I just read an interesting, but hardly surprising, article from the Chicago Times Tribune called, In reality, those real estate shows are really fake. It talks about recording and rerecording those 'spontaneous' scenes when the purchasers decide which house to buy. It turns out that this is all scripted--well, duh!
This article is important, however, for the many naive want-to-be homeowners who believe that
what they see on television is the reality of buying, remodeling or building a home. Those shows, while extremely interesting, are mostly just entertainment. My husband is a builder and is constantly confronted with the misinformation that the public gets from these shows about construction and remodeling pricing. I am not sure where the shows purchase their materials--and the labor on those shows is generally free--but the costs they quote are often laughable in comparison to the costs in our market (admittedly, a more expensive market than many).
Reality television is big business. Real Estate is big business. Combine the two and it makes for some really great television. Just remember that real life is a lot messier and more complicated than what gets edited for 1/2 an hour of programming. If you want to know what it really takes to buy a house, seek out a knowledgeable Realtor® and they can set you on the right path--and with a realistic view of what it will take to find your perfect home.
This article is important, however, for the many naive want-to-be homeowners who believe that
what they see on television is the reality of buying, remodeling or building a home. Those shows, while extremely interesting, are mostly just entertainment. My husband is a builder and is constantly confronted with the misinformation that the public gets from these shows about construction and remodeling pricing. I am not sure where the shows purchase their materials--and the labor on those shows is generally free--but the costs they quote are often laughable in comparison to the costs in our market (admittedly, a more expensive market than many).Reality television is big business. Real Estate is big business. Combine the two and it makes for some really great television. Just remember that real life is a lot messier and more complicated than what gets edited for 1/2 an hour of programming. If you want to know what it really takes to buy a house, seek out a knowledgeable Realtor® and they can set you on the right path--and with a realistic view of what it will take to find your perfect home.
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This has been a constant source of irritation for me over many years. Clients regularly cite examples taken from the episodes of "real estate" TV programs as to how to buy property, or how to improve property, or how to flip property to make a huge profit. It drives me nuts.
Not all real estate agents are Realtors(r). I try to suggest that a knowledgeable real estate agent is the best bet. And you're right ... nothing is like the movies, or TV.
Holly,
It does create a false sense of what is real and what is manufactured and packaged as real. My favorite show to hate is the three young real estate sales boys in California, driving super high end autos, selling super high end properties and you never see anything that doesn't sell, the listing expire, the buyers back out, the seller goes nutty at the last minute, the financing falls the through, the home wont appraise, and the other myriad issues that crop up.
The "flipping" shows are even worse. That is why it falls on me to sit down and thoroughly interview and educate a prospect before they become a client.