Friday, January 09, 2015

Dangers of Real Estate T.V.

Call it a busman's holiday, but I enjoy watching real estate shows on t.v.  To a point.  They also worry me because, while you can pick up some good ideas on renovating and how real estate works, you can also be misled.  A couple examples:


Putting in or receiving an offer on a home does not make it sold!  (Except in the VERY, VERY rare instances of a subject free offer.)  So, when the cute guy comes along and based on a verbal acceptance of a buyer's offer price, asks who wants to put the sold sign up -- well, that's just phoey.  (You understand "phoey" is a polite term for something you don't want to step in.)


Ditto the drama encouraged in those shows about the way clients speak to their Realtor or renovator.  Again, except in VERY, VERY rare circumstances where it might be justified, it's also just phoey.


I can tell you truly Realtors understand much of what we do involves working with people under stressful conditions.  This does not mean most would carry on with an abusive client.  No way, no how.


Also, no Realtor in their right mind would show a client a home 300,000 above their spending limit as a reality check.  Are you kidding me?  "Let me show you something you can't get, so you will hate everything you can afford."  I don't think so.


Another reality check.  Renovators are VERY, VERY rarely designers!  You're going to be lucky to have all the sawdust and gyp rock dust gone.  Don't expect that you're going to come home to a staged, designer produced "reveal."


So, enjoy the shows, enjoy the homes....but understand these shows are designed as entertainment not documentaries!

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