor.

Labels: Home Improvement Shows, TV Shows