5 Real Estate Reality TV Myths

Television
Written By Joshua Baumgardner

Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV binge session? We’ve 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’re 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.

Reality TV Show Myths vs. Real Life:

Myth #1: Buyers look at 3 homes and decide to purchase one of them.Truth: 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.  

Myth #2: The houses the buyers are touring are still for sale.Truth: Everything is staged for TV. Many of the homes shown are already sold and are off the market. 

Myth #3: The buyers haven’t made a purchase decision yet.Truth: Since there is no way to show the entire buying process in a 30-minute show, TV producers often choose buyers who are further along in the process and have already chosen a home to buy. 

Myth #4: If you list your home for sale, it will ALWAYS sell at the open house.Truth: 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. 

Myth #5: Homeowners decide to sell their homes after a 5-minute conversation.Truth: Similar to 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.

Bottom Line

Having an experienced professional on your side while navigating the real estate market is the best way to guarantee you can make the home of your dreams a true reality.

Joshua Baumgardner

Growing up with family roots in both property management and construction to eventually becoming Vice President of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Joshua was destined for a life in the real estate industry. Joshua spent the first years of his career as a professional opera singer, and the owner of a private voice studio. It didn’t take Joshua long before he felt the undeniable yearning to return to his roots in real estate.

With an unrelenting ambition to surpass the expectations of each client, Joshua is committed to making the buying and selling process as smooth as possible. As a member of The Alliance Group, Joshua works closely with his team members to assist each client and their unique situations. The team’s expertise spans every facet of the industry from working with first-time homebuyers to listing the luxury properties of global clients. Joshua's team is one of the highest-producing groups in the DC Metropolitan area, and a multi-year recipient of the Best of Washington, Best of Arlington, and RealTrend Top Producer Awards.

Joshua calls the vibrant NoMA neighborhood home, and can often be found brunching along 16th Street, biking the C&O Canal Trail, serving at Foundry United Methodist Church, or spending a Saturday evening enjoying a new opera or musical.

Joshua is a graduate of James Madison University, and Florida State University, a member of the National Association of Realtors, The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, and a founding member and serves on the boards of the Wagner Society of Washington DC and the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. Follow Joshua on Instagram @LiveTheDMV.

Joshua’s team is founded on the shared vision that luxury is a level of service and not a price point, with the team’s individuals sales ranging from $220K to $9.98M, totaling nearly $1 billion in combined lifetime sales.

https://www.LiveTheDMV.com
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