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Published February 11, 2022
LiveMARYLAND: The Real Reality of Home Renovations
An honest approach to the reality of reality show home renovations: it’s not all sunshine, rainbows, and perfectly-time reveals! No matter what type of update you’re making to your home, there's usually a mess in its wake. So if you're thinking of tackling your own renovation, make sure you sit down, do your research and planning, and know what you're getting into.
TV vs Reality home reno edition:
THE SITE — The “big reveal” in reality renovation shows is almost enough to get you jumping off your couch and on your way to your local hardware store. In reality, the TV networks hire local cleaning crews and home stagers with multitudes of extra hands to make the renovated home appear perfect for that “big reveal.” The truth is, the process gets pretty messy for anyone who isn’t renovating their house for an audience. If you’re planning a renovation, be sure to include time and help with demolition, clean-up work,shifting items from other rooms or moving in and out of storage.
COST/BUDGET — The actual cost to renovate your home to match what you see on TV or online is one of the biggest misconceptions. That stainless steel french door fridge made by Wolf costs $10,000, and that farmhouse sink from Kohler starts at $1,000. Sit down with your contractor. Be realistic about your budget and set a contingency line for 10-20% of the projected costs — it will cost more than you expect and surprises WILL come up.
TIMING — The renovations you see on TV that happen over a week or even just a few days are the result of extensive editing and 24-hour workdays. This is not realistic. Expect that it will probably take longer than you originally planned, especially with all of the shortages in materials and labor we are currently experiencing.
Do you have a plan and know what you can afford? It’s important to find a good, trustworthy contractor to complete your renovation. It is critical that you do your research, ask for references, and interview a few contractors to find the best fit. If you need some recommendations or guidance on where to start, reach out to us and we’ll send you a copy of our LiveMARYLAND Directory of Home Search Professionals.
