Experienced Bad Mom

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Observations from Beachfront Bargain Hunt on HGTV

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I never thought my son and I would bond over HGTV’s Beachfront Bargain Hunt.

Of course, thirteen years ago when he was born I was simply trying to keep him alive. And not run myself into the ground trying.

But here we are all these years later hanging out and watching a real estate show where buyers tour three, sometimes four, houses and then decide which one to buy.

Why have we bonded over this show? Because I certainly couldn’t bond with him over Minecraft and Pokemon. Plus, It’s fun to hear the buyer’s wish list and budget, peep inside other people’s houses, and then guess which house the buyer will pick.

Oh, who am I kidding? We bond by poking fun at the buyers’ rock-solid wish list, supposed budget, and then the compromises they make on both their rock-solid wish list and their budget.

Together, my teen and I have made some scintillating observations from watching Beachfront Bargain Hunt. It’s our honor and duty to share these with ya.Ever watched Beachfront Bargain Hunt on HGTV? Then you'll love these funny observations.

First, there are no “bargains” on Beachfront Bargain Hunt. These people are paying more for a “bargain” beach home than I paid for my everyday house.

Second, the buyers ALWAYS comment on big bath tubs. “Ooo, honey, look at that bath!” they’ll say. What adult takes a daily bath? I haven’t since I was eleven. Plus, my mom has one of those huge Jacuzzi tubs in her house and NEVER uses it because it takes two hours and 527 gallons of water to fill up.

Third, the buyers ALWAYS comment on the entertaining space. Who are these people? You’re moving to the Dominican Republic away from everyone you know because you love the beach. You have no friends anymore to entertain. And aren’t you always going to be at the beach? Moreover, as an introvert, I object to all that entertaining. I would want a nice place where it’s quiet and I can sit with a good book.

Fourth, most of the buyers SWEAR they want a single family home. Fast forward twenty minutes and their moving into a condo with a gorgeous view of their neighbor’s patio, but they’ve got a big bathtub and plenty of space for entertaining.

Finally, the buyers on Beachfront Bargain Hunt ALWAYS cave on their budget. “I know my budget was $650,00,” they’ll say, “but we just fell in love with Playa del Cocos Locos and we had to have it at $1,200,000.” Uh huh.

Do you watch Beachfront Bargain Hunt or its various iterations like Lakefront Bargain Hunt, Island Life, Caribbean Life, House Hunters, House Hunters International, and more? Why do you watch?

Comments

  1. It must be a Canadian thing but I do have a bath every day. At the end of the day I soak in the tub! Yup. So don’t be concerned that your new cottage getaway’s bathtub won’t be used for anything other than rincing out the suits. You see I will come visit. Promise. Won’t stay for longer than 3 days because like fish, guests tend to get a bit “smelly” if they stay much longer. Or so my sister, the one with a beachfront getaway, advises me. She lets me stay longer but I’m family.
    Do you have “Love it or list it?” I used to watch that but it’s too predictable. The house that’s being renovated always Hass hidden fault that requires the owner to cough up thousands which means there’s no more money and the “downstairs powder room” can’t be renovated. Always.
    Kelly l m kenzie recently posted…Our 94 Year-Old Goes Home To HonoluluMy Profile

  4. I love all of those shows in large part because I love to judge the people buying the homes. I especially love the folks on the Tiny House shows who SAY they want a tiny house but also want full-size stainless steel appliances, a king bed, and a work-out room.
    Mo recently posted…Boston Fun And Pi DayMy Profile

  5. I have watched a view times and my jaw always falls open at the budget these people have. I’m all, “What? Our budget was like $150,000!” I don’t think $500,000 is a budget. That basically means you’re rich.
    Amber Myers recently posted…Hey, It’s OkayMy Profile

    • “I don’t think $500,000 is a budget. That basically means you’re rich.” – YEEESSSSS.

      I recently saw some tweets where people were teasing the couples who appear on these shows about their jobs, too. Like the husband is a hamster wrangler and the wife knits socks for ebay and they’re budget is still $500k, lol.

  6. Oh gosh this is one of the shows I missed once we cut cable out. You are right, there is no bargain in this specific beach front world 🙂

    • Ha ha – yes it was hard keeping up with my boy when he was little! The fact that we can sit down together for 30 minutes is a miracle.

    • It is fun to peek in other homes. Unless I remember what it was like 6 years ago when I sold our first home. I cringe at the memory of people walking through and picking things apart.

  10. HILARIOUS. Cass and Cade watch ALL the HGTV shows!! They are obsessed with them! The running favorite is that one with Chip and Magnolia I think? They buy nasty homes and transform them into UNBELIEVABLY gorgeous homes in one lovely hour long show.

    I love Chip and his adorable spirit and he is hilarious and totally entertaining. Their family is precious. I wish I could remember the name of this show… Flip this house? That doesn’t sound like the right one- if Cass was here she’d tell me in a nanosecond. But as you can see, I’m just one of the ‘watch while I clean the kitchen, cook meals, clean house moms’ We always swoon over the homes and dream of expanded budgets like theirs…. lol

    WHO HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY????????
    Christine Carter recently posted…Christian Books For When Motherhood Gets Messy and Hope In The WaitingMy Profile

    • Ooo, I love Chip and Joanna, too. But I’m too lazy to watch an hour show so I like the bargain hunters 30 minutes better, LOL. 🙂

  11. This made me laugh with the bath tub and the entertaining space! Too much water and no friends! Lovely that you’ve found something that makes you both tick. It saves you playing minecraft. Thanks for sharing with #tweensteensbeyond

  12. ooh i like a bath every day and that would be a selling point for me, i have 4 boys so it’s a good job i love sport as it’s all that is on in our house, hubby bonds with the kids over a share of movies, but they’re usually action movies and i don’t like them, so i leave them to it

  13. We have a lot of these kind of shows in the UK and I am totally obsessed with all of them because I am always dreaming of that “other” home and I love being nosy!. They are a good reality check though too as it makes you realise that nothing is perfect unless you start from scratch. Like you I am always amazed at how people react and how they change their minds from what they said at the beginning, especially in relation to the budget or they decide they are not buying anything after all. This is great stuff to bond over too. Thanks for joining us again. #TweensTeensBeyond
    Jo – Mother of Teenagers recently posted…Tweens, Teens, Beyond #9My Profile

  14. I am addicted to these shows and DVR them if I can’t stick around to see which one they pick. I need like a 12-step program.
    Don’t forget they all
    1) want to be on the water or have a water view
    2) need a dock for the boat that they might-maybe-possibly buy one day
    3) have a drink at a bar with their Realtor before they tour houses which means they are drunk and then the budget and wish list make total sense and lastly
    4) the requisite sequence where the family has high adventure in their new location totally making the fact that they left everything and everyone they know behind A-ok.

  15. This is definitely a thing! A lot of the TV that I watch with my teens are programmes that we poke fun at! We do sometimes watch Jeremy Kyle so that we can feel less dysfunctional than other families! Thanks so much for joining us at #TweensTeensBeyond

  16. So I haven’t watched the show but I know exactly what you’re talking about. The bathtub. Who cares about the bathtub?? You know what our bathtub is for? Hanging sweaty running clothes over the side and occasionally scrubbing out the nasty rug from the kitchen. That’s it.
    Jenny @ Unremarkable Files recently posted…7 Quick Takes about More Chocolate Strawberries Than You Can Shake a Stick At, Branding Fails, and the Fear of Missing OutMy Profile

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