With big money on the line and emotions running high, TV shows focusing on today's insane real estate market are more popular than ever.
And it's no surprise.
The high number of people who are now buying, selling and flipping homes, in hopes of cashing in on the frenzy, is increasing the need for quick information on how to get the biggest bang for your renovation buck.
Glenn Dixon, a designer on W Network's Take This House and Sell It, says, aside from being highly entertaining in "a nosey neighbour kind of way," these shows are popular because they provide invaluable information to sellers.
"There is a misconception that when you are dealing with a hot market, you can just put a 'for sale' sign on the front lawn and it will go," he says. "In fact, in hot markets, it's even more important to make your house as showable as possible. You really do want to command the highest attention and you want to get into that multiple bid situation because that's ideal."
Also, thanks in part to these design shows, people are now more discerning, he says.
"Because they are now exposed to interior design through their television, they have higher expectations."
Tanya Memme, host of A&E's Sell This House, says when getting a home ready to sell, people must declutter, paint and clean.
It may sound simple, but Memme says there are a lot of clueless sellers out there.
"It's amazing to see what people think clean is. We have had everything from rats living in an oven to cockroaches stuck to a wall by blow darts, to toe nails on the family room table," says Memme, whose family owns Mountain View Homes in Ontario.
"I guess people can't smell their own stink. But, if a house doesn't smell well or isn't clean, it's not going to sell."
While getting a home ready to list can be a lot of hard work, it doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
On Sell This House, homeowners are allotted only $500 and Memme says, in some cases, homes have increased in value more than 10%.
"People don't tend to see the big picture. Instead of redoing the entire ceiling, you can probably just paint it and cover up some of the old water stains."
Because selling a home can be extremely stressful, especially with cameras in your face, Memme says the cast goes to great lengths to add some humour.
That, along with giving viewers the chance to see into other people's homes, is part of the reason she believes Sell This House has been so successful.
"The other part is there's a catch. How are we going to take this dump and sell it with just $500 to spend? We always do it, which just goes to show a little bit of elbow grease and a little bit of money can go a long way."
Bill Brooks, Sun columnist and host of Calgary-based Open Homes, which airs on Prime TV, says because the Calgary market is so crazy, people are watching real estate shows in record numbers.
"Their homes are now really, really worth something, but they may need a little freshening up. The problem is a lot of people don't have a clue how to do it."
Open Homes does its magic in one day on a $1,500 budget.
"You can get a really good bang for your buck by spending only that amount of money as long as you spend it wisely on things like paint, minor landscaping and maintenance."
The biggest mistake people make when listing their home, he says, is not decluttering.
"Maybe your most prized collection is your baseball caps ... and they are absolutely everywhere. You have to be objective, remove yourself from that position, and try to put yourself in the shoes of a prospective buyer. Get rid of them -- people are coming to buy the house, not your lifestyle, your collections or your taste."
