SeaUrchin

Last night a couple from San Diego were looking for a second home in Positano/Praiano area of Amalfi Coast. It didn't seem like they had done any preinvestigating as they were surprised that mules would bring their supplies up to the house they chose way above the Conca dei Marini which is above Praiano area. Anyone who has spent time in the area sees the mules carrying up supplies. I looked into buying a villa close to the one they chose and it was a lot more than 300 steps to get there from one of the roads, I wrote about it in one trip report.. They ended up buying a complete ruin and are planning on renovating it over three years. I would have loved to have done that but I got scared of all the logistics!

I love Househunters International, it is always so informing and interesting, like a visual trip report.

zeppole

I have to walk more than 300 steps just to empty my garbage. Where I live in Liguria, helicopters deliver construction material. Mules would be quieter!

When I lived in the US, I used to love watching "dream house" renovation shows on HGTV where everything slowly turned into a money-pit disaster. It made me feel so smart about never redoing my bathrooms. Maybe I'll find a way to watch HGTV international and chuckle about how smart I am to live in a fully furnished rental.

jent103

I am so addicted to that show. I watched one where the couple were looking for a house in the US Virgin Islands (not Europe... sorry), and kept talking about how they could redo kitchens or what have you. I kept wondering *how* they would do that exactly, since I figured there wasn't a Home Depot or anything on the island! It seems like renovating anything in an area like one of these would be so much more expensive than these people are used to, just because of the transport costs. But hey... what do I know?

LuvToRoam

We love Househunters International as well. Forget steps, we are always floored by the cost! And for many of these folks it is a second home-they buy a ruin and fix it up (translate $$$$$$!). Our 100 year old house is a work in progress (going on 12 years now, we are already on the re-do in some rooms). It costs a fortune and sucks up time. Where do these people get the money from? My hubby and I simply reassure ourselves, yes, we are peasants....

yk

SeaUrchin, this Amalfi Coast show was discussed in detail a few months back; and in fact, the female owner Rhonda actually posted in that thread giving us more details/insights to their decision and how the renovation was going.
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...ation-week.cfm

Her (Rhonda's) comments start here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...omment-5744018

SeaUrchin

Wow, thanks YK, I don't know where I was during all of the first airings on TV. It is so interesting to read the background from the owners. I guess editing really chopped up the episode and showed them less knowledgeable. I know the house right in Praiano, I walk past it often. When I was looking at ruins the locals were saying a road was going to be built too and then laughed and said it had been going to be built for about 20 some years now. Yes, I couldn't have changed a thing on the exterior and the views were amazing. I'll have to look up my trip report and see if I wrote how many stairs there were. I know I have the photos I took somewhere in my camera. It was a lovely experience visiting the area high above the tourist route.
Neighbors came to watch me inspect the building. Nearby there was a ruin which had already been renovated into a beautiful villa so slowly this area is being discovered.

I would love to watch Rhonda's progress with the reno.

yk

Sorry, my typo above. Her name is Ronda, not Rhonda.

SeaUrchin

Help me Ronda! I want a villa in those hills too.

kybourbon

If you buy one, be sure to do it on House Hunters and we will all watch.

kybourbon

>>>Maybe I'll find a way to watch HGTV international and chuckle about how smart I am to live in a fully furnished rental.<<<

You can watch many of the shows on their website.

SeaUrchin

I wish I could find the photos, the kitchen had no ceiling, al fresco whether you liked it or not. Some of the inside the walls had mold and moss but with the high vaulted ceilings. In the biggest room there was a nice antique iron bed frame. The kitchen was stone counters and sink. We tried to walk downstairs but the floor was very iffy in that area so we walked in from the outside and yes there was hay and pitchforks lying around. The views were the same as Ronda's and it was a bargain I wish I had conquered my fears, at least with what I fantasize happening. I looked at other places too but the one on C dei M was the most interesting. Yes, I will contact HGTV next time, ha.

JoanneH

I love the show as well makes those days when things go wrong in ones life, a little fantasy and dreams.

rspears

Since that show was in 2006 how can we find out if they ever finished the house or how it is progressing? I'd love to see what it looks like now.

bxl4373

bookmarking

Karoljeanne

Did anyone hear how much they got the home for? I hope it was less than the list price!

Martin_Chamorro

Has there ever been an update to this episode showing the completed renovations? If so, is there a link online with pictures? I'm so curious to see how it turned out.

gailw

Count me in as another House Hunters International addict (at least when it's in Europe).
yk, thanks for the links above. can't wait to check them out.
gail