HGTV - For Rent

[irvine_home_owner_IHB]

So I commented in some thread that HGTV should do a show about renting and rental parity and I was surprised to see they are starting a new show called 'For Rent' next week.



From the commercials, it looks like they are following the formula of House Hunters where the rentees search for different places to live and settle on one. The twist is they do some type of decorating/renovation that the landlord approves of.



I think they are showing this in Canada already and I'm wondering if anyone has seen an episode.

 

[Sunshine_IHB]

I have to admit that I am an avid HGTV viewer. I watch the shows to get decorating and DIY ideas (no granite and stainless pipe dreams here). I watched the "For Rent" premiere the other night and it is now my least favorite HGTV show.



Here is my review:

IMO, it completely misses the mark. I was hoping the show would help renters find places while at the same time coach them to make reasonable decisions so as to no throw a huge chunk of their income at a rental. Instead, the alleged RE expert showed a 20-something bachelor three rental choices and provided decorating and mini-remodel tips for all three places. For example, she told the bachelor that he could really improve one prospective rental unit by painting the kitchen cabinets and adding new hardware. WTF? Does anyone really do these mini-remodels on rentals? How about 20-something bachelors? They also never mentioned the need to secure the landlord's advanced approval to make such changes. When I rented as a 20-something bachelorette, the only benefit my landlord received was a well-maintained unit, nice flowers out front and a vegetable garden that we maintained as a hobby; we like salmonella-free tomatoes. I don't have a family so maybe if I did I would have been more inclined to improve a rental. I never had the motivation to make a rental unit "my home" with my money. If I ever did, I would have tried to negotiate a reduction in my monthly rent, first (assuming the changes really improved the rental). Maybe it's because I viewed renting as a temporary state--even if that temporary state was for 10 years. I just cannot fathom spending money to improve a rental.