Reality Show Lie #8: It’s Not all Smiles and Hugs at the End

After the big reveal and emotional reactions, the cameras leave and viewers don’t get to see what happens next.

We’ve already revealed that most of the furniture and decor is quickly stripped away, but it gets worse. There is a growing list of former reality TV participants who were left with shoddy work to repair and redo on their own.

One person on Designed to Sell reported that their “custom” pillowcases were merely fabric duct taped to pillows. And in a more extreme example, a couple on Catch a Contractor ended up with 200 gallons of raw sewage in their home after rushed workers forgot to connect a pipe.

In shows like Extreme Home Makeover, families sometimes end up with a newly built home they can’t actually afford. Mounting taxes and utility bills have even led to foreclosure for some participants.

The Truth? Expert Renovators Can Bring Your Fantasy to Life

The renovations we see on TV may be mostly smoke and mirrors, but in real life it is possible to get the results you want without nasty surprises.