1. You Had to Be Local to Waco, Texas
If you wanted Chip and Joanna to work their magic on your house, you needed to live within 40 miles of Waco. No exceptions. This kept things manageable for the team—and let’s be honest, Waco got a lot of love.
2. Your Budget Needed to Be at Least $50,000
Transformations don’t come cheap! To make the cut, you had to have at least $50,000 set aside for renovations, plus a little extra for unexpected surprises.
3. You Already Owned the Home
Unlike some home makeover shows, “Fixer Upper” wasn’t about helping you find your dream house. You had to come with the keys in hand, ready to transform what you already owned.
4. You Couldn’t See the House Before Filming
Surprise! Participants had to trust Chip and Joanna completely. They weren’t allowed to step foot in their future fixer-upper before the cameras started rolling.
5. You Had to Give Up Control Over Design Decisions
This was Joanna’s world—you just lived in it. Once you signed up, Jo got free rein to bring her vision to life. No sneaking in Pinterest boards!
6. No Peeking at the Renovation Process
While your home was being transformed, you weren’t allowed to pop in. The big reveal was a true first look—no spoilers allowed.
7. You Had to Pay for the Furniture
Those dreamy farmhouse tables and cozy couches? Not included. If you wanted to keep Joanna’s perfectly styled furniture, you had to buy it after the reveal.
8. The Home Had to Need Serious Work
Your house needed to be a real fixer-upper—no minor paint jobs here. It had to have enough issues to showcase a dramatic before-and-after.
9. You Needed a Flexible Schedule
Filming took several weeks, and participants had to be available for multiple days of shooting. If your calendar was packed, this wasn’t the gig for you.
10. You Had to Keep Quiet Until the Episode Aired
Participants had to sign nondisclosure agreements, promising not to spill any details about the transformation or process until the show premiered.
11. You Had to Be Camera-Friendly
Being on TV isn’t for everyone, and producers looked for people who were personable, energetic, and comfortable being filmed for hours on end.
12. Your House Might Not Be Done by the Time You Move In
Behind the scenes, some details—like landscaping or finishing touches—were left for participants to complete later. TV magic doesn’t cover everything!
13. You Needed a Decent Storyline
Producers loved a good narrative. Whether it was a growing family or someone returning to their roots, your story had to tug at heartstrings.
14. Your Home Had to Fit the “Fixer Upper” Aesthetic
Joanna has a signature style, and not every house made the cut. Your home needed the potential to look like one of her iconic designs.
15. You Might Have to Make Sacrifices
Sometimes, things on your wish list didn’t make the budget, and you had to let Joanna prioritize what would make the biggest impact.
16. You Couldn’t Have a Perfect House History
If your home was fully updated or had no quirks, it wouldn’t qualify. The show loved a challenge—and the bigger, the better.
17. You Might Not Get Every Detail You Wanted
Even though Joanna worked hard to bring your dreams to life, some requests just weren’t practical—or didn’t make for great TV.
18. You Had to Be Ready for Fame
After the episode aired, your home could become a tourist attraction. Living in a “Fixer Upper” house meant accepting its newfound fame.
