Entertainment

Here's How Much It Could Cost To Be On 'Fixer Upper'

by Annamarya Scaccia

Like millions of other people, I am a fan of home improvement shows. Who doesn't dream of buying a neglected house and having it turn into their dream home by top notch designers? Of course, it's not as easy as just applying to be on Fixer Upper or some other favorite HGTV series. You have to put in a good investment. So how much does it cost to be on Fixer Upper? According to POPSUGAR, cast members have to put down at least $30,000 for renovations, in addition to buying the home.

What's that extra investment? Last year, blogger Rachel Teodoro of Holy Craft had a chance to interview Fixer Upper client Jaime Ferguson, who appeared in the Season 3 episode, "A Big Fix For A House In The Woods," about her time on the show. And Ferguson's answers are pretty revealing. For example, cast members of Fixer Upper don't get to keep the furniture or decor co-host Joanna Gaines uses to design the space, POPSUGAR reported. Those items, which are from the Gaineses' Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas, are available for purchase, if the homeowners are in the mood to shell out more cash .

In other words, to appear on Fixer Upper will cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. That includes the cost of the Waco home, your renovation budget, and whatever you spend on decorations you want to keep. And items from Magnolia Market can be pricey: For example, rugs can run between $89 to $2,139, according to the store's website. A large wooden block of the periodic table of elements costs $150. (Someone buy me that as a birthday gift. I'm a chemistry geek.)

A quick note about the renovation budget, though: $30,000 is the minimum to have your application for Fixer Upper reviewed. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, once you're chosen, Joanna and Chip will draw up a detailed renovation plan and cost estimate, which means your budget could run far higher than you expected.

Of course, you shouldn't expect your house to be renovated for free just because you've been accepted onto a home improvement show. But it's a little shock to the system to know that, if you're on Fixer Upper, you're going to have to throw down more for furnishings (by contrast, Property Brothers gives homeowners $20,000 to $25,000 worth of free decor, according to the Belleville News-Democrat).

So maybe for some, being on Fixer Upper will be a bucket list item, and maybe others could just become DIY-ers themselves. (There are great Reddit tutorials out there. You can do it.)