Homeowners on the show must have a home with a purchase price under $200,000 and they require at least $30,000 worth of renovations. HGTV does not fund the renovations, but they do cover the cost of one bonus item and pay a talent fee to Chip & Joanna.
Well, it turns out it'll cost you a pretty penny. According to TheCheatSheet.com, contestants must be willing to drop a minimum of $30,000 on renovations in order to have the wonders of Waco, Chip and Joanna Gaines, show up on your doorstep ready for a full demolition.
That's right, HGTV doesn't include labor in their budgets either. The labor of all those hunky carpenters you see on TV is paid for by the show, and its commercial sponsors. So the overtime you would pay in real life for all those long nights of construction doesn't factor in to those HGVT budgets at all.
'Farmhouse Fixer'
Additionally, homeowners must be willing and able to move out of the property during the renovation process — a common requirement for these shows. Therefore, unless they're able to stay with friends or family, they likely have to foot the bill for temporary housing, along with renovation expenses.
Surprisingly, the answer is no. The couple (or person) is responsible for paying for their own renovations, but that doesn't mean they walk away totally empty handed. While HGTV doesn't fund the renovations, they do pay for one big ticket item.
Not Every Room Is “Fixed Up”
Chip and Joanna work with the budget they're given. That means the duo can't always fix up the entire house. Joanna shared on the Magnolia blog that what was renovated and revealed on the show were a client's top priorities.
"HGTV pays for some labor or costs to expedite production if needed, but generally, homeowners are paying for their services. And, they may have access to discounted services or goods." So a new kitchen island that costs $1,000 might actually cost $3,000 if the homeowners weren't being featured on a TV show.
But here's the kicker: More often than not, the homes are staged, meaning the homeowners don't get to keep the furniture and decor that's shown on TV. “Most if not all of our flipping shows are staged,” Betsy admits, noting that, depending on the client, sometimes the renovation will include some of the furniture.
Is your home or someone you know's home in need of an extreme renovation? You — or they — may qualify to be on the show! To apply, or to nominate someone, go to https://emhe.tv/. Click on 'CASTING', then on the 'APPLY NOW' button to fill out the application form.
Chip Gaines nearly messed up his chances at marrying Joanna, but no, he hasn't been married before. Joanna and Chip Gaines grew to fame after launching their home renovation show Fixer Upper.
Surprisingly, the answer is no. The couple (or person) is responsible for paying for their own renovations, but that doesn't mean they walk away totally empty handed.
Chip and Joanna reportedly made an average of $30,000 per renovation on Fixer Upper, plus an undisclosed fee from HGTV. With 79 episodes under their belt in the show's first five seasons, Chip and Joanna made at least $2.37 million just from televised renovations alone.
'Unsellable Houses'
When the house is sold, the sisters recoup their initial investment and split any additional profits with the homeowner. While the homeowner ultimately pays for the renovations, it's likely helpful to not have to come up with the cash before the improvements are made.
In total, the couple worked on over 100 homes. On the show, they start by showing a couple three potential homes for purchase in central Texas, each of which requires a varying amount of repair or renovation. Once the couple chooses their home, Joanna designs it and Chip is the lead contractor.
To put it simply, no. While HGTV doesn't specifically address payment in their application, they do note that homeowners now must have a $100,000 renovation budget (this requirement was previously $50,000 and then $75,000). So we assume that means participants are not in this for the paycheck!
Decorating Cents is for homeowners who care about and want variety in home decor, but are trying to stay within an affordable budget.
The “Reality” of Reality Home Television
Even winners of home make-overs must often sell. According to HGTV, only one of the first 10 Dream House winners has been able to hang on to their winnings.
According to HGTV's official sweepstakes rules, the 2023 cash option is $750,000, accepted in lieu of the house and its contents. The winner also gets the vehicle and cash prizes, usually a nice car, and $100,000 to 250,000.
If the winner opts for the cash alternative, the Dream Home crew is usually able to sell the home in a month, sometimes in days. Though the new owners remain nameless, they purchase the homes at or around the price that HGTV deems the houses worth, but “ rarely at full value. ”
A former literary agent took the pair to court over allegations that they tweaked a contract in their favor and cheated the agent out of earnings from the deal. According to legal documents, the agent not only accused Chip and Joanna of making him lose money, but also of having poor character.
Chip And Joanna's Show Was Canceled After Homeowner Complaints. In early 2022, the Magnolia Network canceled a Chip and Joanna Gaines show after homeowner complaints. The show premiered on Discovery+ and was meant to renovate multiple properties over its first and, ideally, subsequent seasons.
When the show aired on HGTV, the furniture and decor used for the big reveal was staged. However, the network always gave the homeowner one big-ticket item to keep at the end, ranging from a sectional to a dining room table.