HGTV may make for captivating television, but today we’re going to explain why it’s important not to take all your real estate lessons from this network.
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HGTV is great. I watch it all the time myself, and I’m sure many of you are fans of the network, too. That said, this popular channel has gone beyond entertainment and has begun to leave buyers, sellers, and homeowners in our market with unrealistic expectations for their real estate goals.
First, there’s the matter of renovation financing. The simple truth is that not all of us have the same budget as Chip and Joanna Gaines. Even if an HGTV host claims to be working within a budget that might be attainable for your average person, they fail to mention how much behind-the-scenes work goes into making the pieces fall into place.
There are renovation loans out there, but these are generally intended to be used for bringing a home up to a livable standard per its neighborhood—not for taking out the kitchen wall to open up a property’s floor plan.
“Real estate is much more complex than HGTV may make it seem.”
Expectations related to price and condition, in general, are also misrepresented by these popular renovation shows. When purchasing a home, the best approach is to emphasize the things you can’t change about it over the things you can. Things like floor plan and location, for example. Don’t get too caught up in all the renovations you could make when you’re looking for the perfect property.
It isn’t just buying and selling that HGTV misrepresents, however. They also make real estate investing look much simpler than it is. In particular, HGTV programs make house flipping seem glamorous and easy.
In reality, house flipping is risky business. It’s an easy way to lose money if you don’t understand what you’re doing—which, if your sole exposure to the pursuit is through HGTV, you probably don’t.
Overall, the important thing to remember is that real estate is much more complex than HGTV makes it seem. Instead of taking all your lessons from the television, it’s best to consult with a real estate professional when you’re considering buying, selling, investing in, or even renovating a home.
If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give my team or me a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
