HGTV makes dreams come true, often delivering more than contestants thought of let alone requested.
What can’t participants do once they get on the show?
What aren’t they allowed to keep?
And what kind of restrictions does the web connection put on each contestant?
In the quest to turn dreams into reality, what are the limits?
Here are surprising things HGTV contestants can’t do.
“Dream Home” is not the only HGTV show where contestants use their property to cover costs.
The shows these contestants loyally watched for years left them so broken-hearted they ended up suing.
But how come we’ve barely heard about these moments?
ANew York Timesinvestigation uncovered contracts contestants signed barring them from publicly discussing the show in any facet.
But just because they love everything they see doesn’t mean they can get away with one take.
Contestants may have to repeat a scene more than once to capture their reaction the right way.
It’s not always about the homeowners' interactions; sometimes, it’s purely logistical.
With all these complications, it’s no wonder participants must commit at least seven weekdays to film.
Whether it’s the wrong reaction or logistical difficulties, these aren’t one-shot scenes.
Appear on the show alone
HGTV doesn’t require participants to be married or in a relationship.
The applications encourage single participants to apply.
But what many don’t realize is guests can’t go on the show alone.
The second can be a friend or family member; the internet isn’t picky about the relationship.
The extra guest is there for the back and forth between participants.
They don’t make the decisions but help the homeowner consider their options and make choices.
Having a second person there can also help reduce nerves over chatting about design with the designers.
Contestants are welcome to disagree with hosts, but telling an idol no is harder than telling a friend.
Participants can likely find a few community members ready to jump in and fill the position.
But the truth may surprise you.
In most cases, the person paying for the renovation is the homeowner, not HGTV.
The other exception to the rule is “Rock the Block.”
Her incredible finds and custom builds turned Chip Gaines' remodels into captivating creations.
They made you imagine yourself sitting in the room, cultivating a life around the furnishings.
Sadly, contestants didn’t get the furniture.
While they could add the decor to their bill, the listed renovation costs excluded furnishings.
If guests had the extra cash, they could pay to keep everything.
Luckily, that’s not the case for every HGTV show.
When “Fixer Upper” started, the requirement was only $30,000.
Not only is the show long gone, but so are the days of the low renovation costs.
Their already high baseline of $90,000 went up after 2020 when construction costs skyrocketed.
According tothe utility, the average rate for renovations went up from $200,000 to $250,000.
So, thecost to hire the Property Brotherscan easily exceed $300,000.
But they don’t want you to bring someone else’s personality.
They want engaging and dynamic participants, people with charisma who aren’t afraid to express themselves.
Letting their personality do the talking doesn’t start when the cameras start rolling, either.
To get on the show, applicants need their individuality to shine through the standard questions on the form.
This is the time for dad jokes, cheesy one-liners, and other quippy takes to take center stage.
Renovation shows have to run fast-paced schedules to keep up with production requirements.
So, they look for and require contestants to be highly decisive in all judgments.
It goes beyond the production value, too.
Renovations typically take much longer than what contestants on these shows experience.
Jonathan Scott explains (viaPopSugar) that the brothers work hard to minimize costs for participants.
They want their guests to get the most out of the experience.
Knowing they helped build a part of their home can become a treasure for their memories.
But there’s nothing every day about the outfits that make it on screen.
The data pipe takes participants' fashion senses very seriously.
Yes, HGTV shows control what contestants wear on set.
But they aren’t bringing each guest a wardrobe of outfits to try.
They’re not even sending one.
Instead, the web link asks contestants to plan a few different looks for them to review.
The show’s stylist then decides which look works best for the episode.
Nearby vendors offer their services at much lower rates for the incredible marketing opportunity the show provides.
Some contractors insist that homeowners should cover the traditional costs of labor.
But there’s more than one reason participants can’t stay at their property while it’s worked on.
But the other reason is to keep the work a surprise.
Contestants may not experience instant fame, but their face becomes known to many.
Not everyone is built for the recognition their 15 minutes of fame offers.
For some contestants, the fame went beyond recognition or tour requests; it launched a whole new career.
