After all the bickering and all the work, it all came down to the final episode and the auction to see who would win.
The show opens with Steve and Nicole celebrating their latest victory in the kitchen. They are feeling more confident now, and their relationship seems to be doing better as well. They can't believe the lies that Sam told on the last show.
Meanwhile, Barney and Rose are still complaining about their loss. Rose thinks the judges should be fired. Hey Rose, shows over, no more judges. What are you talking about?
In apartment #3 David and Ana's relationship is crumbling, much like their hopes of winning after their kitchen debacle.
The next 30 minutes of the show were a waste of everyone's time. Total recap. For those who watch and follow shows pretty carefully; recaps are frustrating. Show us scenes that were cut out instead. Show us things we haven't seen.
Finally they came to the new material. Each couple was shown marketing their apartments. Steve and Nicole spent their extra $5000 on redoing their bathroom. They reminded people who walked through that their place was the "penthouse." The host said that Scotty and Sam, "…used their southern charm…" to sell their place. What? I don't think anyone would ever call either one of them "charming." They have about as much charm as a bee sting. David and Ana try to distract people from looking at their unfinished kitchen and instead direct them to the rooms that Brad and Lew designed and built. Barney and Rose bragged about their kitchen again and the self-closing drawers.
At the auction, each apartment was auctioned separately. We are told the one that sells for the most will win, and that couple will receive the profits from all four condos. The first place up for auction was Barney and Rose's place. It sold for $950,000. Which seemed pretty good for the 1450 square foot place. The second place up for auction was Scotty and Sam's apartment. It sold for just $900,000. The Steve and Nicole's came up for bid. After quite a few bids, the final selling price was $1.2 million. Very nicely done. Their apartment was only 1100 square feet, but sold for $250,000 more than Barney and Rose's. The final condo to bid on was the unfinished symphony of David and Ana. The final selling price was $950,000. Therefore Steve and Nicole's apartment #1 was the hands down winner. Nicole had said earlier in the show that she didn't want to win so much for the money but rather spite. She was able to enjoy both.
Steve and Nicole's final take then was the combined profit from all four condos, which was a grand total of some $317,000. I nice sum but seemed a lot lower than I thought it would be. I mean how much money did each group put into each of these places? By my count it was at least $50,000 for materials and then add in the 60 days of labor they all did. I would say if you had hired someone to remodel all the places you would have spent at least $300,000. And the total profit was just over that? They barely broke even. I guess the Malibu real estate market isn't as hot as they thought it would be, just over priced. 1100 square feet for $1.2 million? That comes out to about $1090 per square foot. A good value is generally about $100 per square foot. I mean yeah it had an ocean view, but it wasn't on the beach. And what happens when the next earthquake, mudslide or wild fire comes along? Oh well, I guess that is for the new owners to worry about.
As I have said before, I don't really like the idea of shows where there are alliances and good people get voted off by the more unscrupulous people. I have kind of had it with that format. I would prefer just a straight up design show. Let the best team win. Why do producers and networks think we won't watch that? Why do they think we want to see backstabbers and malcontents all the time? TBS's House Rules was a much better show. I am hoping they will have a second season. I am just thankful that the most normal of the remaining couples actually won. Hopefully it wasn't a FOX executive at the auction causing that result. Do you think I am a little too skeptical? I like my reality real.
Evan is a Web Designer and Corporate Training Specialist by day, and a Reality TV junky, author, and movie reviewer by night.
You can write to Evan at RealEvan@RealityTVCalendar.com
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