It's been over a year since Selling Sunset aired on Netflix. It's been so successful that they gave us two more seasons, and fans are eager for the next one to start. While we wait for the extravagant ladies and the lavish LA homes to come back to our screens, we can learn more about how the show is made.
The cast of Selling Sunset and the cut-throat business they're in is central to the show's success. The show is very much real: the crew swings by to catch what goes on in their lives on camera without giving them any scripts. But that doesn't mean that the women can do as they please. There are several rules they have to respect in order to make the show as compelling and bingeable as it is.
10 They Are Told To Just Be Themselves
The first seemingly simple rule that the cast of Selling Sunset has to follow is to just be themselves. The creators refuse to make them follow scripts or to pretend to be something they're not. Unlike the cast of The Real Housewives who follow a completely different set of rules, they did not audition for their roles.
Working in a luxurious real estate agency such as the Oppenheim Group, it's essential that realtors are master communicators. Those very same skills come in handy in the world of reality TV as well. Since there is quite a bit of pretending in the LA culture itself, it's hard to say how honest these women actually are. After all, the city is filled with actors and entertainers of all sorts who make a living by putting up a front.
9 Respecting The Privacy Of Other Realtors
There is more staff at the Oppenheim Group than the show would have us believe. The cast was asked to leave them out of their TV-related drama. There are four other employees who work for the company, but they are not in the series.
Considering how involved the cast is in each other's lives, it makes for a peculiar work environment when four staff members are simply cruising along while others are at each other's necks.
8 They Can't Take Days Off As They Please
The cast might have amassed an enviable net worth, but that doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. They might run the show, but they're not the ones in charge. The cast is used to working tirelessly and they don't get a day off anytime they want. Sometimes, more money means more responsibility.
On the day of her wedding, Mary Fitzgerald sold a multi-million mansion while getting her hair done. The commissions are high, so taking a day off might literally cost them a fortune. When season 2 was wrapped up, they went right ahead and started working on season 3.
7 They Have To Do Their Own Hair And Make-Up
While the contestants of The Bachelor have revealed that they don't really have a say in much of what goes on in the show, Netflix encourages the Selling Sunset cast to co-create the show, original hair and makeup included. It's not like these fabulous realtors would otherwise turn up looking tired and overly casual, but it would definitely be nice if they had a perk most TV shows offer to their cast.
It's especially Christine who takes great pride in looking on point, be it on television or on Instagram. She has her own stylist, but knows how to do makeup like a professional herself as well.
6 Not Every Husband Is Welcome On Set
While Mary's relationship with Romain is often the talk of the table, some women don't or can't bring their partners on the show. Heather is dating Tarek El Moussa, but he can't make an appearance in the series because he signed a contract with a competitor. He has his own show, called Flipping 101 that also revolves around selling houses.
Chrishell's ex Justin Hartley also never made an appearance. Since he broke up with the star of the show via a text, it's safe to say he is bad at showing up even when he is expected to.
5 No Base Salary For Them
Girls often bicker when one steals another one's sale or when clients communicate with two realtors at a time. The reason why they can't just let that stuff go is that they rely solely on sales to make a living.
They don't have a base salary, which is a pretty unsettling rule. The nature of the job is actually very precarious, but since the commissions are so high, they generate an insane amount of income.
4 No Say In How The Crew Edits The Takes
In order for a reality TV show to be watchable, there have to be people that fans root for and people that no one can stand. Selling Sunset is no different. Certain women are more prone to conflicts and catty remarks, and the crew makes sure to put those at the forefront to keep the show alive.
The cast had to sign contracts with Netflix. The streaming company probably has rights to do what they please with what they catch on cameras.
3 The Crew Doesn't Get It All In One Take
Selling Sunset relies heavily on shots of beautiful scenery, high-end LA homes, and the lifestyles of the affluent realtors. It's not just about gossip and drama, which is why the series was so successful in the first place.
In order to get those fantastic shots that make us drool, the crew often has to re-take shots. That means that the girls have to do a whole lot of walk-ins and walk-aways before they get it right.
2 They Have To Generate Drama Themselves
If all the women were as agreeable as Maya or Chrishell, the show would have a completely different aura. The feuds and conflicts aren't scripted: the women are encouraged to come up with their own ways of making the show watchable.
These women all have really busy lives, trying to juggle their careers, partners, and friendships. They really don't have to try too hard to run into a tumultuous situation of some sort.
1 They Need To Have A License
The Oppenheim brothers had stated over and over again that the women on the show are all licensed realtors. Many fans know Chrishell from the famous soap operas and they never knew she also got certified to be a realtor sometime along the way.
Selling Sunset is ultimately a show that offers us a peak into a wealthy real estate agency. If things look fake, it's not because of Netflix, it's because it's LA.