One of the great benefits of the reality television craze is that distance education no longer has to cost any more than the price of your monthly cable television subscription. Of course this certainly does not apply to all sectors of reality television, but when it comes to house-flipping and home improvement shows on channels such as A&E, HGTV, and TLC  it certainly is possible to mix entertainment and education. Here are a few of our favorite TV shows that offer up some great business-minded take-away.

Designed to Sell, HGTV
Designed to Sell is perfect for those real estate investors who have done the hard work of renovations and are ready to flip their home. Or, for that matter, for anyone who is looking to sell their property and wants to command the best price possible. This show is inherently budget-friendly, with the premise of providing sellers with a maximum budget of $2,000 to invest in making their home as appealing as possible to would-be buyers (and, thus, maximizing the sale price). Designed to Sell relies on the expertise of interior designers, stagers,  and home improvement gurus, bringing a team of helping hands straight into your living room.

Income Property, HGTV
Though Income Property is geared toward first-time buyers who are looking to make some money from their homes by renting out rooms within their homes to cover their mortgage, host Scott McGillivray offers up a ton of tips that property managers can apply. With ten years of experience under his belt, McGillivray has made a career out of generating income from property investments. On Income Property, McGillivray offers tips for making renovations that will appeal to renters and can also help property managers increase income by identifying creative ways to parcel off areas with income-generation in mind (for example, refinishing basements so that they can be rented out).

My First Home, TLC
Even if you’re not buying your first home, TLC’s My First Home still offers up a ton of useful tools to help navigate the property purchasing process with less stress and greater ease. While you may already be in the loop with the basics, watching others navigate the various trials and tribulations that come with the loan, home seeking, and inspection processes can still arm you with a wealth of knowledge that can be applied to your own future property purchasing endeavors.

Property Ladder, TLC
Any real estate investor (or would-be investor) interested in property flipping should be in the loop with TLC’s Property Ladder, hosted by veteran realtor and real estate developer Kirsten Kemp. As a designer by trade, Kemp offers up some great ideas for designs and renovations (with an emphasis on kitchens and bathrooms) that help home flippers maximize their investment when the time for the next flip rolls around. Best of all, Kemp shows viewers how to make these upgrades with not only aesthetic, but also budget and functionality in mind. With years of experience in the field, Kemp offers suggestions based on common mistakes, using hard-won lessons of her own and of other home-flippers to help make your flip as profitable and simple as possible.

Next time you feel guilty about watching T.V., remember … you’re potentially increasing your profits down the line!

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