And while these scenarios play out regularly on shows like “Love It or List It,” “Property Brothers,” “House Hunters” and “Fixer Upper,” there are some area real estate, building, and design professionals who believe that those who buy into HGTV (Home & Garden Television) reality shows like these need a reality check.

“It’s an interesting situation because HGTV home renovation shows have gotten homeowners more excited about doing renovations, but at the same time, there are fewer people with the skill sets necessary to do the work,” said Sheryle DeGirolamo, a broker and owner of Kensington Real Estate Brokerage in Attleboro and Boston.

Often times, expectations — especially those of younger, first-time homebuyers — are too high, she said.

“With some, the last house they lived in was their parents’ second or third house, and they are looking for a house like Mom and Dad’s,” DeGirolamo said. “They don’t think about the fact that their parents’ first home was probably nothing like the one they live in now.”

Patrice O’Neil, an agent at ReMax Real Estate Center in North Attleboro and Foxboro, said that she, too, has clients who “want everything ready to rock ’n’ roll in their first home” with must-haves like granite countertops, kitchen islands, hardwood floors and other pricey aesthetic amenities.

“It’s all tied to (home shows on) HGTV. People — including me — are hooked on it,” she admitted, joking that she’s even “given thought to moving to Waco, Texas,” home to Chip and Joanna Gaines of “Fixer Upper” fame.

“Unfortunately, costs in Massachusetts are not what they are in Waco, and people here are often times very unrealistic about what things cost — especially repairs,” O’Neil said. “You can’t just knock down a wall, or install a kitchen island … it’s not that easy and certainly not as inexpensive as it is there.”

She said that most couples buying homes both work full-time, and some have children, so their time is limited. What they think is a quick weekend project could realistically linger on for months.

“Some of them have never painted before or done a construction project, and they get in way over their heads,” she said.

John Bryson, owner of JM Bryson Construction Management of North Attleboro, has been on the other end of these do-it-yourself jobs, where his company has had to repair the damage done by homeowners who thought they could do projects themselves — only to realize that they are much more complicated, costly, and time-consuming than originally thought.

“People need to be really honest with themselves about what things cost and how long projects take,” Bryson said. “I will sometimes send (customers) to a ‘cost vs. value’ website where they can see for themselves the costs of remodeling jobs in different parts of the country.”

Bryson claimed that most construction companies — his included — have tightened their belts over the years and don’t have as many employees as they once did, so they work with outside contractors who are working on other jobs at the same time.

“Not only can people be unrealistic about costs, but about timelines, too,” he said.

They often don’t take into account things like permitting, inspections, delays in getting materials and availability of plumbers, electricians or other professionals, he said.

“Can we do a kitchen in a week? In a perfect world, yes, if we have no problems or issues,” Bryson said. “But the reality is that things come up and most of us don’t have the resources at our fingertips that they do on HGTV shows.”

Bryson, who has had his business for 36 years, said he is fortunate to have a core group of subcontractors with whom he has worked for decades. But he has seen “nightmare scenarios” play out for customers who tried to cut corners and save money by using unlicensed contractors who don’t have quality or reliable subcontractors.

“You get some guys who fill their (customers’) heads with low numbers, but they have no insurance, are looking for subcontractors as they’re doing the job … it’s a recipe for disaster,” he maintained. “For the legitimate guys, we have to pay taxes, workmen’s comp … You know the adage: You get what you pay for.”

Veteran interior designer Elizabeth Gardner Haney, a North Attleboro resident, said she has had clients who wanted to be their own contractors only to find there was much more to it than they had originally thought.

“The average homeowner doesn’t have 19 people behind the scenes doing sanding, carpentry, cleaning and everything else like they do on the HGTV shows,” she said. “And doing a home renovation project while living in the space can be quite a challenge.”

Even though HGTV home improvement shows may give viewers unrealistic expectations when it comes to home buying and home remodeling, Haney said that they give homeowners “some incredible ideas that spark creativity and help them to determine what their individual style is.”

“HGTV has brought the word ‘home’ back into the mainstream,” Haney said. “Home should be your sanctuary, a place where you can turn the key, open the door and be comforted.”

“Even if you can’t afford to do a major renovation or to hire an interior designer, just changing the paint color or buying soft décor like a new accent rug, a throw for the couch, some new pillows … can make all the difference,” she added.

O’Neil said that in addition to unrealistic ideas about costs associated with home buying and renovation, the seemingly effortless home searches are quixotic.

“I have to temper their expectations, because unlike on HGTV, we are not going to look at three houses and find the perfect one,” she said. “I’ve shown people 20, 30, 40 houses before finding the right one.”

O’Neil also alluded to the fact that it is a seller’s market, meaning there are more prospective home buyers than there are homes available. This, in turn, has driven up prices.

According to a recent report by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, the median home price for a single-family home in the commonwealth is $410,000 — up 7.9 percent since June 2016.

“This is the first time it’s exceeded $400,000,” said Paul Yorkis, past president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and owner of Patriot Real Estate in Medway. “First-time homebuyers — those looking at low- and moderately priced homes — are having a tough time finding a home. It’s partly due to price, but it’s also that they’re competing for the exact same dwelling with existing homeowners who want to downsize to a condo or a smaller home.”

“Inventory is the lowest it’s been in the last 20 years,” he added. “And there’s not a high volume of new construction — and I’m not talking about $1 million-plus condos in Boston, but (affordable) homes and condos in places like Attleboro, Medway, Foxboro …”

But on the bright side, DeGirolamo opined, aspiring home buyers do usually find something — especially if they are patient and temper their expectations.

“We live in a society where we want instant gratification,” she said. “With home buying and home renovation, that is usually just not the case — despite what you see on HGTV.”

Orignal Source: http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/the-hgtv-effect-home-improvement-shows-bring-high-expectations-for/article_40b19dfa-63ae-584e-a87b-17fd90501c88.html

Original Date: June 8 2018

Written By: Juliet Pennington