The Reality of Real Estate TV—What HGTV Isn’t Telling You
In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the reality of real estate TV. From fake buyers to scripted drama and unrealistic renovations, we’re sharing what really happens behind the scenes of your favorite real estate shows. Whether it’s House Hunters, Fixer Upper, or Love It or List It, what you see on screen often doesn’t reflect real-life real estate.
As working agents, we’ve experienced firsthand how these shows have shaped buyer and seller expectations—for better or worse. Today, we break down how TV impacts your clients and your business and what you can do about it.
Behind the Scenes: How Real Estate Shows Are Made
Alyssa shares her experience filming two episodes of Buying the Bayou, including fake buyers, staged proposals, and properties not even for sale. These shows are more about entertainment than education, and many moments are completely fabricated. From casting friends to posing as couples to using homes already owned, we walk you through how it actually works.
Understanding the reality of real estate TV can help you manage expectations when clients bring up what they’ve seen on screen.
How TV Misleads Buyers and Sellers
Many buyers expect move-in-ready perfection, complete with double ovens for Thanksgiving and flawless staging. Others believe they can flip homes with little cash or risk—because HGTV made it look easy. Sellers, on the other hand, assume marketing their home involves carnivals and petting zoos.
We share the five myths these shows promote, including:
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Overemphasizing features like granite and man caves
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Downplaying renovation costs and timelines
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Making Realtors look like door-openers
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Ignoring location and long-term homeownership goals
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Giving buyers unrealistic expectations about pricing
Lessons from Our Favorite Shows
Not all TV real estate content is bad. We share what we do love about shows like Fixer Upper, Property Brothers, and Hometown—especially the inspiration and design tips. But even with the renovation shows, buyers rarely realize the furniture is staged or that most of the work is done off-camera and under special terms.
We also talk about Million Dollar Listing New York and the lessons agents can learn from the confidence and negotiation tactics used on that show.
Navigating Expectations with Clients
TV has made buyers more educated but also more demanding. We give advice for managing unrealistic expectations and educating clients about the true cost, timeline, and challenges of buying, selling, or flipping. Plus, Alyssa shares the email template she uses when referring out investor leads she’s not a fit for—saving time and maintaining professionalism.
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