4 things reality TV gets wrong about real estate

Reality television shows featuring luxurious estates, perfectly staged rooms, exciting bidding wars and the buyer living happily ever after may inspire you to shop for your own dream home. However, these programs misrepresent real estate transactions in a number of ways. Here’s four of them.

1. You’ll find your dream home quickly
Some realtors are reporting that their clients are increasingly impatient when house hunting. Real estate television shows often limit themselves to three viewings. In reality, finding your dream home may mean looking at upwards of 20 different properties and may take more than a year.

2. You can afford your dream home
Many home improvement and real estate shows are filmed in areas with low property values and labor costs. Homebuyers are often shocked when they realize how much it’ll cost to buy or remodel a home.

3. Everything should be perfect
These reality shows create very high expectations on the part of prospective buyers, with many of them approaching sellers with a long list of deal breakers. Doing this is a good way to lose a bidding war or otherwise pass on a wonderful home.

4. Fixing up a house is easy
Keep in mind that television programs featuring fixer-uppers don’t show you the process of securing permits and hiring contractors. This can take months, and people often underestimate just how long, and how expensive, fixing up a house can be.

When trying to navigate the real estate market, unrealistic expectations can lead you astray. This is why working with a reliable realtor is so important, as they can help you articulate your needs, manage your expectations and find a home you’ll be proud to call your own.