ICYMI: Chip and Joanna Gaines just released the first episode of Fixer Upper: The Castle. The spin-off show has us thinking about the logistics of the original HGTV series. For example, did the homeowners get to keep the furniture in Fixer Upper?
Keep reading for all the deets.
In short, the answer is no. The couple (or person) was required to either purchase the pieces from HGTV or return them after filming wrapped. This included everything from the giant clocks and the modern chairs to the small trinkets Joanna used to decorate the kitchen countertop.
Of course, there were a few exceptions to this rule. First, Joanna sometimes gifted the homeowners a piece or two from the staging. This was usually a refurbished item or a personal touch that spoke to the clients, but it wasn’t guaranteed.
Second, no one walked away totally empty handed. When Fixer Upper aired on HGTV, each couple was gifted one big ticket item following the renovation. Although the homeowners were responsible for paying for their own demolition, the network covered the cost of one piece, which could have included anything from a dining room table to a large sectional couch.
Nope. The homeowners weren’t required to pay Chip and Joanna for their design services, since HGTV covered the talent fee. Although the network didn’t front the renovations, it was still a pretty good bargain, since they basically got a full-blown renovation at cost.
Not really, since Chip and Joanna typically focused on one area of the house (i.e. the living room and kitchen). While every room underwent a brief touch up, it could have been as simple as applying a new coat of paint or replacing the carpet. These smaller spaces were then used to store camera equipment, furniture and boxes, so they couldn’t be seen on camera. Think of it as the TV version of hoarding.
Applications were open to the public, but there were several requirements that one needed to meet in order to apply for Fixer Upper. First of all, applicants must be located no more than 40 miles outside of Waco, Texas.
If they don’t already have a home, they must be ready to buy one, just as long as it falls between these guidelines: The purchase price must be under $200,000, and the residence must require at least $30,000 in renovations.
Yes! They had to audition, and they almost didn’t get the job. Although HGTV liked the couple, they weren’t fully convinced of their TV potential. That all changed when Chip offered to move the family into a houseboat during renovations, allowing the network to see his quirky side. Thankfully, Jo reeled him in, and the rest is HGTV history.
The series follows Chip and Joanna Gaines, a husband and wife duo who have mastered the art of flipping houses. Each episode features the duo teaming up with a new set of homeowners to turn their fixer upper into a worthy investment.
Fixer Upper originally premiered on HGTV in 2013 and ran for five successful seasons until airing its final episode in 2018 (or so we thought). At the time, the show was the number-one unscripted series across all networks, with a cool 75 million people tuning into the final season. Chip and Jo later rebooted the show through their production company, Magnolia Network.
If you need us, we’ll be trying to convince our significant other to pick up and move to Waco.
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