RENOVATING REALITY The Truth Behind Your Favorite Home Improvement Shows
Home improvement and renovation shows are as fun to watch as they are frustrating.
Home renovation is expensive. And speaking of the investment, even seemingly simple remodel projects can break budgets. Unlike the average homeowner, home improvement shows get to defer some of that cost. Every home renovation show is one big commercial, and they get steep discounts when they use specific products and manufacturers. Sometimes, they get materials for free. On top of that, TV shows often cut corners to minimize costs. Home renovation is time consuming. To cut costs and speed up renovation, on-TV contractors often use cheap, quick-to-install materials. On camera, these materials can be dressed up to look Instagram-worthy, but in reality, they probably won’t last long in the real-world home environment. They want it to look as good as possible in the shortest amount of time, and the camera can hide a lot of the disappointment. Once again, home renovation is expensive! As U.S. News reports, cost of materials can vary widely from region to region. The more materials you have to ship in from out of state, the bigger the bill. Another way TV shows save is on labor costs. They hire contractors willing to work for cheap or free due to “promotional considerations,” as one contractor, speaking with Kiplinger, learned. If the show reveals the total cost of a renovation (many don’t), chances are that number is off by several thousand dollars, if not more, depending on the extent of the work.
They can be inspiring when you see design elements you want to incorporate into your own
home. On the other hand, they can be infuriating as you watch a design expert or homeowner make a
questionable choice.
But one thing’s for sure: Home renovation shows are more popular than ever, making up the bulk of HGTV’s programming. However, not everything is as it seems. Lurking behind the scenes are truths that don’t make it to broadcast. Home renovation is boring. If you’ve ever been involved in a home remodel, you know that from start to finish, the process isn’t that interesting and can take weeks or even months. Shows leave out many of the dull details, giving viewers a feeling of instant gratification. For younger would-be home remodelers, a real home reno can be an eye-opener when they realize just how much of a time investment it requires — even if it’s a single-room reno.
September: Redfish Season
With the end of summer comes a whole new fishing season. You’ll see fewer boats on the water, but that makes this the ideal time to cast your line. One of the best places to enjoy the benefits of summer fishing in the slightly cooler weather is at one of the redfish rodeos happening during September. On Labor Day weekend, the 59th Annual
Later in the month, the same area will light up again with fishers. Call it a sequel. The Caminada Redfish Rodeo will happen at the Sand Dollar Marina from the 22nd through the 24th. Both rodeos highlight just how much redfish is available during this time of the year.
You’ll also find good amounts of flounder and sunfish, both of which are especially plentiful at C.
Grand Isle Original Redfish Rodeo at the Bridge Side Marina will take place. Anglers in boats and kayaks will be able to scope out redfish in the places where they like to hide.
Bickham Dickson Park in Shreveport. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try spearing a hogfish in the shallows while you’re there.
Redfish love to hang out around grass flats, oyster reefs, shallow structures, and tidal creek mouths. To lure them out, you have a few options: Flies, standard lures, live bait, and dead bait will all typically do the trick. Experts particularly recommend using cracked crab.
Have fun, and remember this quote from famous columnist Doug Larson: “If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.”
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