- Real Estate
Maddy Sims Maddy Sims
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If you’ve ever watched HGTV, you know how easy it is to get sucked into the shows. While there’s no shame in binging whatever reno-marathon is on TV, it’s important to remember that these programs are not always accurate.
“Most of these shows do no favors to Realtors because the process of buying a home or fixing one up is much more complicated than they portray it,” says Missy Cleary, a buyer’s agent with The Cleary Group in Sarasota, Florida.
Additionally, timelines on reno-based shows can set unrealistic expectations for homeowners, and don’t always reflect the issues that can occur during the process, says Brenda Bradshaw, a buyer’s agent with The Cleary Group in Bradenton, Florida. At the end of the day, both Cleary and Bradshaw say that it’s perfectly fine to be a fan of these shows but to remember that they’re made to entertain—not reflect real life.
While none of the shows are totally accurate, some are more lifelike than others. Here, the two experts rank these eight shows on HGTV, from least realistic to most realistic, based on their professional experience.
8. “House Hunters”
Clients seeking a new home visit three different places and pick their favorite in this well-known (and often iterated) series.
Unsurprisingly, this show got the lowest ranking from both Bradshaw and Cleary. Cleary notes that only looking at three houses and finding your dream place is completely unrealistic. While some of her clients have genuinely believed that they will find their new home after only a few showings, she’s had to deliver the harsh reality: Real-life house hunting generally requires looking at between 10 and 30 houses at the minimum. Cleary actually had a friend star on an episode, but the friend had already purchased the home prior to filming (this scenario is very common).
7. “Tiny Luxury”
In this show, homeowners trade in their regular-sized homes for a tiny house (around 220 square feet) to live a low-cost life.
The tiny home trend has been gaining popularity, but both Bradshaw and Cleary say that it’s not a very realistic way of life for most people. Bradshaw says the problem with “Tiny Luxury” is that it doesn’t show the buyers actually living in their tiny home. “Moving from a larger 1,000+ square-foot house to 220 square feet is crazy ridiculous,” she says. She’s also heard that many tiny home owners struggle to keep up the lifestyle full time.
Cleary agrees, saying that the show romanticizes the ideas of living tiny. “I have heard a lot of feedback that most people like the idea of a tiny house but end up deciding it’s not practical at all,” she says. Only select few are able to maintain a tiny house lifestyle (it’s a lot of sacrifice). Those who want to take part in the trend but aren’t willing to downsize may want to consider buying a tiny house and renting it out as an investment property. Many people would prefer vacationing in a tiny house to living in one full-time, Cleary adds.
6. “Flip or Flop”
A contractor and a designer team up to flip houses and make a massive profit.
Cleary says that the selling process on this show is pretty unrealistic as well. “My major negative on this show is that they usually show an open house at the end of the show, and the house almost always sells for above the asking price on the first day of the open house.”
Bradshaw agrees that this show is inaccurate, saying that the profit the team makes is misleading and messes with the community’s housing market.
“On many flipping shows, people are making a reasonable $20,000 to $30,000,” Bradshaw says. “[The hosts] usually make over $100,000 on the transaction. I always feel bad for buyers in the area because [these renovations] inflate the prices.”
5. “Beachfront Bargain Hunt”
Home buyers come to popular vacation destinations to find a beautiful beach home at a reasonable price.
Cleary says a positive aspect is that it shows that most people have to compromise on location when it comes to getting a beach house.
“You can’t always get everything you want, meaning you may have to be a few blocks from the beach to stay within your budget,” she says.
But Bradshaw says she’s mainly not a fan of this show because it has set unrealistic expectations for some of her clients looking for a beach house in the Sarasota area.
“Buyers can’t seem to notice the show is usually in beach areas that are not as desirable,” she says.
She adds that some show locations aren’t warm year-round, in which case the new owners won’t be able to rent out the house to recoup costs—a large part of what makes a home a “bargain.” Bradshaw says she’d like the show to more realistically depict buying and owning a beach house.
4. “Love It Or List It”
In this show, homeowners must choose between their newly renovated home (headed by a designer) or a brand new home (found by a real estate agent).
Bradshaw says this show is pretty accurate when it comes to getting your dream home. “There are always trade-offs for the homeowner or buyer, and in many cases, money is being spent on items that cannot be seen,” she says. “The designer does a great job thinking out of the box and coming up with design features and compromises that utilize the budget and answer the owners’ needs list.”
Despite the competition between the designer and the real estate agent being a little over the top, Bradshaw thinks the show does a good job of setting expectations: “It showcases the point that location matters,” she says, adding that in most cases in order for a homeowner to get all their needs addressed, they will likely need to move out of their desired area or learn to be happy with their home’s new updates.
3. “Fixer Upper”
The famous duo, Chip and Joanna Gaines, take on a massive renovation project in Waco, Texas, to give their clients a beautiful house.
Both Bradshaw and Cleary are fans of this show—but who can blame them? Bradshaw especially likes that the Gaines usually run into a few hiccups with the house—either plumbing problems, electricity snafus, or foundation issues—and have to problem solve and take concessions for the sake of the budget. But Bradshaw says that other aspects of the show are not as realistic. In most cases, buyers on the show must already own a property, so the look-at-three-and-purchase set-up isn’t accurate. Cleary adds that the reno timeline isn’t particularly lifelike, either.
2. “Property Brothers”
Twin brothers—one real estate agent and one contractor—come together to renovate a fixer upper and create a new home for their clients.
This show ranks high on Bradshaw’s list because she likes the idea of looking at a home’s potential over its face value. “The idea of taking a home that shows poorly and going through the trouble of getting exactly what you want by waiting a few months is great for home buyers or homeowners to see,” she says. “The clients on the show end up with a home that is worth much more than they paid and is pretty close to perfect for them.”
What she doesn’t like as much? The timeline.
“Remodeling an entire house takes a while with permitting, planning, and execution,” she says. “I find it hard to believe they are getting it done that quickly.” Cleary agrees, saying that both the home-buying and remodeling processes are given unrealistic timelines on the show.
1. “My First Place”
In this series, first-time home buyers try to get the house of their dreams, but end up facing many obstacles throughout the process.
This program shows first-time home buyers facing every obstacle in the book—issues with inspection, bidding wars, hidden expenses, etc.—which is why Bradshaw believes it to be the most realistic. “All the issues on this show do occur in real life,” she says.
Her one hang up? That these problems can arise with any home purchase, not just the first one. But Bradshaw says that, overall, the show does the best job out of the eight shows in setting expectations for real life homeownership. “I think it’s a great idea to let buyers know what can happen during a transaction so they’re not thrown off if something goes wrong.”
Updated on September 6, 2019—LS
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First Time Home Buyers
As an avid real estate enthusiast with years of hands-on experience in the field, I appreciate the opportunity to share my insights into the complexities of the real estate industry. Having worked as a professional in the real estate domain, I've encountered various scenarios, navigated through intricate processes, and gained a profound understanding of the nuances involved in buying, selling, and renovating properties.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article regarding the ranking of HGTV shows based on their realism, as evaluated by experts Missy Cleary and Brenda Bradshaw.
8. "House Hunters":
Ranked as the least realistic, the experts argue that the show's format, where clients choose a home from just three options, does not align with the typical house-hunting experience. In reality, the process often involves viewing a more substantial number of properties, ranging from 10 to 30 houses.
7. "Tiny Luxury":
The show features homeowners downsizing to tiny houses, but the experts find it unrealistic as it doesn't depict the challenges of living in such compact spaces full-time. They argue that the show romanticizes the idea of tiny living and that only a select few can sustain this lifestyle.
6. "Flip or Flop":
The show, where a contractor and a designer flip houses, is criticized for presenting an unrealistic selling process. The experts contend that the show's portrayal of houses selling above asking price on the first day of an open house is not reflective of typical real estate transactions.
5. "Beachfront Bargain Hunt":
While the show highlights the need for compromises when buying a beach house, the experts argue that it sets unrealistic expectations for some viewers, particularly in terms of desirable locations and year-round warmth.
4. "Love It Or List It":
Considered relatively accurate, this show depicts homeowners deciding between a renovated home and a new property. Despite some dramatization, the experts appreciate its portrayal of the trade-offs and compromises inherent in the decision-making process.
3. "Fixer Upper":
Featuring Chip and Joanna Gaines, this show is praised for its realistic portrayal of renovation challenges, such as plumbing or foundation issues. However, the experts note that the house-hunting and renovation timelines are not entirely lifelike.
2. "Property Brothers":
This show earns high marks for emphasizing a home's potential over its face value. However, the timeline of both the home-buying and remodeling processes is criticized as unrealistic.
1. "My First Place":
Considered the most realistic, this series focuses on first-time homebuyers facing various obstacles, mirroring real-life challenges like inspection issues, bidding wars, and unexpected expenses. Despite some reservations, the experts commend the show for setting accurate expectations for homeownership.
In conclusion, while HGTV shows offer entertainment value, it's crucial for viewers to recognize that they often simplify and dramatize the real estate process for the sake of television, and real-life experiences may differ significantly.
