 Home-improvement television shows touting do-it-yourself renovation techniques have made fixer-uppers more popular, but during a real-estate downturn with newer homes available at depressed prices, there is often reduced interest.Inexperienced buyers frequently underestimate the amount and cost of repairs necessary to make a home livable or saleable.Structural and service issues which may not be visible at first (such as a home's foundation or plumbing), can require expensive, professional contracting work.