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Real Life vs. Reality TV: 5 Myths Explained

By
Real Estate Agent with Luxury Valley Homes Scottsdale SA524104000

Real Life vs. Reality TV -  Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV 'show hole'*? We've all been there... watching entire seasons of "Love it or List it," "Fixer Upper," "House Hunters," "Flip or Flop," "Property Brothers," and so many more, just in one sitting.

When you're in the middle of your real estate themed show marathon, you might start to think that everything you see on TV must be how it works in real life, but you may need a reality check.

Reality TV Show Myths vs. Real Life

Myth #1: Buyers look at 3 homes and make a decision to purchase one of them.

Truth: There may be buyers who fall in love and buy the first home they see, but more often than not the process of buying a home means touring more than three homes.

Myth #2: The houses the buyers are touring are still for sale.

Truth: The reality is being staged for TV. Many of the homes being shown are already sold and are off the market.

Myth #3: The buyers haven't made a purchase decision yet.

Truth: Since there is no way to show the entire buying process in a 30-minute show, TV producers often choose buyers who are further along in the process and have already chosen a home to buy.

Myth #4: If you list your home for sale, it will ALWAYS sell at the Open House.

Truth: Of course this would be great! Open Houses are important to guarantee the most exposure to buyers in your area, but are only a PIECE of the overall marketing of your home. Just realize that many homes are sold during regular listing appointments as well.

Myth #5: Homeowners make a decision about selling their home after a 5-minute conversation.

Truth: Similar to the buyers portrayed on the shows, many of the sellers have already spent hours deliberating the decision to list their home and move on with their life/goals.

Bottom Line

Having an experienced professional on your side while navigating the real estate market is the best way to guarantee that you can make the home of your dreams a reality! *Show Hole - A side effect of binge-watching. Symptoms include a sense of emptiness and depression brought on by realizing you just wasted a good portion of your life watching several seasons of a TV show or an entire movie franchise all at once when you could have managed your time better.

Readers that read this article also enjoyed the following:

Rent-Buy: You Are Still Paying a Mortgage  or http://www.scottsdalerealestatearizona.com/rent-buy/

Comments(28)

Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Yes, those shows do not depict legitimate transactions. The conversations, showings, and decisions are often staged.

Aug 24, 2016 06:21 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:27 AM
Jan Sohlman
RE/MAX Integrity - Eugene, OR
RE/MAX Integrity

Those online shows never show how much an agent has to work to make the transaction work. Negotiation on repairs and such. I wish it was that easy! 3 showings and then boom you are pending sale!

Aug 24, 2016 07:07 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Agreed - Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:27 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD These are very helpful list of real life vs. reality TV myths.

Aug 24, 2016 08:41 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:28 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

An execellent post.  It is always best if you can vet the buyers and help them focus on the homes that meet their criteria.

Aug 24, 2016 12:09 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:28 AM
Virginia Youngblood
DO-STAGE! LLC - an ASPM® Home Staging Company - Charlotte, NC
DO-STAGE! LLC - Home Stager - ASPM®

YES! Many great comments in our AR community.  I agree with Jan Sohlman, #10 "Those online shows never show how much an agent has to work . . ."

WHEW! This also applies to the home stagers that are brought in. The shows make it all look so easy . . . never showing all of the hard work in the planning, and actual staging of a property.

Great post, Jane and Jeff.

Aug 24, 2016 01:51 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Agreed - Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:29 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD -  I should share that for well priced, nicely showing homes do sell at the open house - in multiple offers - in our area.

Aug 24, 2016 03:15 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:29 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Jane and Jeff,  all HGTV viewers need to read your post! If only buying and selling were as easy as it looks on TV!

Aug 24, 2016 04:43 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

We started our RE career with KW in Plano, TX. A fantastic group and miss them today. Thanks for the comments.

Aug 29, 2016 04:32 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Great myth busters!!!

Having an experienced professional on your side while navigating the real estate market is the best way to guarantee that you can make the home of your dreams a reality!

Aug 24, 2016 09:41 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:32 AM
Alison Creamer
Keller Williams Elite - Virginia Beach, VA
Realtor,MRP,ABR, CDPE,IMSD,HamptonRoads

May have to,share this !!!!!

Aug 24, 2016 11:43 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Would appreciate that share - Thanks!

Aug 29, 2016 04:33 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Manufactured entertainment? I always wondered how people in entertainment could be so perfect until I discovered it was all edited, rehearsed and scripted

Aug 25, 2016 12:08 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

True - But it is always best to give the best presentation for our clients. My only objection is presenting something that's "not" by way of photoshoping the product.

Aug 29, 2016 04:38 AM
Macy Babb ... North Georgia Realtor
Re/Max Around Atlanta Realtor - 404-234-6166 - Cartersville, GA
Realtor, SFR, HUD/REO Certified

I always remind that client that referes to a HDTV (or similar) show...that we are in the real world and not TV Land... and that if they want to live in TV Land that they are going to only look at 3 homes and we are choosing one, no exceptions

Aug 25, 2016 01:27 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Agreed - Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:39 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Thankfully Reality TV is not my thing.  I stay grounded in what is real for me ... which of course is my reality. 

Congratulations on this Feature Post! 

 

Aug 25, 2016 05:33 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment. It's great to hear from you.

Aug 29, 2016 04:40 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great post and many reasons to use experienced realtors! 

Aug 25, 2016 09:01 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:40 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I enjoy some of the shows for the entertainment value. The problem is that there are true believers out there that don't know the difference between a reality show and real life.

Aug 25, 2016 11:41 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

How True! - Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:41 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Jane and Jeff,

Good post. If only it was just that easy! I agree with Jan they need to show how hard realtors work.

Aug 25, 2016 12:01 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Agreed - Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:42 AM
Mary Jo Quay
H360homes.com - Minneapolis, MN
I Move You Home

In a one hour program with 20 minutes of commercials, a first time buyer can preview 3 homes, decide which is their forever home, make a successful offer, close with a loan that rolls in all the rehab and decorating costs, have the home gutted and rehabbed, and they are jump up and down delighted with every single inch of it.  So what is wrong with that?  Push button; get mortgage?

Aug 25, 2016 12:42 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

It's all good, we all do it everyday - Right? :)

Aug 29, 2016 04:45 AM
Scott Thompson

lol.

Aug 26, 2016 04:06 AM
Mike Bjork
Evolve Bank & Trust - Redondo Beach, CA

I enjoy watching The Million Dollar Listing series.  I laugh at some of the negotiating strategies they show, as if an Agent is going to jump up on a table and walk around, while the other agent sits there watching, to prove a point.  It's more for entertainment.  But, as you pointed, the HGTV seems to have a larger Market segment, as I've even found my parents involved with many of those series.  It sure does add some glamour to the profession ;)  LOL!!!  Great post and great points made!

Aug 26, 2016 02:21 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:45 AM
Scott Thompson
Columbia Mortgage Plus - Blue Springs, MO
Commerical Finance - Blue Springs, MO

I loathe that garbage with a severity my command of the English language cannot effectively convey.

Aug 26, 2016 04:08 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

Are you suggesting that what you see is not really what you experience? ;)  Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:48 AM
Melissa Spittel
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Westminster, MD
"Achieving Results Together "

What? Reality TV is not Real Life? Lol.  If only buyers and sellers really knew all that's involved. 

Aug 26, 2016 12:27 PM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD

LoL - Thanks for the comment.

Aug 29, 2016 04:49 AM
Janice Zaltman
United Realty Group - Boca Raton, FL
Energy Efficient And Eco-Friendly Homes in Florida

Thank you for this post. Learned a new term, Show Hole. For me,  this happens when there is a great new series that has some ounce of intelligence. Then it gets cancelled. Our business is a great recipe for reality television if it was portrayed honestly. 

Sep 19, 2016 10:18 AM