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NEW OR VINTAGE? from page 49
The Bortnicks
with daughter,
Ellie
Jeff and Michelle
Bortnick's episode of House
Hunters debuts 10 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18 on
HGTV. Visit hgtv.com for
a complete schedule of
additional airings.
tural blueprint. "You can still have
charm in a new house," Jeff adds.
Curious to know what they
chose? Tune in to HGTV on
March 18, when the couple's
home-buying experience will be
featured in an episode of reality-
TV show House Hunters.
A guy who didn't even like
being in front of the camera at his
own wedding, Jeff was cajoled by
Michelle and Bitove into send-
ing in an audition video to House
Hunters.
"We made a video of us show-
ing off my expertise in new-home
construction — plus our person-
alities" says Jeff. "There was some
friendly squabbling to show off
our differing opinions and tastes
in what we want in a home," says
Jeff. "Lou was also included to
be my ally in trying to convince
Michelle that she wanted a newer
home. Within days, I couldn't
believe it, but they called us back
to tell us they were sending out a
filming crew from L.A."
Jeff says he appreciated his
business partner tagging along for
the filming.
"Lou was the voice of reason,"
says Jeff. "He kept asking Michelle
if she was worried about mold
in older homes, and wouldn't
she like a shiny new home much
more?"
Michelle said that bringing
a camera crew along for three
weeks last August while looking
at homes was not always, "but
mostly a lot of fun.
"They took a lot of time adjust-
ing their equipment to get just the
right kind of light, but the crew
was a lot of fun and they kept us
laughing:'
Although the timing coincided
with one of the worst floods in the
area's history, "the flood did not
become part of the episode," says
Jeff. "To stay true to the feel of
House Hunters, where sometimes
you don't even know what city or
town a show is shot in, the focus
is always on the characteristics
and qualities of the property:'
With experience working for
new-home builders, including the
Toll Brothers and Centex Homes,
Bitove (left) shows Jeff
and Michelle a home in
Huntington Woods on
House Hunters.
Jeff can look past a bad paint
color to determine a home's worth
and livability
"I think we were chosen to be
on the show because I can look at
a home's structure. If I don't like
a layout, I [know which walls]
could come down [to create] a
more open plan:'
Michelle's favorite part of the
experience was the fact that the
camera crew filmed her daughter's
earliest forays in walking.
"We now have this time capsule
of our daughter walking with a
big smile through our empty new
home:' ❑
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