Home improvement TV programs, such as Property Brothers, Fixer Upper, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Love It or List It, can be indulging. The shows’ grand reveals, exquisite finishes, grateful smiles and occasional drama can get you hooked on a marathon session of entertaining reality TV.
Although these programs have changed thousands of people’s lives for the better, they can also be misleading. They give television viewers unrealistic expectations of what they can achieve with renovating, staging, purchasing and selling a residential property.
Here are a few secrets that these shows never tell you:
1. Homeowners Don’t Always Get to Keep the Fancy Décor and Furniture
The gorgeous rugs, planters, furnishings and other décor pieces that fill and transform a room aren’t always for keeps. Many home makeover shows end with a before and after, with the old and boring furniture replaced with expensive and costly décor.
The property owners may have an opportunity to buy the décor, but many usually don’t have enough cash in their pockets to allow for the purchase. If a homeowner, for instance, wanted to keep the barn door that the show ordered from a top-quality barnwood store, but they lack the money for this upgrade, this feature won’t likely stay after the renovation.
2. Property Owners Don’t Have Control Over the Result
If you sign up to appear on a home makeover or improvement show, you’ll need to remember that you won’t have full control over every bit of remodeling detail. The TV producers and staff are the ones calling the shots. All you could do is to air your concerns to the hosts and contractors – and hope that things will turn out as wonderful as it appears on television.
3. Remodeling Doesn’t Happen in an Instant
Many home improvement programs on TV make renovations look like they’re happening overnight. The show, for instance, may feature a team renovating a whole kitchen in just a matter of hours. As a result, some property owners are baffled as when they get the news that their dream home project will take several weeks to complete.
What you fail to see in these reality shows is the behind-the-scenes effort. Home makeover programs depicting lightning-fast remodeling projects likely have about 30 individuals working round-the-clock to meet the deadline. Expect your renovation project to take a lot longer than you see on television.
4. TV Shows Do Virtual Home Staging
Home staging isn’t exactly a well-kept secret of home improvement shows on HGTV. It’s a well-known practice among homeowners and professionals in the real estate industry.
What HGTV isn’t telling you is that the home staging you’re seeing on screen is done virtually. They use computerized models to make a residential property appear more put-together. If they wanted to, they can even paint and edit the grass during post-production to make it look lusher. When you hear people say that the grass is greener on the other side, this may be the result of Photoshop over good, old fertilizer and water.
5. Repairs for the New Stuff Can Get Costly
If something goes wrong with the fancy furniture, appliances and other stuff, the show may not be the one shouldering the expense. Appliance repairs, for instance, can cost the property owner hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you sign up for a home makeover show, make sure that you have extra cash lying around to pay for unexpected breakdowns or damages when the contractors leave.
6. Your Energy and Maintenance Costs Can Rise
The changes that the home improvement shows make on your home could affect your energy bills. Many programs tend to add and promote energy-efficient appliances in the remodel. Energy efficiency, however, does not necessarily translate to less energy. You could end up paying more on electricity costs.
What’s more, if the show gives you a remodel that requires upkeep, such as landscaping, you’ll need to spend money on maintenance. Even if you decide to take the DIY approach, you’ll probably need to shell out some money on supplies.
7. The Show Ramps Up the Drama for the Ratings
Home makeover reality shows are programs designed to entertain the viewers. If the producers feel that your story for remodeling your home is boring and overdone, they’ll require you to agree to a “made-up reason” that will get audiences hooked. So be prepared to crank up the drama to produce an emotional attachment for viewers.
Home makeover shows may be fun to watch, but you need to remember that what you see is mostly smoke and mirrors. Think carefully before you go on this type of reality show.