...
If you want to find out more about this show, check out the ITV website at www.itv.co.uk/betterhomes
The programme in reality is an advertising receptacle for all the companies that provide the materials to work with, who I would guess (I'm doing it again), donate their wares for free ... Read review
Advantages: You get your house done up Disadvantages: You might not like it
...this show, check out the ITV website at www.itv.co.uk/betterhomes
The programme in reality is an advertising receptacle for all the companies that provide the materials to work with, who I would guess (I'm doing it again), donate their wares for free in the chase for some good free advertising and increased sales - if you won't believe me check out the website.
In principle, I have no objection to this show, but would ... ...have already admitted that I am accused of judging on appearances, but in reality what I saw before was liveable, there are people living in unliveable homes that could really do with help like this, because whatever they are given would be better than what they had before.
There got that off my chest - better start packing. Sorry for the whinge and if my facts are wrong I can only apologise - leave a note.
Sue
Bit different from can I have a 'P' please Bob......
I write here about my experiences in the hope others may benefit from them, I write about my shopping experiences to allow others to make a more informed choice, and I avoid categories like this like the plague, as I simply cannot recreate the skill, ability, class and humour that many writers manage to produce here.
However, tonight, boyfriend and daughter excitedly shouted for me to come and watch Better Homes (Brainchild of Granada TV) (visualise me kicking and screaming no.......), but being absolutely shattered and needing the comfort of my rarely seen settee decided to join them.
My understanding of the programme (correct me if I am wrong), is that people request a specific area of their home to have a makeover, which will in most cases will serve to increase their value, and each week two houses in the same area will be selected for just that.
Before the work commences, the lovely Carol (she was much better in Countdown using her maths skills) will take a tour of both homes, showing viewers the homes as they were before, and obtains a brief rundown of what bits the owners don't like and want to change.
Once this is over, two designers from four will be selected to set to work with their teams and undertake the transformations. The 'poor old families' will be packed off somewhere (I know not where) whilst this is going on. The viewers are then subjected to around 20 minutes of highlights from both building experiences.
WHY AM I WHINGING? Bear in mind I have only watched this programme once, so it may not be typical - tonights programme featured two families living in Royston, one home was semi-detached worth around Ģ132K, the other detached worth over Ģ145K, one family sported a fireman, the other a builder - uh? run that by me again, a builder? - getting his house done up?
Now correct me if I am wrong, but having had a big strapping father who himself built a two storey, 4 roomed extension, with a little support from his similarly big strapping friends. It took him 16 years to do because he kept running out of money (by which time my mother had to move to a bungalow because of her health), how on earth can a builder, who will have friends in the business, be able to source his materials at trade, and can probably get it done for little more than cost be allowed to have this sort of work done? he even agreed that he was quite happy to have his downstairs toilet removed, and nearly half admitted that he would probably put another one back at a later stage - luckily they didn't, a second toilet puts a good few grand on the house, if you don't believe me, speak to the people down my street who simply have a garage and a second toilet, and thus sell their houses for nearly Ģ15K more than mine.
OK - I have been accused before of judging on appearances, and we all know that appearances can be deceptive, I am just about to move into a stunning 4 bedroomed new house which is likely to see me eating bread and water for the next 5 years or so, and even then when the daughter does off to Uni, I will probably not see the end of it, so I can appreciate that the face you portray to the public does not always tell the truth, however I would far sooner see the deserving public who for whatever reason cannot afford to redecorate their homes, make adjustments benefit rather than people in Ģ100K+ properties, or does this not make for such good viewing?
We are moving because my partner and D-I-Y are a bit like oil and water, and we need more space, my paps is too old to help me out, so the solution, a new house. Plus even if he was a D-I-Y'er, his recent handshake with cancer would make me a little apprehensive at letting him take on such tasks at this present time, and I need the space NOW.
We are moving because we can, there are many people out there who can't, they cannot afford to do up their homes because of illness, bereavement and many other reasons, yet do they ever get a look in?
I openly admit I may be wrong, but surely some of these unseen people would benefit from a bit of extra value on their house?
The houses before were in my opinion liveable, afterwards to be fair afterwards they were stunning, and quite rightly so the families concerned with chuffed - but what happens if they don't like it? which I am told reliably has happened, do they get paid to have it done again? In truth, how many of us would be honest enough to say on TV that we didn't like something that probably cost Ģ20K of someone's elses money to do up, and put Ģ6K on the value of our homes, I don't think I could.
AFTER At the end of the show, the 'Betterhomes' valuer comes back and revalues the homes, and the home that has increased the most wins - (although what they win I am unclear). Tonight, the designer who had added the most value to homes throughout their series also won a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Champers for their troubles.
If you want to find out more about this show, check out the ITV website at www.itv.co.uk/betterhomes
The programme in reality is an advertising receptacle for all the companies that provide the materials to work with, who I would guess (I'm doing it again), donate their wares for free in the chase for some good free advertising and increased sales - if you won't believe me check out the website.
In principle, I have no objection to this show, but would like to see people in genuine hardship benefit. I have already admitted that I am accused of judging on appearances, but in reality what I saw before was liveable, there are people living in unliveable homes that could really do with help like this, because whatever they are given would be better than what they had before.
There got that off my chest - better start packing. Sorry for the whinge and if my facts are wrong I can only apologise - leave a note. Sue
Advantages: Quality makeovers Disadvantages: Must cost a bomb
...8.30 - ITV on Mondays if you've nothing better to do. Oh my Gawd.........it's l0.30 pm - time I was in bed. There's a thought .....perhaps I can get Carol and her team to transform my bedroom.....and the bathroom and the loo and the......... Goodnight all. ...
ANNJSEC 02.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ITV - Carol Vordermanīs Better Homes
Advantages: Excellent finished product for the customer Disadvantages: They aren't in my house yet
I saw the other night that Better Homes is back on our screens. I never really appreciated the work that they do put into this programme until the other night.
The last series I thought that they really chucked money at these people for doing nothing - I still do to some extent - but I think that the final product that people are surprised with is actually a lot better quality than the finished article from Changing Rooms. Don't get me wrong I really ... ...prefer Better Homes to visit my house than the Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen of this world.
For you that haven't seen Better Homes, Carol Vorderman brings along a team of builders/plasterers/Joiners etc to a persons home and the people are put in hotels for a short period whilst they demolish and revamp the house.
This program doesn't just paint and install new kitchens they physically take down walls and build conservatories on the back of houses in ...
sharondyer 07.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ITV - Carol Vordermanīs Better Homes
Advantages: Lots of home improvement ideas although you'd have to modify them to suit your budget.Entertaining show. Disadvantages: The crew can be very annoying at times.
Carol Vorderman and the Better Homes teams are how d-i-y should be done (although these are professionals doing the decorating ), and aren't some of the projects wonderful once they've been done? Gosh, this crew needs to take the lot from BBC's Changing Rooms and give them a few lessons on how to do the job properly.
The premise of the show is to send neighbours off for a week or so away, and in the meantime transform some part of their home, with ... ...Before the show, Carol's trusty appraiser comes along and values each home, and again after the improvements have been carried out, he comes back to revalue and whoever's home has added the most to it's value, wins that week's show. Ultimately, they are all winners, because the quality of the workmanship done seems to be excellent and not only do they end up getting the decorating done but it adds value to their home as well.
My hubby always complained ...
poet831 13.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ITV - Carol Vordermanīs Better Homes
Having just completed another run of the show, I thought it was about time to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and give my views on this latest makeover programme.
Better Homes (I’ll not keep mentioning it’s Carol Vorderman’s) is a bit like Changing Rooms on speed. Each week two families are visited by the Better Homes makeover teams and have a nominated room (or rooms) completely transformed. Where the show differs from ... ...than slapping some paint over old wallpaper and knitting a new rug – in Better Homes, the makeover teams really go to town and will carry out structural work, redecoration, refitting and refurbishment. Between the two shows, Better Homes is by far the superior programme, simply because everything is done on such a grand scale – but that doesn’t mean to say that I like this programme. Here’s my run-down of why Better Homes ...
LostWitness 18.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ITV - Carol Vordermanīs Better Homes
Advantages: gives some good ideas for DIYers Disadvantages: none for the participants!!!!
So who exactly is the loser on this show? Carol Vorderman (oh lady of annoying hand movement on Benecol advert as it *lowers* cholesterol) takes her two teams to some ordinary suburban street, where they meet two families and rip things out of their houses to create, reform, extend, beautify and generally give them the rooms of their dreams.
It never actually says on the programme if the families pay anything toward the alterations, so I tend to ... ...is as follows; a little while before the show is filmed 3 estate agents come and value each property and the average of these 3 values is placed into a sealed envelope for later.
Each family chooses a room they are unhappy with and want to change. Now this is no Lynda Barker, Changing Rooms calligraphy on the wall sort of a change – it isn’t even Handy Andy’s MDF magic or Laurence’s purple and lime stripes.
It is full blown, ...
pagan 11.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ITV - Carol Vordermanīs Better Homes
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