HGTV has created a large audience for its home renovation series. All of them are a little different from the others. "Flip or Flop" falls into the flipping category, where investors buy houses that need work, renovate them and resell them with hopes of making money.
I happen to like this show. Like the best of these shows, you don't have one partner (the husband, let's say) demeaning the opinions of the other partner (the wife, maybe). Married couple Tarek and Christina have great respect for each others' opinions. She has an eye for interior design and, over the span of this series, Tarek has learned to trust her vision and her recommendations.
They operate in Southern California. Sometimes they buy a home sight unseen. Other times, they can only see the exterior and find surprises waiting for them when they open it up (though by now, nothing should be too much of a surprise).
Can someone watch this show and learn the basics of flipping? I think so. But everyone has a different personality, with a different risk avoidance profile and a different ability or inability to see the big picture. Frankly, flipping is very risky and it takes talent to do it successfully.
Many of the criticisms leveled at Tarek and Christina on this site are related to their voices and the clothes they wear--which are irrelevant to the quality of the show. They dress appropriately to S. California. Also, some call the show unrealistic, but fail to explain how so. Other claims that they (unrealistically) never lose money, which is untrue. Often an episode ends with a house unsold, meaning it is likely they will have to lower their asking price.
I like their personalities and I consider the show entertaining.
