HGTV's Kyle Corsini gives tips on true timelines, realities of home renovations

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Home renovations almost always cost more than expected and take longer than planned.

HGTV's Ken Corsini visited WDRB Mornings on Wednesday with some expert tips on how to successfully manage a home project.

Corsini is best known for his shows "Flip or Flop Atlanta," "Rock the Block," and "Flipping Showdown." Although Corsini may only have 22 minutes in a show to renovate a whole house, things don't always go to plan, and it's smart to prepare for roadblocks you may run into.

"I tell people to plan in advance for the amount of time the project will take, especially the size and scope of it," Corsini said. "If it's a $100,000 project, it's probably not going to be done in two weeks."

The real estate market is ever changing and has started to cool off a bit, which means homeowners will start looking into selling their homes again. When taking on a home renovation project or flipping a house, it's important to make sure the house is structurally sound and will pass an inspection if you are looking to sell.

"Inspections will kill a sale," Corsini said. "Focus on all the not-fun stuff before moving onto a renovation."

To get ahead of realtors and potential buyers, get an inspection on your own house. When it goes under contract, the first thing that's going to happen is an inspection.

If you know your home will pass, that's one less thing that will be on your plate while going through the process.

When it comes to where to start on renovating and updating, it's important to look at what a guest or buyer sees first.

"Start on the outside of the house, where people get their first impression," Corsini said. "People also look at paint and flooring, both if changed can change the look of a room significantly."

The next rooms to look at are the kitchen, specifically the backsplash or countertops, and the bathrooms.

Lastly, price your home reasonable. Homeowners don't want to be stuck with a high price that keeps having to drop, which can look bad to a potential buyer.

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