What Home Improvement TV Gets Wrong (From Someone Who Was On It)

Most home improvement shows make renovation look easy, fast, and cheap. Kayleen McCabe spent years helping create that illusion — and then walked away from it. She's a contractor, TV host, and trades advocate who's here to show homeowners the truth: what you can actually do yourself, what you should never touch, and why the pretty stuff always has to wait. Here's what we discuss with Kayleen: • Maintenance first, pretty second — why foundation, plumbing, and electrical come before the kitchen you've been dreaming about • The permits rule: anything that requires one requires a professional, full stop • How to figure out your DIY limit — and why knowing when to stop isn't weakness • Why you should double your budget on every first renovation before you start • The Google rule: if you're searching whether a wall is load-bearing, you already have your answer • What most homeowners get wrong about toilets — and the $50 fix that most people ignore until they can't • Why the trades shortage is a homeowner problem too, and what's actually changing • What it feels like to love your house — and how to get there Connect: https://www.angi.com/own-it-with-angie-hicks-podcast/ Ready to find the right contractor before your next project? Visit https://www.angi.com/ to connect with top-rated pros in your area.