If you’re one of the many fans who loyally watched Chip and Joanna Gaines on their Fixer Upper show from the beginning, you’ve gotten to know a lot about the couple—and their work—along the way. From magnificent (but outdated) mansions to quaint ranches and everything in between, the pair has worked wonders on homes. Their authentic relationship might have stolen our hearts, too.
Still, Fixer Upper is reality TV, and the reality is that certain things happen off-camera that the audience doesn’t see. While these secrets aren’t as exciting as the renovation reveal, we’ve rounded up five things you might not know about Fixer Upper.
Test your knowledge with things no one knows about Joanna Gaines.
1. You Have to Pay to Be on the Show
According to Showbiz CheatSheet, the minimum it costs to work with Chip and Joanna is $30,000. To be clear, that’s the minimum for a client’s renovation budget and part of the application process.
That might seem like a steep price for a minimum budget, but it makes sense when you look at the types of homes the pair takes on. Most of them are complete gut jobs, renovating a house from inside out—and I’ll be the first to admit that I love the transformation reveal at the end of each episode.
2. Furniture Is Not Included
All of the tasteful furnishings that Jo arranges before the big reveal aren’t free, and they don’t come cheap, either. According to The Kitchn, Joanna shared on her Magnolia blog that the furniture and decor are there to help new homeowners visualize their space. If they like it, they can buy it, but those finishing touches aren’t included in the renovation budget.
3. Clients Don’t “Choose” a Fixer Upper
Yep, that’s right. The beginning of every Fixer Upper episode takes Chip and Jo’s client to several locations, ultimately ending with them choosing a house. David Ridley, a former client on the show, told Fox News that he had purchased his home beforehand—meaning the selection process at the beginning of each episode is just for entertainment.
“You have to be under contract to be on the show. They show you other homes but you already have one,” Ridley said. “After they select you, they send your house to Chip and Joanna and their design team.”
The application process for the show seems to support Ridley’s statement that contestants already have a home or at least have one in mind. Throughout the application, contestants are asked to upload photos of their fixer-upper, the price point of the home and more.
4. Not Every Room Is “Fixed Up”
If you’ve spent time watching HGTV, you’re familiar with a homeowner’s list of “needs” for a renovation projects—a spacious bathroom, additional walk-in closet space, revamped mudroom and finished basem*nt. But more often than not, clients don’t have an unlimited budget to work with, so it’s a game of give and take.
Chip and Joanna work with the budget they’re given. That means the duo can’t always fix up the entire house. Joanna shared on the Magnolia blog that what was renovated and revealed on the show were a client’s top priorities. If they wanted other parts of their house fixed up, the couple had to finish up other spaces on a separate budget.
5. Magnolia Isn’t Just a Brand Name
Magnolia trees are beautiful and they’ve become a symbol for the Gaines family brand. But why the magnolia tree? Architectural Digest shared that on one of their early dates, Chip climbed a magnolia tree to pluck Joanna a flower. Since then, a magnolia tree has found its way into each project the pair take on. Chip shared that the duo loves to plant a magnolia tree at every location they work on.
Don’t miss our list of Joanna Gaines’ favorite recipes!
FAQs
An example fee to book Chip and Joanna Gaines is in the starting range of $300,000-$499,000. However, any recent popularity change would cause a price fluctuation well beyond this example. Also, their speaking fee might be different than the fee shown for the cost to perform or to just appear.
How much does it cost to hire Chip and Joanna? ›
An example fee to book Chip and Joanna Gaines is in the starting range of $300,000-$499,000. However, any recent popularity change would cause a price fluctuation well beyond this example. Also, their speaking fee might be different than the fee shown for the cost to perform or to just appear.
Do the home owners get to keep the furniture on the Fixer Upper? ›
Homeowners don't get to keep the furnishings from Joanna, but they can purchase them.
Does Chip do any actual work on Fixer Upper? ›
Although you often see Chip kicking down walls on "Fixer Upper," he apparently doesn't do that much physical labor when the cameras stop rolling — at least not on the home's exterior, Lindy told Teodoro.
Do the homeowners pay on Fixer Upper? ›
Surprisingly, the answer is no. The couple (or person) is responsible for paying for their own renovations, but that doesn't mean they walk away totally empty handed. While HGTV doesn't fund the renovations, they do pay for one big ticket item.
Is Fixer Upper real or staged? ›
The Making of an HGTV Show
"But what happens really is real. The producers might have you repeat things a few times, and they might film things multiple times from different angles, but the reactions and conversations are real. The hard thing is remembering what you said before when asked to repeat it."
Has anyone sold their Fixer Upper house? ›
Chip and Joanna Gaines have sold their lake house—but you can still watch their renovation unfold on “Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse.” A Magnolia Network rep has confirmed, “They bought the Lakehouse with the intention of flipping it, and they have sold it.”
Do the home owners get to keep the furniture on home town? ›
The homeowners' budget usually does allow for lots of pieces they get to keep + the custom pieces @scotsman.co builds for each home and I like to use the homeowner's own furnishings and objects as much as possible," she explains.
What happens to furniture after staging? ›
The furniture is then either stored or sold, depending on the condition and age of the pieces. If the furniture is in good condition and still has some value, it may be sold to a third party. This could include furniture stores, antique dealers, or even individual buyers.
Why don't people like Chip and Joanna? ›
During the original run of Fixer Upper, Joanna and Chip faced criticism for never featuring any same-sex couples on the series. The backlash grew louder in 2016 after they filmed a conversation with a pastor who openly opposed LGBTQ rights. “Sometimes I'm like, 'Can I just make a statement?
Joanna Gaines said they were able to get along because they both had a very strong sense of who they were prior to getting married. “The biggest thing is we met at a time when both of us felt pretty grounded in who we were as people by ourselves. I feel like Chip, he was a visionary. He had these businesses,” she said.
Are Chip and Joanna really happy? ›
Chip and Joanna Gaines are entering a new phase of their relationship — and loving it. "I would say, as we're getting older, I'm shifting and I'm more like Chip, and Chip is more like me," says Joanna of her husband of 20 years in this week's PEOPLE cover story. "Jo and I are in this beautiful moment.
Has the Waco Castle sold? ›
The Gaineses Decided Not to Sell
In July 2023, Chip and Joanna announced that they planned to keep the castle for at least 6 more months. "Magnolia is pleased to share that the Historic Waco Castle is staying in the Magnolia family,” a statement from Magnolia read.
Are there any unhappy Fixer Upper clients? ›
Fixer Upper Has Unhappy Clients Who Feel Deceived.
Do Fixer Upper clients keep Clint's furniture? ›
The clients don't get to keep all the furniture seen in the reveal. Most of the furniture you see in the homes on reveal day is "staging furniture," meaning it's just there to make the space look nice. After the reveal, clients can purchase what they want to keep in their home.
How much do Chip and Joanna make on each house? ›
Chip and Joanna reportedly earned $30,000 for each episode, plus the fees they received from the families whose homes they renovated, E! News reported. That means the couple could take home upward of $510,000 in a single season.
How do I get someone from HGTV to remodel my house? ›
Some HGTV stars are only available for projects for their TV shows, so if you're looking for their services, you'll have to be cast in a future season. Conveniently, the network makes it pretty easy to find its casting calls: just visit HGTV.com/shows/be-on-hgtv.
Who pays for renovations on Fixer to Fabulous? ›
According to the network, "Homeowners have to come up with the money for the projects. While HGTV doesn't front the bill...the network does, at times, contribute construction funds to help enhance and speed up projects for television."
Who pays Chip and Joanna? ›
To top it off, the homeowners aren't required to pay Chip and Joanna for their design services, since HGTV covers the talent fee. This means they get a full-blown renovation and pay only for the furniture, so it's a pretty solid deal.
