Home Improvement Shows: Do They Help Us Or Hurt Us?

rselectric1

Those of you who have been doing remodeling for awhile have all run into this. A H.O. gets all excited about a renovation due mostly to an idea they say on HGTV or DIY. We get the job, but they are surprised to learn that the way it really works it quite different than what they see on TV.

On demo day, they are surprised to see NO SLEDGE HAMMERS. I always explain that if anyone shows up to do work at your house with a sledge hammer, send them packing unless they are taking out a cast iron tub, or stubborn floor tile, or a select number of special demo operations. The sledge hammer demo method only causes eye and hand injuries, and usually results in collateral damage to framing members, concealed plumbing, and adjacent areas. True professionals usually "dismantle" as opposed to just smashing everything.

Then, sometimes they are surprised when upon opening the walls, buried electrical boxes from previous hack jobs, and other surprises hinder the flawless flow of events that they saw on TV. You experienced guys know what I am talking about.

It sometimes takes some long explanations to convince the H.O. ('s) that these shows are VERY unrealistic, and they rarely show the problems we have to deal with. I always plan on the unexpected, and schedule the jobs accordingly and I am usually within 2 days of my estimated close date.

I love this site and respect most of the posters opinions. Do you have any other simple explanations that you use to illustrate the difference between TV and reality?

Magnettica

Holmes on Homes, HGTV, is good for us.

10 Grand In Your Hand, DIY, is not.

Any questions?

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rselectric1

Yes, I like Holmes too. He is one of the few I wish others would emulate.

oldfrt

I love this site and respect most of the posters opinions. Do you have any other simple explanations that you use to illustrate the difference between TV and reality?


That's a tough one,especially when they can see a whole 3500sq/ft home built painted ,landscaped,and furnished in a weeks time.
When's the last time they saw that in real life?

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Willie T

I think Holmes is good for Holmes. He paints the rest of the construction world with a pretty broad brush stroke of incompetency.

His message seems to be "Hire me to save you from them."

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rselectric1

I understand that the Ty Pennington production has run into problems with concrete which they have to pour "hot", and has failed more often than not. I'm not a concrete expert but it does seem like something isn't right.

angus242

Worst shows for us; anything where the home owner saves money by doing it themselves and a cost is given. (10k in your hand ticks me off )

BEST SHOW for us; Renovation Realities

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L+M+O+P=C
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Magnettica

This guy restores historic homes in Richmond, Virginia, and the work looks pretty decent if you ask me.

I love the older homes and a town like Richmond certainly has them.

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Magnettica

You got that right!

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rselectric1

I'm glad I posted this, it's been bugging me for awhile. I am going to start telling my clients to watch the shows you guys are pointing out for a dose of reality.

10fingers

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JumboJack

I would add "Renovation Reality's" to good for us list.

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

rselectric1

I guess the answer to my original question is that they should watch the "fluffy" shows for ideas, and then tell them to watch Holmes or Renovation Realities after we get the job.

angus242

HoH is good if they're considering a cheapo craigslist bid.
RR is good if they're considering do some of the work themselves.

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Angus
L+M+O+P=C
"Promise only what you can deliver. Then deliver more than you promise"

lavrans

TOH can be ok. Holmes bugs me; his work is passable (barely), haven't seen RR. I'd almost say that the only one I really have a lot of respect for is the Woodwright's Shop. Roy Underhill is the best craftsman on television, and is really the only one that gives a good understanding of how much skill it takes to do carpentry right.

Overall I'd say most hurt "us" as they don't show the experience and skill necessary. But then, the number of people in the industry without the skill necessary to be working on anyone's house is a greater problem than even Flip this House or its ilk (although those shows are definitely bad for the industry).

DetailHandyman

Which one are you?

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DetailHandyman

This Old House is the best overall for showing the reality of doing a major project. You get to see the flaws as well as the shiny granite countertops.

Plus, it takes more than an hour to complete the project and no one has to move a bus.

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mikeswoods

Over all,I believe they are all a help to our trade.

Homeowners get inspired to fix up the place.Buy the fancy things that they see.
I'm old enough to remember when carpenter built kitchen cabinets and vinyl asbestos tile was the norm,
few middle class people saw the fine work in the "rich peoples" homes.They were happy.

Then came T.V.

Ah,T.V.----The dream maker--------------------------------MIKE

RizzoMaryland

I believe the shows helped advocate for home remodeling years ago when "remodeling" really went main stream during the mid 1990s.

Now, correcting all the misleading these shows have done, is a time consuming and often exhausting task.

I believe it is a zero sum game at this point.

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RizzoMaryland

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and "Cribs" do more to promote our business than other entertainment types remodeling shows.

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