HGTV fans know that what we see on TV isn't always the real story — especially for the
smash hit "Fixer Upper." While the home renovation juggernaut keeps cranking out
the stunning transformations, there's a lot more going on behind the scenes.
From unhappy clients to unfinished rooms, here's what you don't see on the show!
"Fixer Upper" renovations are nothing short of incredible. But, as fans of the show know,
if you're not a resident of Waco, Texas, chances are that the Gaines crew isn't going to be headed
your way. That's because Chip and Joanna call Waco home — and there's apparently enough work to be
done there that they don't need to branch out very far. As Chip told the Waco Tribune-Herald,
"We're passionate about making Waco a better town for all of us to live in."
"This town has supported us, they've gotten behind our dreams. It's home."
Still, the couple may have renovated at least one dwelling outside of the town — that belonged
to none other than Jennifer Lopez. Sources speculate that Joanna may have worked her magic
on JLo's Malibu home, according to People. Watching a home renovation show is a lot different
than actually living through a home renovation of your own. Projects can often drag on for weeks at
a time, especially if you have a large home that requires many different specialists to coordinate
their schedules. But, on "Fixer Upper," everything happens within a designated period of production
time. And it's pretty darn fast. A Season 3 participant told blogger Rachel Teodoro,
"I applied to HGTV and heard from the casting agency the next day.
After that it was a quick, big, exciting blur consisting of a Skype interview,
written questionnaire and some phone calls and meetings."
We've probably all dreamed about having Chip and Joanna do a full renovation on our living space.
After all, the pair's talents really are impressive, and they have turned
so many lost causes into gorgeous, homey spaces with the perfect vibe for families.
But the daydreaming stops when we realize that the clients on "Fixer
Upper" have to cough up their own money for the remodeling and design,
according to the Waco Tribune-Herald. For as wealthy as Chip and Jo may be,
it's not like they're out here paying for everyone's shiplap makeover. So, before you
consider giving the network a call, make sure you have the funds to afford a hardcore renovation.
"I need another $5,500 from you."
There is a consolation prize, though — you might snag a little extra foliage
or other finishing touches. And Yahoo! News claims HGTV
will cover the cost of "one big ticket item," like a piece of furniture.
Considering how much it costs to appear on the show, it's not surprising that some "Fixer Upper"
clients get a little anxious during the filming process. One Season 3 client told Country Living,
"You've heard about the ideas, but [design day is] when you see a visual representation
of what they have in store for your home. But I snuck a peek to see if the house was white and I
was able to see that it was, so I could rest easy and the rest would be smooth sailing."
Sounds like it all worked out for these homeowners. But is
it a perfect match from the start? If you're a longtime fan of the show,
then you're pretty familiar with the "Fixer Upper" format. Each episode
starts out with Chip and Jo showing clients three potential homes to buy and renovate.
Once a decision is made, the crew rolls up their sleeves and gets to work.
But apparently, that's not entirely how things go down in real life. As one Season 3 client
tells it, the whole process we see on TV is somewhat misleading. He told Fox News,
"You have to be under contract to be on the show. They show you other homes but you already have one
[chosen]. After they select you, they send your house to Chip and Joanna and their design team."
"This was my grandmother's house."
"What?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Did you know it was for sale?"
"I didn't. I had no idea."
According to Fox News, who did some digging of
their own, the "Fixer Upper" client application includes questions like…
"'Where are you in the escrow process?' And... 'What is the
purchase price of your new home?'"
One thing that's truly incredible about "Fixer Upper" is the way that Chip and
Jo have revitalized Waco, Texas. According to BuzzFeed News, the city is finally having its
moment after years of bad press, thanks to the so-called "patron saints of Waco," Chip and Jo.
Because of their influence, Waco now draws tons of visitors every year, mainly to the Magnolia
Silos — and other businesses have sprung up as well. The "Fixer Upper" effect is real.
So if your home is featured on an episode of "Fixer Upper," it will quickly become
a tourist destination. One particular Season 3 client told Apartment Therapy,
"A local tourism company called Waco Tours drives by our house [four] to [six] times
[a day] to show people. I guess that's the price you pay to have your house on TV."
Reportedly, this client's property taxes went up as well, which only makes sense as
the entire town essentially gets flipped. We have to give Joanna Gaines props for her
brilliant design skills. Even if the modern farmhouse aesthetic isn't really your thing,
you have to admit that she's had a significant impact on the HGTV design world.
But one thing you don't see on "Fixer Upper" is how much
stuff Jo drags around with her to each home. She revealed to People,
"There's a lot of planning that goes into a day like today. But it's inevitable.
I'll need more books, I'll need a certain vase."
She says she usually winds up bringing too many design elements just in case
she might need something different for the space.
In case you were curious about the scale of her inventory, as People described it,
"[It's] a sea of clear containers,
piles of pillows and rooms full of extra decor that never sees the light of TV."
No wonder Jo always seems to have the perfect items for each home!
Chip and Jo have built a literal Magnolia empire stemming from the success of "Fixer Upper."
According to Vox, the couple own and operate their iconic silos,
a bakery, a coffee shop, a home decor boutique, and a restaurant.
"Y'all. We're gonna have a hotel in downtown Waco, Texas."
"Whaaat?!"
They've also published books, they have merch lines at several stores,
and, of course, they run their own TV network that airs Magnolia-branded content.
Oh, and don't forget their literal castle!
Given how insanely popular the couple is,
it's not surprising that when they're filming, they draw tons of their fans to each location.
This was evident in a post Joanna shared on Instagram, where one user commented:
"How crazy is it seeing [people] crowded on the streets watching in the background??"
Arguably the best part of the show is, of course, the big reveal. That's when you can finally see
all of the work that Chip and Jo did to turn a rundown money-pit into a beautiful home.
But that stunning presentation isn't exactly how clients go on to live in their home.
The reason? All of that furniture isn't included in the price of the renovation.
As one previous client of the show told the Rachel Teodoro blog,
"When it came time to pack up all their beautiful staging furniture,
[my husband] and I had to decide what we really loved because our budget at that point was pretty
spent. We decided to keep the coffee table […] two striped chairs […] and the dining table."
The couple were also gifted a few custom items that appeared in their redesigned music room.
One thing that eagle-eyed viewers of "Fixer Upper" might have noticed is that during the big reveal,
you don't get to see the entire house. You might see just the kitchen, dining room,
and bathrooms, for example, while bedrooms are left out. But there's a good reason for that:
Chip and Jo don't renovate every single room in the house. Jo blogged,
"At times, we only work on rooms that are of priority
to our clients and that work within their budget."
That makes sense, since every room in the house doesn't always require extensive work. Jo added,
"Some homeowners want to finish off their other rooms on their own since it is mainly cosmetic
(paint and carpet). Other times, we finish the spaces for them after the reveal and this is
separate from the budget shown for TV." While you're watching the show, you probably
get the impression that the participants truly love their renovations. And so you'd
expect that they're super stoked to live in the dwellings that were custom-designed for them.
But according to the Waco Herald-Tribune, quite a few clients have gone on to list
their homes on vacation rental sites. Like…a lot of them. So how exactly do Chip and Jo
feel about this trend? A Magnolia spokesperson said in a statement,
"We have no problems with our clients' interest in using sites like VRBO and Airbnb
to rent out their homes. In fact, we get it. But we are going to be
more strict with our contracts involving 'Fixer Upper' clients moving forward."
Reportedly, the "Fixer Upper" team wants to make sure they're loyal to the mission
of the endeavor — hence the change in their policy. The statement said,
"We want to do remodels for clients' homes. That's the true intent of our show,
and we want to ensure that [it] does not get lost in this new vacation rental trend."
We'll be right back… Just looking to see where we can rent ourselves a couple nights in an
actual Fixer Upper! Y'know — that is, until we can book a Chip and Jo renovation of our own!
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