I don’t usualy watch real estate shows on TV but when I’m having my nails done I am a captive audience to whatever is playing, usually HGTV. Often the show involves massive remodeling. and voila` everything gets done in half an hour! Smiles and happiness all around!
My friends, those are not reality shows. They are fanatasies.
Remoding a kitchen, much less a house, takes FOREVER — as in, several months of disruption and inconvenience. I don’t know anyone who wasn’t emotionally traumatized by the experience. Before you are even out of bed in the morning, strangers are banging around in your house. Periodically they stand around and frown. Then they disappear, without explanation, for days at a time. You eventually find out they are waiting for something to be ordered or delivered or built or cut. It’s your own fault, clearly. You’re the one who wanted things customized.
Plus, you have to expect surprises during a remodel. The builder or previous remodeler cut corners. The electric isn’t to code, the plumbing makes no sense — these things have to be fixed. Your original budget turns out to be just a down payment. Your contrator is sympathetic, but unyielding. The price you started from is not anywhere near the price you are going to end up paying. As for the estimated date of completion, that will come and go.
Ideally, once the project is done, your joy will instantly erase all memory of what you have suffered. But you may also end up being scarred for life.
Just saying.
ADVENTURES IN REAL ESTATE 