Well now, if you ever watched them shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, you might’ve thought, “Who’s payin’ for all them fancy houses they build for folks?” I know I did, so let me tell you how it all works in a way that makes sense.

First off, this ain’t like your regular home reno where you call up the contractor and hand over a big ol’ stack of cash. Nah, this here is somethin’ different. You see, them folks on the show ain’t got to pay for the whole thing, but they still gotta chip in some. The main thing you gotta know is, the cost of them fancy houses, them big ol’ makeovers, well, it’s covered by all sorts of sponsors and donations. Yep, them companies, the ones that make all them tools and furniture, they the ones payin’ for most of it. Them folks on the show don’t get no pay for bein’ on it either. They do it all for the heart and soul, as they say, and a little bit of fame.
Now, you might be thinkin’, “Well, if them companies pay, then how much do them families actually pay for all this?” Good question, I’ll tell ya. Turns out, them families got to have some money saved up too, at least $75,000.00! Yup, you heard that right. Ain’t no free lunch, you still gotta show you got some skin in the game. That’s the minimum they ask for, to be considered for a spot on the show. But don’t get too upset now, ’cause a lot of that money ain’t really for the house itself. It’s more for the family’s moving expenses, like gettin’ their things packed up and ready for the big reveal, and all the little things that come with the whole process.
And let me tell ya, there’s more to it. If you think HGTV or them folks behind the show just hand over them fancy kitchens and new living rooms for free, well, you’d be wrong. Folks who get their houses done up, they gotta pay for the renovation too. Yep, them contractors, the ones doin’ all the hard work, they still get their bills paid, even if it’s covered by sponsors. So, don’t be thinkin’ these families get everything handed to ’em on a silver platter. Nope, they got to fork out some cash, and sometimes, it’s a hefty amount.
What Happens After the Show?
Now, you might be wonderin’, what happens after all them cameras go away and the dust settles? Do they get to keep them houses? Well, turns out it ain’t always so simple. A lot of them families can’t keep up with the bills after all the excitement fades. And let me tell ya, some of them homes go up for sale or even get foreclosed on after a few years. In fact, by 2020, nine of them original families from the show had to give up their homes, and two of them had to face foreclosure. It’s a sad deal, but sometimes them fancy houses come with more than just a big ol’ mortgage.
- So, to sum it all up: The families don’t get paid, the show’s funded by sponsors and donations.
- The families still gotta pay their part, with a budget of at least $75,000.00.
- They pay for the renovations themselves, even though sponsors cover the cost of the big changes.
- After the cameras are gone, some families can’t keep up with the new bills, and some lose their homes.
Why Did They Cancel the Show?

Now, you might remember Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was a big deal when it was on, but folks been wonderin’ why it was canceled. According to them folks at The Hollywood Reporter, it was a lotta things. First, makin’ the show cost a heap of money, and it was hard to keep up with all them big ol’ makeovers. Then, there were the struggles families faced after the show aired. They couldn’t always keep up with the financial strain. But don’t worry, they brought it back on HGTV, so maybe it’ll get a second chance!
In the end, if you’re still thinkin’ about applyin’ for one of these big makeovers, just remember—it’s not all about what you see on TV. You gotta have the money, and you gotta be ready for what comes after all the pretty pictures are taken. So, if you’re dreamin’ of a new house, think long and hard before you sign up for something like this. It’s not just about the shiny new home, it’s about what happens when the cameras stop rollin’ and the work is done.
Tags:[Extreme Makeover, Home Renovation, HGTV, House Makeover, Home Edition, Sponsors, Foreclosure, Home Makeover Costs, Family Homes, Renovation Costs]