Escape to the Country

It's amusing to see how the Brits live. 99% of all showers are curved units vs what we have in the US and almost no alcove tub/shower combos. 99% of tiles in the kitchens are 4x4. Toilets are usually old fashioned and 99%of bathrooms also don't have vanities/cupboards! Not many built in closets, even in houses built in the 21st century!

The gardens are why i watch as the houses are mostly not for me. Oh the gardens...how wonderfully lucky Brits are to have rain and old walls and a national passion for growing. Where I live, few ppl garden, lawns r about it.

Out here in Oz, Escape to the Country is our favourite end of week show, screening @ 8.30pm. My favourite host is Catherine Gee. Once you adjust to a very small percentage of the people on the show actually buying anything it's fine. Generally I watch and tape this as for some strange reason it doesn't look like DVDs are available. Generally have a British atlas next to the TV so pinpoint where they are looking.

Some episodes are better than others. It all comes down mainly to the type of houses and areas the people are looking to move to. That's about 80% of the appeal, 20% the contestants themselves. Whether or not it's because most of the people are yet to sell, the buy rate feels like about 5%.

I can't believe some of the properties these people pass over.

After Escape there's another guilty pleasure, another English show "60 minute makeover" Hosted by Claire Sweeney whose very easy on the eye, warm and charming the challenge is to redecorate a number of rooms in a house in 60 minutes. Generally a team of about 30 contractors descend onto a house under the guidance of a weekly designer, many of whom reappear throughout the series.

Quite like some of the designers and some of the outcomes (done in two thirty minute bursts with a tea break in between) are stunning.

I love this show. It makes me want to move there. But sometimes the clients have ridiculous expectations. I don't know what they consider a large kitchen, but they seem to think all the kitchens are too small. Also, they want a "character" or "period" property that they should know by now tends to have low ceilings and beams. Then don't like them when they see it. I give great credit to all the hosts. They are all so good natured and patient. The mystery houses are usually awesome! I watch this show to help me relax and dream I am the one who is house hunting.

I do find a couple of the presenters a bit saccharine but today's presenter, Briony May Williams was really annoying with her rather strident and 'jokey' delivery in a rather grating voice made me turn the sound off and just look at the houses. Sorry!

I watch this program because it brings a perspective on house buying that is focused on the buyer, specifically those who want to escape traffic, noise and high density living for a place in the country. As a Canadian, it can be challenging to translate the prices to Canadian standards given the difference in currency and the date when the shows are actually filmed, often ten years earlier. Nevertheless i can appreciate that the buyers have acquired considerable capital from selling an urban property or are well-heeled young people who want their children to have the benefit of living a country life. Gardens, large kitchens and space for outdoor recreation are important to them. I find that the quality of the program depends on the agent and how well they can gauge the needs of the buyer. Some buyers have little idea of an area's real estate value and in those cases, the show (which visits three potential properties) can be an education on what to expect and for how much. House prices in southwest England or locations with access to London or other cities can vary greatly from rural Wales or northeast England. This knowledge of how real estate is calculated applies equally whether you live in Britain or North America. One or two of the hosts have superb people skills and can be very good at getting to know the buyers' needs and their expectations. Other agents seem to be more interested in self promotion, which is not an effective way to sell houses nor does it make for interesting television. Selling real estate is not salesmanship so much as the ability to judge personal preference and affordability. The results can be more successful if the agent connects with the buyer on a personal level and is able to focus on properties that meet the buyer's personal needs and expectations. Despite the differences in markets between North America and Britain, I find this show can be very effective in educating the buying public. It also shows that the ability of the agent to assess the buyer and to connect with the buyer, which is very important in making a successful sale. I have seen a number of shows where the agent has succeeded in nailing a sale or come very close because they know exactly what the buyer wants.