Page 27 - Real Estate Now Sept-Oct 2022

nearly anything. While there’s no denying it can feel empowering to take matters into our own hands, not all projects
should be left to DIY.

You may watch Trading Spaces and feel motivated to redo your own living room in one weekend, but it’s important
to remember the DIYers on these shows only do some of the work you see on camera. The producers almost always
place professionals on set to supervise or actually do the work off camera to help supervise and expedite the process.
If your project is more complex than a superficial change, such as painting or landscaping, you should consider hiring
a professional. They’ll help you avoid irreparable damage and protect you from injuries.

Misconception No. 3: Custom built will last longer
Shows like Custom Built, which ran for one season
in 2015, highlight just that—custom building. It’s
true custom furniture offers unlimited opportunity
and you won’t see your pick in another home,
but this always doesn’t mean it’ll be better than
an in-store find. Just like anything when it comes
to home renovations, quality comes from good
craftsmanship and patience.

“[My room] looked so pretty, they decorated it to
look like a fairy woodland with huge tree murals on
the walls and a night sky of stars hanging from the
ceiling,” claimed someone who participated in one
of these home renovation shows in the early 2000s.
“But it held up really badly, all the murals on the
wall peeled off and it looked bad pretty quickly.”
So how can you help ensure you’re choosing the right professional, specifically when it comes to custom furniture?
• Do your research.
• Set up consultations with designers.
• Compare prices.
• Ask for references or a portfolio of work and consider any reviews.
• If a company has a showroom near you, go for a visit to get a sense of what the quality of their products are like.
• If your custom piece is made out of wood, be sure to pick the right wood for the climate you live in.

Misconception No. 4: Your flipped home will always sell
We’ve seen brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott, stars of Property Brothers, transform fixer-uppers into dream homes
over and over again. Not only does flipping a home seem fun on TV, but the end also comes with rewards. Property
value goes up and the flipped home sells in record time. Is this always the case? It may not be.

According to people who have been on or worked on these shows, homes being transformed are not always located
in high-value neighbourhoods which can make them harder to sell (at least at the anticipated price).
Before you begin a renovation or flipping project, you should have a good understanding of the market where
you want to buy—the history, neighbourhood trends, average sale prices, amenities, and more. You’ll also want to
understand how your renovation costs and intended sales price intersect and whether they align with your particular
housing market. A local REALTOR® will have the market data, real estate knowledge, and professional insights on
contractors to help you along the way.

Even though these shows may take some liberties when it comes to what they air about the design and construction
process, the inspiration they provide is anything but inaccurate! ■

www. CowichanHomesForSale.ca | REAL ESTATE NOW | 27