As seen on TV! We have all experienced those products, but did you know that the “as seen on TV real estate programs” may not be real? Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV binge session? We have all been there, watching entire seasons of shows like “Property Brothers,” “Fixer Upper,” and “Love It or List It,” all in one sitting. When you are in the middle of your real estate-themed TV show marathon, you might start to think everything you see on the screen must be how it works in real-life. However, you may need a reality check.
Buyers do not necessarily look at three homes and then buy one of them. Sometimes it takes much, much longer. There may be buyers who fall in love and buy the first home they see, but according to the National Association of REALTORS®, the average homebuyer tours 10 homes as a part of their search.
On reality TV shows, they are often staged and already sold. In a real-life search, we may be showing “staged” homes, but they are still active on the market. The real estate TV shows cannot show the entire purchase process in 30 minutes, so they tend to choose buyers that are further along in their buying decision. While in real life, the buyer is just pre-approved and ready to look at 10 homes as they start their search.
Some may think if they list their home for sale, it will always sell at the open house. Of course, this would be great! Open houses are important to guarantee the most exposure to buyers in your area, but they are only one piece of the overall marketing of your home. Keep in mind, many homes are sold during regular showing appointments as well. Marketing is important as buyers are looking online as they start their search.
If you think that homeowners decide to sell their homes after a 5-minute conversation, then you may be watching too much HGTV. When in reality, like the buyers portrayed on the shows, many of the sellers have already spent hours deliberating the decision to list their homes and move on with their lives and goals. While the property-themed real estate TV shows are entertaining to watch, it is vital to remember what you are seeing on TV is not an exact portrayal of real-life. It is hard to fit what truly happens into a 30- or 60-minute time slot.
With the introduction to online internet searches years ago, buyers are more educated when it comes to seeing the property. They have already viewed the interior pictures online and with virtual tours. Many times, the pictures may make the home seem larger or smaller than it is. It is important to view the property live with your REALTOR® and not “as seen on TV”.
Hope all the parents survived the first week of school! If you are ready for more space, it is a great time to list your property. Contact your local REALTOR® today!
Until next time, remember to do good things!
Stephanie Lemley, 2021 MBOR President
