People Who Participated In Home Renovation Shows Share Their Post-TV Experiences

Home renovation shows can turn a messy house into must-see TV, but the real story often starts after the cameras stop rolling. Once the reveal is over, the homeowners are left with the finished space, the edits, and sometimes a few surprises they never expected.

That is exactly why people keep asking what happened to the families and homeowners who appeared on these shows. In this roundup, Reddit users share the post-TV reality, from awkward production choices to renovations that aged better than anyone expected.

The answers are funny, frustrating, and sometimes surprisingly sweet. Read on.

One inquisitive Redditor asked the same question and was not disappointed with the answers

akumamatata8080

1. Sign the NDAs promising you won't tell anyone our decision not to grout the tile for aesthetic reasons caused a major headache after filming

Awdra

2. The 'Arabian Nights' inspired room does NOT spark joy

RealLivePersonInNC

3. The locals love and recognize the old name; why change it? Because TV, that's why.

beaunerjams16

4. From fairy woodland turned into the Forbidden Forest real quick

14RainbowFish

5. The show stapled curtains to the wall. They also stapled cardboard boxes together, shaped them into a box-sit thing, and covered it in fabric just in time for the big reveal.

12fingertips

6. "We already got the ratings we needed from you. Now shoo!"

shelbyrobinson

That kind of behind-the-scenes chaos seems to be part of the package.

shelbyrobinson

7. In the UK, it's a different and happier story. The term rogue trader or cowboy builder refers to a con man who does a subpar job and runs away with your money.

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Some renovations sound great on TV, but the long-term reality can be a lot less glamorous.

This also echoes the parents-versus-sibling argument in the AITA about renovating a family home for a disabled sibling’s accessibility needs.

8. There were a few mentions of Extreme Makeover where homeowners couldn't afford to keep the house due to the increase in property taxes.

DryProperty DryProperty

9. They only show the pretty areas they renovated, and even that area doesn't stay pretty for long because of shoddy construction.

I_am_pyxidis

10. If people have money already, then the house is properly maintained for a long while.

largeiced_milk

11. Great job on the renovation itself, but all the drama was fabricated for entertainment.

unknown

12. The TV people took out the personality of a restaurant and turned it bland.

ALivingDeadGirl

13. Reality TV home turned into a passive income.

jhaislip

14. In Brazil, the newly improved home was robbed of all the electronics.

Call_me_Charlotte

15. Creating an accessible home for a person with a disability and it's still awesome years later? Where are the goddamn tissues?

MycologistWitty4213

Then there are the rare updates that make the whole thing feel worth it.

Of course, who can forget these memeable moments in apartment/house-hunting shows?

Snnide_Remark

We love to make fun of these "trash" reality shows, but they are an undeniable source of entertainment. At least some of these home renovation shows do actual good for the people they help.

Whether you're a TV snob who hates these types of shows, there's an undeniable charm to them. So grab your tissues and get your Pinterest board ready before the next episode comes out.

Reality TV still knows how to leave people talking.

After signing NDAs over the tile grout, see if you’d do better than this roommate-less kitchen renovation fight.