It seems to me that so many homeowners and buyers often find themselves glued to the couch watching HGTV.  We’ve all been there, watching entire seasons of “Love it or List it,” “Million Dollar Listing,” “House Hunters,” “Property Brothers,” and so many more all in one sitting.

Next time you’re in the middle of your real estate themed show , remember that everything you see on TV is not how it works in real life.

5 Myths of Reality TV Real Estate:

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

Truth: Some buyers 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 for sale.

Truth: It's all staged for TV. Many of the homes being shown are already sold and are off the market.

Myth #3: The buyers haven’t made a purchase decision yet.

Truth: 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 or have already purchased.

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

Truth:  Open houses can give a home more exposure to buyers in Northern VA but are only a  small PIECE of the overall marketing of your home. Keep in mind homes are predominantly sold during regular listing appointments as well.  When it comes to a resale home, In my 16 years experience, an open house does not really help sell the home in Northern VA.

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/goals.

Bottom Line

Work with an experienced professional while navigating the Northern VA real estate market is the best way to guarantee that you can make the home of your dreams a reality!

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