Why the Home Makeover/Design shows are misleading...
Okay, so you've just finished watching one of the many shows on HGTV, or TLC, or any other station that shows countless home design or renovation shows and you're psyched to start a project on your own.
Well there is a lot involved in a renovation and most people aren't up to the task, so they decide to hire a professional. You have a budget in mind after watching the television show. Now wait a minute... Have you ever noticed how at the end of every episode they break down all the costs so you can see how affordable these things are? (not to mention how quickly everything gets done)
This is where the show is misleading you. Fine, they managed some decent deals on materials and items they used. Anybody can do that and you can too! However, after listing the cost of all the materials do they ever tell you how much it cost to pay all the people they had working on this job?
They have carpenters custom-making all kinds of items, custom upholstery, electricians, glass installers, and countless people working countless hours to get the jobs done very quickly. Unfortunately, I never see a mention of this on any cost break-downs on any of these shows.
Contractors are not out doing community service, they are out to feed their families and they will want to be paid for every day's work.
So unless you are planning some DiY (do-it-yourself) don't be misled by the budgets on these television shows. Also, if you are planning to DiY, don't expect to finish even remotely close to the time it takes on the show. They usually have crews of professionals working long hours to accomplish what they do and you need to account for that in your planning.
Either way you choose, good luck and plan well before you start! If you are planning to hire a professional then I recommend you read my renovation planning advice.
Well there is a lot involved in a renovation and most people aren't up to the task, so they decide to hire a professional. You have a budget in mind after watching the television show. Now wait a minute... Have you ever noticed how at the end of every episode they break down all the costs so you can see how affordable these things are? (not to mention how quickly everything gets done)
This is where the show is misleading you. Fine, they managed some decent deals on materials and items they used. Anybody can do that and you can too! However, after listing the cost of all the materials do they ever tell you how much it cost to pay all the people they had working on this job?
They have carpenters custom-making all kinds of items, custom upholstery, electricians, glass installers, and countless people working countless hours to get the jobs done very quickly. Unfortunately, I never see a mention of this on any cost break-downs on any of these shows.
Contractors are not out doing community service, they are out to feed their families and they will want to be paid for every day's work.
So unless you are planning some DiY (do-it-yourself) don't be misled by the budgets on these television shows. Also, if you are planning to DiY, don't expect to finish even remotely close to the time it takes on the show. They usually have crews of professionals working long hours to accomplish what they do and you need to account for that in your planning.
Either way you choose, good luck and plan well before you start! If you are planning to hire a professional then I recommend you read my renovation planning advice.
posted by Winchester at
1:47 AM
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