What’s your favorite home remodeling show? Everyone has one these days (Seriously, who doesn’t love a good makeover story?). The homeowners are always so happy when the final products are revealed in all their radiating glory. But, many kitchen and bath remodeling professionals are not always enthusiastic when their clients mention a home renovation show. Why? Because, while they are inspirational and educational, they can often set some false perceptions regarding areas like overall costs and time involved in a remodel.
That being said, we love that there are so many opportunities for homeowners to learn more about remodeling right from the comfort of their own homes. In fact, as many of you already know, our team at Brakur Custom Cabinetry, Inc. has had amazing opportunities these past couple years to have our cabinets featured on the DIY Network’s hit show Kitchen Crashers. We encourage you to keep watching these educational programs, but keep in mind a few things as you do so…
Reality TV vs. real life
Keep these thoughts in mind as you watch your favorite home remodeling shows:
Your remodel will not be done in a weekend. Remodeling takes time, and even though your favorite show may finish a full kitchen renovation in a weekend or two, know that there is a lot you don’t see behind the scenes. Depending on the scale of your project, expect it to take weeks, or even months.
Surprises do arise. Many of today’s remodeling programs have begun to show the actual realities involved in a remodel (thank goodness) – hidden unexpected surprises behind the walls, extra costs, extended timeframes and frustrations here and there. If your show doesn’t ever feature any of these, there were likely a lot of scenes cut. Every remodel is somewhat unpredictable, which is why we suggest setting a flexible budget.
You get what you pay for. Sure, the people on your favorite show may have remodeled their kitchen for under [insert unbelievably low dollar amount here]; but it’s also a TV program. Heck, they may have fudged numbers, acquired donated items from sponsors, or had a team of people scouring the US for items they happened to “find” at a local thrift shop. In the real world, you usually get what you pay for. If you want a sound, quality remodel with products that are going to last, and experts who will be with you every step of the way, you’ll be paying more than [insert unbelievably low dollar amount here again].
Despite some of the skewed realities shown in some programs, there are many positive details you should be taking away from them. You can learn about different styles, materials, layout tips, general processes, and even some of the struggles; and of course, you can get a perception of how much a remodel can change your home for the better.
If you’re in the mood to watch home makeover clips today, check out some before and after video highlights from DIY’s Kitchen Crashers here.
