I’ve noticed on some of the newer episodes the past few months that the realtor/agent doesn’t go into the house with the buyers. They “introduce” the house outside and then only the buyers go in. It’s kind of disappointing. The buyers walk in and say “Oh, here’s a bathroom” or “I guess this is the master.” I’ve noticed it on both House Hunters and HH International. Wondering if anybody’s noticed that. I like the episodes better when the agent goes in with them.
Suzanne Whang would not approve!!!
Now that you mention it I noticed that too- I think I thought I had a different show on a few times because of that.
I watch House Hunters pretty much every night. I have noticed that occasionally, but there are definitely new episodes where the agent goes in. I tend to think the episodes when the agent doesn’t go in, the agent wasn’t available on the day they were filming.
Considering it is all staged and completely fake I’m not sure what difference it makes.
Many of the episodes show a “new” air date even though that episode originally aired a couple of years ago.
Also, many of the shows are taped a few months after the “buyers” purchased their home.
I know it’s all fake and I know the episodes are filmed after the purchase has taken place. I’m just wondering if anybody had a reason for why the agents aren’t going in the houses on some of the episodes. It changes the dynamics of the show when the agent isn’t there.
@uwalummom your explanation makes the most sense except that it only started happening in the past few months.
I have fun trying to guess which house they bought…ummm…pick. Like when the husband said at the outset, “I don’t want a house with a lot of wood”, then you know they will pick the house with a lot of wood. LOL
Can someone explain how the episodes are all fake? I know that in a lot of the episodes, they have already purchased the house, so they’re just going through the motions. How else are they fake? And how do they look at a house if they’ve already moved in? How are these people selected?
I cannot answer your question, but I can tell you for certain if you know a producer or someone who can influence a producer, you can get on a game show offering very substantial prizes.
My point is that maybe agents contact the show’s producer & ask to appear, then actual buyers or a stand-in couple posing as buyers recreate a purchase for the show.
@VeryHappy I think your summary of the “fake” stuff is correct. They aren’t really looking at three houses in one or two days; they’ve already bought the house and are recreating the “hunt.”
I do recall one episode from maybe 3-4 years ago where the people decided not to buy any of the three houses and just stuck with what they already had. That’s the only time I’ve seen that happen.
I’ve seen that happen occasionally with the beachfront property search. I’m kind of pleased when that happens. One of my complaints about the House Hunters format in general is that people never have only three houses to choose from! So if they really don’t like any of the options, they can just sit tight another few months and see what comes up.
The shows are also highly scripted to create a false sense of “drama” – “he wants a ranch, she wants a Tudor” – often that’s not at all the case, but it just happened that the other options available to tape were a ranch and a Tudor. Same with the “she wants ready-to-move-in and he wants a fixer-upper.” Often, that wasn’t the case to begin with – or not significantly so. It was exaggerated for the show.
Notice that at the end, most of the couples say the same things – “we’ll be in this house for a long time” “starting to put our own stamp on it” “we’re starting a new chapter in our lives” – those are all phrases suggested by the producers because these are very formulaic shows and producers want the couples to stay within the formula.
They also frequently say “this house had everything we wanted” when they eventually reveal their final choice. I guess they assume we all have a very short attention span and don’t remember all the complaints they uttered when they initially viewed the home.
IME, there is no house that has everything you want. There’s always compromise.
I do enjoy the international house hunters. They have to make a lot more compromises than folks in the states. It’s also interesting to imagine how the trailing spouse will manage.
A family in our neighborhood were on a couple years ago - buying their home in our neighborhood. (our house was seen for a quick moment!) Regular people, regular neighborhood. They said they just applied online - no agents or anything.
“I have fun trying to guess which house they bought…ummm…pick.”
Always choose the otherwise empty house that has one or two pieces of large furniture in it. 
@VeryHappy I also like the international version. It’s interesting to see prices and housing styles in other countries.
I agree it is always the empty, or almost empty house. I know it isn’t 100% real, but I still really enjoy it. I really like House Hunters Restoration.
HH Reno is too long to me. 30 minutes, I’m in. 60 minutes, I’m out!
I don’t really like to use the word “fake” - I’d say “staged” more or less. The couple does end up with a house at the end and it is their chosen house.
Yes, I knew it was the house with no furniture, but I didn’t want to ruin the fun for everyone else.
I’ll admit we watch the Caribbean Island, International (some countries anyway), Hawaii (some islands), and Beachfront Bargain versions (some beaches).
I suspect a good part of the staging is from suppliers wanting to make things like Granite Countertops a MUST HAVE fashion. So many things couples diss, we’d be perfectly ok with. We think of all the money we’ll save when we’re actually shopping. 