Page 26 - Real Estate Now Sept-Oct 2022

The Reality of Home Improvement Shows

courtesy REALTOR.ca Team
here’s a certain something about home renovation shows that keeps us glued to the TV. They provide us with
inspiration for current or future projects (Fixer Upper). They tell stories that tug at our heartstrings (Extreme
TMakeover: Home Edition). They also give us hope that even the most demanding renovations can be completed
in a blink of an eye (Property Brothers).
We often see rooms or even entire houses get transformed in what seems to be a matter of days, and the final reveal
always appears perfect. How do contractors on these home renovation shows manage to wrap up projects so quickly
without issues? How do they obtain permits without delays? Do their renovations stand the test of time? Will the
updates actually increase the value of the property? Will the flipped property sell?
The reality is many home renovation shows can set unrealistic expectations if you’re looking to buy, remodel, or flip
a home and are depending on the work being done at rapid speeds, without any issues, and on (an often modest)
budget. Surely, with the help of trusted professionals, you can avoid delays on your renovations, budget creep, and
errors. However, if you think you can flip a house overnight, your reality might not look as rosy as it does on TV.

Let’s look at four misconceptions about home renovation shows and how what you see on camera translates to real
life.

Misconception No. 1: You can renovate in record time
Let’s start with the most common misconception home renovation shows can perpetuate: speed. You can absolutely
get a project done fast, but usually not in the amount of time these shows make it seem. We often don’t see the
behind-the-scenes chaos that makes what appears on TV look like it happened in a jiffy. Even HGTV admitted to
sometimes playing fast and loose with timelines for the sake of entertainment.
“When we’re telling a real estate or renovation story for television, we may abridge and adjust timelines to help
manage production and time constraints,” HGTV said in a statement to Kiplinger. “In some cases, a program is a
competition series or a crazy experiment designed to play out the ‘what if’ fantasy of our viewers. Today’s viewers
are savvier than ever and know the development of an entertaining program does require the occasional use of a
creative license.”
So what’s a realistic timeline? Well, that depends on the size and complexity of your home reno project. It could take
a few weeks for a small project to be properly completed. For a major home makeover, it may take between nine and
18 months, according to Tom Cumming, President and Owner of the custom home building company Severn Woods
Fine Homes.
This time-frame often takes into account delays caused by
factors outside our control, such as weather, availability of
supplies, and unexpected damages or issues uncovered in
demolition. Overall, the phased process involves laying out
the plans for the project (depending on the scope of the
project, you may need to start with an architect or engineer),
finding a designer or contractor and/or builder, obtaining
permits, coordinating with subcontractors or trades, and then
doing the actual renovation. These are all important steps you
rarely see on reality shows, which often (and understandably)
fast-forward to the “glamourous” portions.

Misconception No. 2: You don’t need professionals
Shows like Save My Reno and Trading Spaces do a great job of emphasizing how there’s a do-it-yourself solution for

26 | REAL ESTATE NOW | LB@LoraleeBurns.com