HGTV has a lot to answer for. While it may inspire us to love and lavish on our old homes, it can leave many with unrealistic expectations. Here are 3 myths about 'reality' home renovations:

1. Timeline - it always takes longer than you think. New kitchen in a weekend? Build a new house in 6 weeks? Impossible. The current social culture of urgency doesn't help this misconception. Most reality home shows fudge the timeline, have multiple trades working around the clock and some don't even show the significant planning and preparation that goes into each project. They will show 8-12 weeks of work in one half hour episode. Good design and preparation is the key to a smooth construction process, but you can still be looking at 4-6 months of design, bidding and permitting before any work can start.
2. Cost - this is a big one. Project costs can vary widely from state to state, and from contractor to contractor. Most home renovation shows have heavily discounted labor and materials because they have sponsors and use inexpensive materials to achieve 'The look' on a tight budget. But you get what you pay for, and quality fixtures and finishes that last are not cheap.
3. DIY - the most dangerous myth out there. A lot of shows have the homeowners doing projects themselves. Some things, like painting and cosmetic updates can be done by the DIY'er, but still require some level of skill. Any work that involves structure, electrics and plumbing should never be done by anyone who is not licensed. There is a reason these guys are regulated and safety should never be compromised. Any work found to be done without a permit can also cause headaches down the road.

While shows like this have inspired a generation of people to renovate old homes (which make up most of the housing stock around here!), proceed with caution, but keep your feet on the ground. There are ways to do a bathroom on a budget, but it's not going to be $15k. Most reputable contractors are booked up well in advance. Due to Covid, production of materials is down but demand is high, so costs on materials and lead times have increased. Lumber is now double the price it was this time last year.