Bad News: Your Life Isn’t an HGTV Show
Millions of people have been totally charmed with HGTV shows like Fixer Upper, Renovation Raiders, or Love It or List It. How can you not be? In about forty-five minutes, a house goes from drab and awkward to fabulous and functional.
You can’t help but start thinking “Gee. Why can’t I do that?” because it looks so easy on TV. Well, let me stop you right there.
My name is Monica, and I know the truth about major remodeling projects. They are not for DIYers, or even the faint of heart because they are dirty, invasive, time-consuming and expensive…especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Unfortunately, the sad thing about reality home improvement TV shows is that they often make remodeling look quick, easy, and affordable. Plus, those TV ads do a great job of convincing you that you can do anything, but these ads are run by companies that want to sell you building materials.
Remodeling is not a project suited for flying by the seat of your pants or starting on a whim because you were inspired by a TV show. Successful remodeling projects require extensive planning, months of time, and, depending on the scope of your remodel, a big chunk of change. Most importantly, it requires a great deal of your mental and emotional energy.
How do I know this? I’m a construction manager who has overseen the successful completion of dozens of remodeling projects for my clients. I got into the business of remodeling for a deeply personal reason: my mother got worked over by a remodeling “expert,” and it broke my heart. Unfortunately, she didn’t know what she didn’t know, which made her vulnerable to manipulation by contractors. As a result, I’m fully committed to helping anyone understand how the remodeling process works from the contractor’s perspective.
Clearly planning your remodel, selecting the right contractors, and understanding what should be happening every step of the way can save you time, money, energy, and heartache. Can you believe that almost one-third of construction delays are caused by homeowner changes which can crank up the final costs by 50% or more. It’s also estimated that 80% of expensive homeowner changes are the result of poor initial planning, poor contractor selection, and ineffective communication. The good news is that all of these things are preventable, if you know what to look for.
This blog is a no-nonsense guide to managing renovations from start to finish. If you follow my suggestions here and in my book, Remodel Success, your house can become the home you’ve always dreamed of–on time and on budget.
Deborah Kidd Mazzamauro
August 27, 2017 1:00 pmFinally the real truth. I have had several homes, and have repainted and retouched up them but it took years to get where I was satisfied.
Monica D. Higgins
September 2, 2017 7:01 amHi Deborah – Thanks for sharing! While it may have taken years, the good news is you got to a point where you were satisfied.
Rob Walker
September 17, 2017 8:52 pmHallelujah. I couldn’t agree more, from the unrealistic expectations set by reality television, to the importance of pre-construction planning, to the impact of team dynamics (owner-architect-contractor). Well said. Thank you for your efforts – it helps all of us trying to do the right thing.
Monica D. Higgins
September 25, 2017 3:27 amHi Rob – Thanks for sharing! I do what I do because at the end of the day all of us (homeowners, architects and contractors) want the same thing…a successful remodeling project.
Ron Klassen
September 20, 2017 1:17 pmWell put, Monica. I’m the head of a remodeling firm myself. You nailed it here. Slogans like, “You can do it, we can help”, combined with the TV shows you list, have deceived too many. There is no 5, 10, or 60-minute replacement for the work of a trade professional with years of experience & training.
Would you want your doctor to prescribe potentially dangerous medication based on a 3-minute YouTube video?
Monica D. Higgins
September 25, 2017 3:31 amHi Ron – I hope the medical profession doesn’t succumb to that. What many homeowners don’t realize is that it takes hours of work by a skilled trade professional to get down to the edited 5, 10, or 60-minutes they see on TV.
J L Franco
September 21, 2017 7:48 amSo true! I am a licensed general contractor, specializing in residential remodeling. It is frightening to learn how many people out there think they are capable of taking on home improvement projects because they learned all there is to know on a DIY show.
I’ve been doing this work for 30 plus years and I am constantly learning new ways to do a task better or come across a situation that can only be addressed by having the proper experience and training. If I watched a 30 minute show about hair stylists I doubt that anyone would allow me to cut their hair even though it will grow back. But tearing up and modifying your biggest financial investment with no experience sounds exciting?
Monica D. Higgins
September 25, 2017 3:42 amHi J L – When it comes to DIY, many homeowners:
– Over estimate their motivation beyond cost
– Don’t consider the real cost of DIY in terms of their time commitment, as well as their investment in tools and knowledge
– Don’t foresee the potential for a project turning into a money pit because they lack the skills and experience to do the job right the first time
– Don’t think about insurance considerations (i.e. whether an insurance claim would be paid as a result of a hazard caused by their negligence, or lack of skills or experience).
R Nielsen
October 6, 2017 7:37 pmWhat an excellent article. I also think these types of shows should be upfront and honest with the products they use on the shows. Case in point…hot water re-circulating pumps that install at the water heater and use a ‘normally open’ thermostatic valve connected between the hot and cold water lines under the sink. Thermostatic valves open and close based on water temperature. Since these valves close ‘after’ hot water reaches the sink, it also means they remain open anytime hot water is not at the sink, something people fail to consider. Having an open valve between your hot and cold water lines results in hot water line siphoning anytime there is a pressure differential between the lines. Flushing a toilet, watering the lawn, etc…drops the water pressure throughout the cold water line causing water from the hot water line (and water heater) to siphon into the cold water line. I never thought I’d see the day when the act of flushing a toilet or watering your lawn would place demand on your water heater and be an acceptable trade-off for convenience. A hot water recirculation system using a normally “closed” valve that opens only when pumping occurs eliminates these problems.
PS… Could you do a similar story based on TV cooking shows… our home television seems to be stuck on the FoodNetwork channel way too often.
Monica D. Higgins
October 8, 2017 12:57 amThanks R. Home improvement TV shows are definitely an opportunity to educate consumers about the products that are used on the shows. While I love to eat, cooking is not my thing. So, I won’t be writing any articles on TV cooking shows. 🙂