House Hunters: A Study in Poor Decision Making

Young Dating Couple Search

Description: Rob works in advertising and his girlfriend Amanda is a middle school Spanish teacher in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They'd like to find a home by their one-year dating anniversary and have enlisted the help of Rob's mom. Rob would like a home with historic charm and character, while Amanda prefers more modern amenities. They're also at an impass about where to settle; Rob would like to stay in Ann Arbor, while Amanda likes the nearby town of Plymouth. Rob's mom certainly has her work cut out for her, since this newly-dating couple rarely see eye to eye when looking at houses.
Available on ULive

So the second pair of house hunters today are Amanda and Rob.

Amanda is a 26-year-old 8th grade Spanish teacher and Rob is a 25-year-old internet advertising strategist. 

Poor decision #1: they have been dating for less than one year and they are buying a house together. Oh honey, no. Do you not watch Judge Judy? There are like no protections for couples who are not married who break up and then have to divide their assets. And why should you be worried about a break up? Because...

Poor decision #2: Rob is probably gay. Being gay is neither poor nor a decision, obviously, but buying a house with your probably gay boyfriend is. I mean, not all gay men talk like that, but all men who talk like that are gay. What does their realtor think about all of this?

Poor decision #3: Their realtor is Rob's mom Eva and she apparently has no problem with an unmarried couple who has been dating for less than a year buying a house together. Why, Mom? Do you not see how bad of an idea this is?!

Well, since they're "ready to take the next step," let's find out what their wish list is. They want an older home with charm but with an updated kitchen (i.e. stainless steel and granite countertops) and bathrooms, and a formal dining room for $275,000. Rob currently lives in Ann Arbor and would like to stay there, but Amanda would prefer to live in Plymouth, which is 20 miles away. And they want to be all moved in before their first anniversary.

As far as being move-in ready, Rob says, "Well we wouldn't do it ourselves. We all know how handy I am."

Mmhmmm.

House #1 is a 3 bed, 2 bath 1500 square foot home in Plymouth for $273,000. 

The living room is right off the entryway and the dining room is to the right.

Amanda doesn't like that the dining room isn't more open to the living room, but they can enlarge the doorway. Rob says, "We all know that I'm not going to be able to do it myself, like take a saw and enlarge that wall." Yes, Rob, we know.

The house also has a sun room, which my basic rule is always go with the place that has a sunroom, but Amanda doesn't like all the wood.

As I was trying to get a screenshot of the sunroom, I got this, which I've decided to throw in since that look on her face is kind of priceless.

Amanda says that, "This kitchen is a modern person's dream." Is it? It has stainless steel, but everything else is kind of not that modern.

They check out the backyard and once again the cameraman is moving too God damn fast and I can't get a clear shot, but there's a nice brick patio and a small grass area, which Amanda likes. Rob makes a confession which will surprise absolutely no one, "I've actually never used a lawnmower." You don't say.

House #2 is a $250,000 4 bed, 1 bath 1220 square foot home in Ann Arbor. Rob thinks it's the perfect location.

They both like the living room, but Amanda doesn't care for the textured ceilings. Rob likes the ceilings, though, because, "It makes it look very medieval, like a castle." 

The bedroom that is currently being used as the master isn't very big and Amanda's worried about the storage space in the room.

Presented without comment.

They check out the kitchen and Amanda asks, "What is that? Why is there a fan inside the wall?" She's a real brain trust, this one. Eva says that it's an exhaust fan.

Amanda then points out that "these [appliances] are not stainless steel." Yes, we all have eyes, Amanda.

They go see the two bedrooms upstairs, which are both pretty small, but the upstairs could be converted into an entire master suite.

Amanda asks, "What are all these like mini doors?" Eva says they are storage.

House #3 is a $300,000 3 bed, 2.5 bath 2000 square foot home in Plymouth.

Amanda likes that the kitchen is open to the living room, but she doesn't like the "ancient oven." What is it with these people and ovens?

Rob asks if the countertops are granite and I guess Amanda isn't the only brain trust because I can tell from here that those are laminate.

They of course love the entire master suite.

And props where they're due, that's a really nice backyard.

Amanda and Rob go over their three choices. House #1 has charm and character, but it only has a one car garage. House #2 needs updating, but it's the cheapest. House #3 has the nice master suite, but it is the most expensive.

They pick House #1.

They've widened the doorway between the living and dining rooms.

And they've changed the fireplace facade. They were able to move in before their first anniversary, of which Amanda says, "The fact that we met that is really important to me."

I really hope HGTV gives us an update as to where they are on their second anniversary.