Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV binge session? We’ve all been there, watching entire seasons of shows like “Property Brothers,” “Fixer Upper,” and “Love It or List It,” all in one sitting.
When you’re in the middle of your real estate-themed TV show marathon, you might start to think everything you see on the screen must be how it works in real-life. However, we may need a reality check...
First off Realtors work a lot! Some shows make it look like the real estate agent
has a super easy job. Your clients might need a reminder of everything you do to get them into their dream home, from finding the right properties to negotiating contracts to preparing for closing.
Secondly, a "dream home" will never be perfect. Most of these shows have sponsors who provide all the newest materials and finishes, leading some buyers to think they must check off all their "must-haves" before landing on a property.
Renovating is expensive and some of these shows can make it seem like home
renovation projects can be completed for little money and little time. We encourage our clients to meet with a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor before committing to a big project.
Here are 5 Myth Busters regarding HGTV Real Estate:
Myth #1: Buyers look at 3 homes and decide to purchase one of them. There may be buyers who fall in love and buy the first home they see, but according to the National Association of Realtors, the average homebuyer tours 10 homes as a part of their search.
Myth #2: The houses the buyers are touring are still for sale. Everything is staged for TV. Many of the homes shown are already sold and are off the market.
Myth #3: The buyers haven’t made a purchase decision yet. Since there is no way to show the entire buying process in a 30-minute show, TV producers often choose buyers who are further along in the process and have already chosen a home to buy.
Myth #4: If you list your home for sale, it will ALWAYS sell at the open house. Of course, this would be great! Open houses are important to guarantee the most exposure to buyers in your area, but they are only one piece of the overall marketing of your home. Keep in mind, many homes are sold during regular showing appointments as well.
Are Open Houses effective? That depends a lot on location.
Myth #5: Homeowners decide to sell their homes after a 5-minute conversation. Similar to the buyers portrayed on the shows, many of the sellers have already spent hours deliberating the decision to list their homes and move on with their lives and goals.
While the property-themed real estate TV shows are entertaining to watch, it’s vital to remember what you’re seeing on TV isn’t an exact portrayal of real-life. It’s hard to fit what truly happens into a 30- or 60-minute time slot.
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