How Accurate Are HGTV Shows, From A Home Stager’s Perspective

Are HGTV Shows Accurate, According to a Home Staging Expert?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the home buyer on one of the popular HGTV shows? How accurate are HGTV shows?

The shows include an occasional hiccup in the process, but in the end, you know buyers will love their choice in a home or the finished remodel. But what goes on between the camera shots? Is it really that easy?

Let’s take a few peeks behind the curtain to see what the process is like in real life.

House Hunters – Comparing One Home to Another

Have you ever watched these episodes and thought, “I would keep looking”? When these programs first started, the buyer always chose one of the three options presented to them. Eventually, the producers realized that a predictable outcome wasn’t in the best interests of the show. Now, on occasion, the buyers will decide against all the options presented and wait to find exactly the right property. This is realistic home buyer behavior.

In real life, buyers coming to view your house or condo will compare your home with dozens of other properties, not just two or three. It is easy enough for a buyer to remember the positive and negative points of three real estate showings. For your home to stick in the mind of a buyer, after seeing multiple homes, you really need to hit a home run in your presentation. Here’s a funny video critique of House Hunters.

Love It or List It – The Difference a Designer Makes

This is the show that always makes me chuckle on the final reveal to the owners. The most common statement you hear is: “I can’t believe this is the same house!” Yes, the remodel has greatly improved the looks and functionality of the home. But, that isn’t what gives the “wow” factor.

Fresh cut flowers on the dining table, the perfect décor pieces on the mantel, books arranged neatly on the shelves, the perfect throw rug to accent the new office – it’s all about the details. Without the final staging (which is likely to be removed after the show), the home would not be nearly as inviting and impressive to the home owner or the viewer.

I find timelines and budgets on this show are unrealistic – in the estimate and for the final reveal. No way you can remodel an entire house in 3 or 4 weeks (including pulling permits and inspections) or do it for $50K or $60K.

If You Want to Sell Your Home at the Right Price – Stage It

All these shows demonstrate one key component in impressing buyers and homeowners – excellence in staging. At Moving Mountains Design, we know all the work that goes into the final presentation of these projects. Selecting all the right pieces to fully stage a home takes a lot of time and a great eye for design. Coordinating trucks and delivery and actually staging take a lot of energy and effort.

Does it really make that much of a difference on a sale? Every realtor I have worked with will give an emphatic, “Yes.” Professional staging will help a property sell faster and at a higher price point than one without that extra polish. In the last 6 months of 2019, the homes we staged that sold were on the market an average of only 12 days!

Moving Mountain Designs isn’t just another staging resource. Our designers and assistants each specialize in a specific area of the home. We work together as a team to creative a cohesive flow from the front door to the back patio. Contact us today to learn how we can help you sell your home faster and for more money.