I can't watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

[aceO07]

I'd like them to do a show where they help poor families who can't even afford a house in the first place... (though I understand why it's easier the other way around..)

It's always some family with a house AND lots of land. Not to say that if you have both that you're all set for life, but certainly better off than a family in the same situation and without a house.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: aceO07
I'd like them to do a show where they help poor families who can't even afford a house in the first place... (though I understand why it's easier the other way around..)

It's always some family with a house AND lots of land. Not to say that if you have both that you're all set for life, but certainly better off than a family in the same situation and without a house.

Not entirely true. While many of them are as you described, there have been a few that have been on pretty nominal land to start with.

 

[lokiju]

Man last night episode made me nearly tear up.

Just thinking about what he did for our country and to see how he'd in a heart beat do it all over again.

Really made me feel that so many people out there just don't realize what is done for them on a daily basis to enable them to live the lives they do.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: aceO07
I'd like them to do a show where they help poor families who can't even afford a house in the first place... (though I understand why it's easier the other way around..)

It's always some family with a house AND lots of land. Not to say that if you have both that you're all set for life, but certainly better off than a family in the same situation and without a house.

Not entirely true. While many of them are as you described, there have been a few that have been on pretty nominal land to start with.

I saw an episode where they built a new house on a new plot of land and renovated the old house to give to friend of the family that needed a home also.

 

[Josh]

Last night episode was pretty intense.

:thumbsup: for that Sgt.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
They could spend half as much and build a normal size house for the families without going over the top... that way they could help more people out. Obviously, though, that's not what they're aiming for.

Well it is called "Extreme Make Over" not adequate make over.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Tobolo
How in the heck do they actually build a house in one week? These cant honestly be good houses. I mean, it takes days for a concrete slab to set yet they do that stuff over night.

I believe they reuse the foundation. There's also quickset foundations that can be used.

In tonights case, though, he had a crawlspace, so no foundation. You could tell when the excavator was destroying the house. And I didn't think quickset was allowed under most building codes for home foundations.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: LostWanderer

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
That show is way too over-emotional and sensational. I understand building houses for people in need, but it's getting ridiculous. First they started remodeling and putting in small additions. Now they doze the old house and build small mansions.

I remember one episode where they had a wall of 6 big screen TVs, one for each kid in the house - they all had headphones for their personal TV. What an extravagant waste.

Exactly, I feel the same way. I really liked it when the series first started, but now they just go way too overboard. I would rather see them do something sensible and help 5 families in need rather than helping one 5 times more than they need.

It's like the lottery. Many more people will play when the jackpot gets really large. And many more people will watch the show if someone is getting something extraordinary. Plus, there are already a ton of shows on about remodeling, fixer-ups and the like. This is like watching a lottery winner find out he won.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
They could spend half as much and build a normal size house for the families without going over the top... that way they could help more people out. Obviously, though, that's not what they're aiming for.

Well it is called "Extreme Make Over" not adequate make over.

:beer:

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
They could spend half as much and build a normal size house for the families without going over the top... that way they could help more people out. Obviously, though, that's not what they're aiming for.

Well it is called "Extreme Make Over" not adequate make over.

:beer:

LOL! Pwned!

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
That show is way too over-emotional and sensational. I understand building houses for people in need, but it's getting ridiculous. First they started remodeling and putting in small additions. Now they doze the old house and build small mansions.

I remember one episode where they had a wall of 6 big screen TVs, one for each kid in the house - they all had headphones for their personal TV. What an extravagant waste.

Yeah, it gets to be too much. I've seen episodes like that. They'll take a hut and turn it in to a $300,000 home, and I end up thinking: "sure they're all excited now, right up until they have to pay taxes and insurance"

 

[Yongsta]

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH
My brother was on the Maryland build a couple weeks back. He said the Ty dude showed up for a few scenes when they needed him, took credit for building the whole house and barn, and then flew off to the next job like he's some sort of movie star. He couldn't even be bothered to stop by the after-party and thank the crew for working 24 hours a day for a week straight so their show would be done in time. Evidently he did stay long enough to get thrown out of a local bar (Looney's Pub) for being too drunk, although that's just hearsay.

LOL he wasn't like that on Trading Spaces, I guess success got to his head.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Yongsta

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH
My brother was on the Maryland build a couple weeks back. He said the Ty dude showed up for a few scenes when they needed him, took credit for building the whole house and barn, and then flew off to the next job like he's some sort of movie star. He couldn't even be bothered to stop by the after-party and thank the crew for working 24 hours a day for a week straight so their show would be done in time. Evidently he did stay long enough to get thrown out of a local bar (Looney's Pub) for being too drunk, although that's just hearsay.

LOL he wasn't like that on Trading Spaces, I guess success got to his head.

Don't they do a show every week? I'm sure his time is crunched as hell to get from one site to another plus go over everything with production. Besides he gets to take credit because he's the "face" for the show. They do thank all the contributors throughout the show and at the end.

 

[Quasmo]

They built one of their first home in Atlanta, built by beezer homes. After the show was over they gave them money for the taxes of the house and for utilities for life. The family spent that on stuff for themselves, and sued beezer for more money.

 

[JS80]

I always wonder how people who are relatively poor (and assuming uneducated) are able to pay the property tax, insurance, and upkeep (utilities, repair and maintenance, yard care, pest control, and endless additional costs) for a brand new mansion.

 

[se7en]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
That show is way too over-emotional and sensational. I understand building houses for people in need, but it's getting ridiculous. First they started remodeling and putting in small additions. Now they doze the old house and build small mansions.

I remember one episode where they had a wall of 6 big screen TVs, one for each kid in the house - they all had headphones for their personal TV. What an extravagant waste.

Yeah seems they could stick with remodleing or doing expansions to help more people rather than spend so much on one family.

I wish there were a way to follow up with some of the chosen ones to see if they were able to upkeep the new home or had to sell it due to expenses / taxes.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
They built one of their first home in Atlanta, built by beezer homes. After the show was over they gave them money for the taxes of the house and for utilities for life. The family spent that on stuff for themselves, and sued beezer for more money.

what a bunch of douche bags.

 

[sactoking]

Many of these families will be screwed if/when the IRS rules on the legality of the income transfer. The current tax code stipulates that if you rent a property for less than 1 week, anything you do to the property does not have to be declared as income by the property owner. That's why EM:HE takes a week. The increase in value to the property is not considered income. The family DOES have to pay income tax on the value of the trip that EM:HE sends them on.

Congress has said for a while now that a show like this exploits the tax code and any loopholes it may contain. There are talks about closing said loopholes. If that ever happens, the recipient family will have to pay income tax on the increase in the house value, as well as all associated property taxes and whatnot. Also, any gifts of money to cover said taxes are ALSO considered taxable income. So, if your house goes from $80,000 to $650,000, you'd owe tax on $570,000. If the show gave you $50,000 to cover the taxes, you'd owe tax on the $50,000 also!