Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas make home renovations look like a dream, turning abandoned Detroit houses into stunning, affordable homes. But behind the scenes, the process isn’t nearly as smooth as it seems on TV. From unexpected structural nightmares to financial roadblocks, the show often skips over the toughest moments of the renovation process. While viewers see the beautiful final product, they don’t see the sleepless nights, frustrating delays, and hidden costs that come with every project.
1. Unexpected Structural Issues
Renovating abandoned and severely neglected Detroit homes means encountering hidden structural problems that aren’t always highlighted on screen. Realtor.com notes that many of these century-old homes suffer from foundation cracks, sagging floors, and deteriorating load-bearing walls, which can lead to unexpected costs and delays. While the show captures Keith and Evan’s design process, the true extent of these structural nightmares is often glossed over to keep the episodes moving.
These problems sometimes require costly reinforcements, such as steel beams or extensive foundation repairs, before any aesthetic improvements can begin. Because the budget for each home is tight, the team must find creative ways to absorb these costs without compromising safety or style. While audiences see a stunning transformation, what they don’t see is the intense behind-the-scenes stress of ensuring a home is structurally sound before the design magic happens.
2. Hazardous Materials Lurking Inside
Many of the homes on Bargain Block were built in the early 1900s, which means they often contain outdated and hazardous materials. This Old House reports that asbestos, lead paint, and even hidden mold are common in homes of this age, creating serious health risks during renovation. While the show acknowledges the occasional need for remediation, viewers rarely see the full extent of the work required to make these houses safe to live in.
Removing lead-based paint or asbestos insulation is not only costly but also requires licensed professionals to handle the materials properly. In some cases, entire walls or ceilings must be stripped down and replaced, adding significant time and expense. The crew must carefully balance safety with staying on budget, ensuring that these homes are not just beautiful but also free from dangerous contaminants that could pose risks to future homeowners.
3. Permitting Delays and Red Tape
While the show moves quickly from demolition to stunning reveal, in reality, permitting and inspections can drag on for weeks or even months. Curbed Detroit notes that Detroit’s strict renovation guidelines mean that every structural change, electrical update, and plumbing modification must be approved by the city. These approvals aren’t always granted immediately, forcing the team to pause construction while waiting for the green light.
Navigating these bureaucratic hurdles requires persistence, and any missed paperwork or overlooked regulation can cause further delays. While viewers see a smooth renovation process, what they don’t see is the endless back-and-forth with city inspectors, the frustration of waiting for approvals, or the stress of trying to meet deadlines despite unpredictable setbacks. These permitting challenges often dictate which homes can be completed within the show’s timeline and which may be postponed indefinitely.
4. Budget Constraints Are Even Tighter Than They Look
The show makes it seem like Keith and Evan stretch every dollar to its maximum potential, but the reality is even tougher than what’s shown. Architectural Digest explains that unexpected costs—such as emergency plumbing fixes or last-minute material price hikes—can drain a renovation budget in no time. While creative problem-solving helps them stay on track, the financial pressure behind the scenes is immense.
To make the numbers work, the team must cut corners in ways that aren’t always shown on camera. This might mean repurposing old materials, scaling back on luxury finishes, or even delaying certain upgrades for a future owner to handle. Despite these challenges, they always manage to create a finished product that looks high-end, proving that their resourcefulness is just as valuable as their design skills.
5. Limited Time for Proper Inspections
Buying homes at rock-bottom prices means purchasing them as-is, often without thorough inspections. This means Keith and Evan sometimes don’t discover major issues until demolition begins, forcing them to adjust plans on the fly. While some of these surprises make it to air, the most time-consuming setbacks are usually left out to keep the show’s pace engaging.
Skipping a formal home inspection also means taking big financial risks. A hidden plumbing disaster, termite damage, or a faulty electrical system can completely upend a budget. The team must rely on their experience and gut instincts when purchasing a home, knowing that some risks may turn into expensive problems down the line.
6. Hidden Water Damage
Water damage is one of the most common and costly issues found in older homes, and many of the properties on Bargain Block have sat vacant for years with leaking roofs or burst pipes. By the time Keith and Evan get to them, the damage has often spread to walls, floors, and even the foundation. If left untreated, moisture problems can lead to rot, mold, and structural weakening.
Repairing water damage isn’t just about replacing drywall—it can mean gutting entire sections of a home, replacing beams, or even reinforcing the foundation. These repairs can eat up a large chunk of the budget, forcing the team to scale back on design elements elsewhere. Though the show highlights the final beautiful result, the painstaking process of undoing years of water damage is rarely shown in full detail.
7. Unreliable Contractor Availability
While Keith and Evan do a lot of the work themselves, they still rely on specialized contractors for things like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. However, finding reliable professionals who can work within their budget and timeline is an ongoing challenge. In a competitive market, contractors may prioritize higher-paying jobs, leaving the Bargain Block team scrambling to stay on schedule.
Delays caused by contractor shortages can push back deadlines, forcing the team to take on more DIY tasks than planned. This sometimes results in Keith and Evan spending long nights working on details that a full crew would normally handle. While the final reveals look seamless, the pressure of coordinating skilled labor behind the scenes is a constant struggle.
8. Stolen or Missing Materials
With multiple homes under construction at once, keeping track of materials is a logistical challenge. Unfortunately, theft is a real issue on job sites, especially in areas with high vacancy rates. Expensive tools, appliances, and even basic supplies like lumber have been known to go missing, adding extra costs and delays to each project.
To prevent losses, the team has to be strategic about storing materials and securing job sites, which isn’t always easy with so many active renovations happening at once. When items do go missing, they often have to scramble for budget-friendly replacements, sometimes altering their original design plans in the process.
9. Weather-Related Setbacks
Detroit’s unpredictable weather can make renovations even harder, especially during colder months when snow and ice can damage exposed structures. Heavy rains can cause flooding in basements, while freezing temperatures can delay painting, flooring installation, or exterior work.
These weather challenges often force the team to reschedule tasks or even shift projects to different seasons. While the show captures the excitement of bringing homes back to life, it rarely delves into the headaches caused by weather-related setbacks that throw off timelines and budgets.
10. Finding Affordable Furniture and Decor
The finished homes on Bargain Block always look magazine-worthy, but sourcing stylish decor on a tight budget is no easy feat. Keith and Evan rely on thrift stores, salvage yards, and DIY solutions to create high-end looks without breaking the bank.
Many of the beautiful pieces seen in the final reveals are repurposed or custom-built to save money. While the show focuses on the design process, it doesn’t always highlight the time-consuming effort required to track down budget-friendly pieces that match the home’s aesthetic.
11. Strict Historical Preservation Rules
Some of the homes featured on Bargain Block are in Detroit’s historic districts, which means the team must follow strict guidelines when making renovations. Historic preservation boards often require specific materials, design elements, or restoration techniques to maintain a home’s original character. While the show highlights the charm of these older homes, it rarely touches on the extra layers of bureaucracy that come with preserving history.
These regulations can add unexpected costs and limit design choices. In some cases, replacing original windows or siding isn’t allowed, meaning Keith and Evan must restore rather than replace—often at a higher price. Balancing historic charm with modern functionality is no easy feat, especially on a tight budget and timeline.
12. The Pressure of Fast Turnarounds
Unlike traditional home renovations, which can take months or even years, Bargain Block operates on an incredibly fast schedule. To keep up with filming deadlines, Keith and Evan must complete entire home makeovers in just a few weeks. This means working long hours, juggling multiple projects at once, and often making quick decisions without the luxury of second-guessing.
The fast pace doesn’t leave much room for mistakes, and if something goes wrong, there’s little time to fix it. While the final reveals always look flawless, the pressure to meet tight deadlines often leads to rushed finishes or design compromises that aren’t obvious on camera. Behind the scenes, the race against time is one of the biggest challenges the team faces.
13. Finding Buyers for the Homes
While Bargain Block focuses on the transformation process, there’s another major challenge that rarely gets discussed—actually selling the homes. Many of these properties are in struggling neighborhoods, and despite the beautiful renovations, finding buyers isn’t always easy. Keith and Evan price their homes affordably to encourage homeownership, but even then, the Detroit real estate market can be unpredictable.
Selling a home involves inspections, mortgage approvals, and buyer negotiations, all of which can add stress and delays. If a home doesn’t sell quickly, it can tie up funds needed for the next project, slowing down the entire operation. While the show celebrates the moment a home is completed, what happens after that is often just as complicated as the renovation itself.
14. The Emotional Toll on Keith and Evan
Renovating multiple homes at once, dealing with constant setbacks, and managing tight budgets take a serious emotional toll. Keith and Evan’s passion for revitalizing Detroit is clear, but the stress of the job can be overwhelming. From financial pressure to exhaustion, the behind-the-scenes reality of their work is far more demanding than what audiences see on TV.
The duo also faces the challenge of maintaining their creative vision while staying financially stable. Some episodes touch on their struggles, but the depth of their sacrifices—both personal and professional—isn’t fully captured on screen. Despite the hardships, their love for their work keeps them pushing forward, even when the odds are stacked against them.
15. The Hidden Costs of Running a Business
Beyond the renovations themselves, Keith and Evan are also running a business, which comes with its own set of financial and logistical challenges. They have to manage payroll, source materials, handle taxes, and oversee every detail of their operations while also keeping up with the demands of a TV production schedule.
These business expenses aren’t factored into the renovation budgets shown on the show, but they significantly impact how much they can invest in each home. While Bargain Block focuses on the creative and design aspects of home flipping, the reality is that Keith and Evan are constantly making tough financial decisions to keep their business afloat.
