Top Five Shows on HGTV

Who would have thought that with hundreds of channels to choose from, Americans would find themselves glued to shows about fixing up their homes? Launched in 1994, Scripps Networks HGTV has grown to become one the most watched networks, consistently falling into the top twenty categories for both nighttime and daytime viewing, according to the Nielsen Company. There's something for everyone on this channel, from advice to folks buying their first house to families finishing up much needed repairs. Some of the best shows on HGTV appeal to the fixer-upper in all of us.

Design on a Dime is one show to watch if you love to browse the aisles of Lowe's (a major sponsor on HGTV). A team of designers armed with their expertise and $1,000 come into a home and transform a room. This is a great show to get tips that you would have spend a lot of time and money to uncover, like paintable wallpaper and a quick way to make a unique headboard.

Sometimes it's not the inside but the outside that needs the most attention. Curb Appeal is a great resource for ideas and information on the best way to spruce up the exterior of a home. Often the projects center on landscaping, but sometimes little things like light fixtures or house numbers can make a dramatic statement.

House Hunters International is a home show combined with a travel show. A spin-off of the popular House Hunters, the show follows the same format of three house choices for the potential homebuyer. In this rendition, you get the added bonus of seeing how homes are set up in other countries. For example, in many European countries the toilet is placed in a separate, closet-like room. And in tropical climates the outdoor space is used as much as the indoor areas. This show will either get you thinking of moving to another country or will make you appreciate what you have in your home!

In this volatile market, selling a home is quite a challenge. Secrets That Sell offers some common sense advice for those overlooked areas that can stop a sale. The show is hosted by mother/daughter team Donna and Shannon Freeman, who tour a selected home each week and give the owners the down and dirty on what they need to repair or redo. This advice can transform a house so much that you might not want to sell!

Did you ever wonder what life would be like in a windmill? How about in a home made entirely of glass? Or one that's shaped like a soccer ball? HGTV's World's Most Extreme Homes shows all of these and more of the craziest homes on the planet. Host Ruth England travels the world in search of unusual homes and the unusual people who live in them. Sometimes it's fun to watch just to see how different people can live, but as with many HGTV shows, you can pick up a tip or two that can be used in a typical home. And that's what makes this cable channel so beneficial - you never know what might inspire you in your own home renovations.