A couple of us magazine staff writers have been working on a feature story about the plethora of home improvement TV shows for our June issue. I have to admit, when I first started reporting on the topic, I knew very little about the quirky hosts my co-workers gushed about and the drama-filled plots that seem to keep millions of viewers enthralled. My TiVo only records a few of my favorite sitcoms, so I hardly ever venture out of my comfort zone to check out what’s airing on the other channels.
Apparently, Angie’s List members are big fans. In a recent poll, 79 percent of our members said they watch these types of programs — everyone from “This Old House” old-school fans to the fanatics who love watching the fiery Niecy Nash annihilate clutter in “Clean House” chimed in to let us know why they watch. Some have a pretty serious addiction to home improvement TV as a handful of respondents admitted they tune in to more than 15 different shows per week. The majority said they watch it to get ideas for their own house and because they’re entertaining.
I recently dove into my “research” by watching healthy doses of HGTV and TLC. (Yeah, try explaining to your husband that you’re “working” while drinking coffee in your pajamas and channel surfing). But, now I see what all the hype is about. I’m hooked! Watching first-time property flippers flounder is not only wildly entertaining, it teaches me what home improvement tasks are best left to professional contractors.
As a first-time homeowner, there are many interior designer tips and handyman tricks-of-the-trade I stand to benefit from. Granted, I don’t have several thousand dollars to spend or an entire team of people to help me whip my house into shape like the contestants featured on these shows, but I do have a home I want to one day sell at a profitable price. Shows like HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” and “Sell this House” on A&E give great advice on home staging. As I watched episode after episode on Saturday morning, my honey-to-do list grew exponentially and my urge to spring clean kicked into full gear. At least now I have a source of inspiration. Good thing my TiVo has plenty of space left on it!
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