November 18th marks the one year anniversary of a Hawaii Life episode that was aired on HGTV with yours truly and two of my most remarkable buyers. Many of you may watch HGTV and are familiar with the show about Hawaii that captures a buyer’s experience and the process they go through when purchasing real estate in Hawaii. It is seen in front of millions of viewers worldwide and has just been renewed for an additional season of 14 episodes coming up soon. I revisited with my clients Linda and Matt Raynier from Toronto, Canada to gather their insight on what it was like to be on this very special real estate reality show about Hawaii. Keep reading to see excerpts from my interview with them.
Can You Describe the Process of How You Were Chosen for the Show? Why Do You Think They Chose You?
Being chosen for the show was a surprise for us! We were approached by you to ask if we were interested, and we immediately said yes since we always loved watching the show! After answering some questions about ourselves and interviewing with the production agency, we were chosen to film during the next season. While we’re not certain the exact reasons we were chosen, we suspect that our unique backgrounds and enthusiasm for Hawaii living were key reasons why we were chosen.
Once You Got to Hawaii (and Even Before), What Kind of Preparation Did You Do to Prepare for Filming?
Preparing for filming was relatively easy; we had to make sure we had appropriate outfits since we had some outdoor activities planned as well as the house tours. We also met with the production crew before filming to get a feel for what filming would be like and so we could get to know them. They were a great crew and fun to work with.
Linda relaxing with her French Bulldog, Tofu, in between filming.
Can You Describe Briefly What Filming Was Like? Was It Your First Experience Working With a Film Production Crew?
This was our first time working with a production crew like this. It was interesting peek behind the curtain to see how much work goes into filming a single episode. It was a lot of fun working with the team, but we were also exhausted after one day of filming alone!
Did You Have a Script, or Did You Just Speak Freely During Filming?
We were encouraged to speak freely during filming and express exactly what we were thinking. This was harder than it sounds as it is slightly unnatural to always speak your thoughts as opposed to keeping them to yourself and only vocalizing when needed. Eventually, we did get used to it, but it did give us greater appreciation for those who have been on the show in the past.
One of the locations where filming took place, was their new home in Hawaii Kai.
What Was Your Favorite Part About Filming for the Show?
We loved the activities we got to take part in during filming as they were unique and something we likely wouldn’t have done on our own if not for the filming. It was also really fun just hanging out with the crew all day and getting to learn more about how shows like these are filmed and what it’s like working in that industry.
Anything Else You Want to Add About the Experience You Had Been in the Show?
One thing we really appreciate about being on the show is that it gives us the opportunity to always go back and remind ourselves what the home buying experience in Hawaii was like. It’s nice to have this episode so we can always have something to help us remember this experience.
Celebrating with extended family at their new Hawaii home.
How Did the Show Impact Your Life?
One thing that was fun about being on the show was the number of people who reached out to us after it aired to tell us they saw us on TV! We didn’t realize how many people we knew were avid watchers of the show, so it was great to be able to share our experience with those friends and family members.
What’s the Best Thing You Like About Having Your Home in Hawaii?
Having a home in Hawaii has been amazing because it’s helped us spend more time in nature and live a lifestyle that’s less focused on the rat race of living in a big city. It’s also been really nice to have a home where we can host friends and family who want to visit us and experience Hawaii!
The stunning view of Maunalua Bay from the lanai of their home.
Both Matt and Linda are business professionals that have the unique opportunity to run their business working from home, which gives them an opportunity to live as world travelers spending part of their time in Toronto and the other part of the year at their second home in Hawaii. Linda owns a very successful online career coaching business where she consults with and trains business professionals on acquiring the skills to win job interviews and be successful in the corporate world. Matt is a high-level executive for a bank in Canada and oversees an international team. To learn more about Linda Raynier’s online career coaching business you can go to this link!
If you are a buyer of real estate in Hawaii or plan to buy and are interested in being considered for the show, reach out to me to learn more at this email.
