Chip And Joanna Gaines' Fakest Detail About Fixer Upper Left Many Families With 'Empty' Homes

Summary

• A major part of Reveal Day on Fixer Upper gets removed after filming.
• Fixer Upper couples have to pay for renovations that happen on the show, with a minimum of $30,000, plus additional costs as needed.
• Homeowners can purchase staged furniture after the show ends from Magnolia Market.

Chip and Joanna Gaines spent five seasons on HGTV's Fixer Upper transforming outdated properties into unimaginable dream homes, but some parts of the renovations don't last very long after Chip and Joanna leave and the show ends. While the main focus of Fixer Upper is to remodel and renovate the overall framework of a home, the big reveal moment is a huge part of the series that often brings the homeowners (and viewers) to tears.

Much of the big showcase for the newly renovated and remodeled home features the most perfect furniture to go along with the new feel of the home. However, the furniture shown in Fixer Upper is there for staging purposes in the episode, and it gets promptly removed once filming wraps.

Why Fixer Upper Takes Away Furniture After The Show

During Fixer Upper, viewers see Chip and Joanna Gaines remodel a likely neglected property to get it ready for its new owners. What viewers don't see is that the couples featured on Fixer Upper actually have to pay for the renovations done to their new home.

HGTV shared with Bustle an official statement explaining, "During production of the current season, the requirement was that a homeowner’s financial contribution be in proportion to the amount of renovations the home required."

According to POPSUGAR, couples featured on Fixer Upper allegedly had to put down at least $30,000 for renovations. But there was also a high likelihood that this number could increase after the homeowners were provided with a detailed renovation plan and cost estimate from Chip and Joanna Gaines.

"You have to sign off on your budget at the beginning and we actually didn't have any surprises come up during filming," explained Fixer Upper season 3's Rachel Whyte in an interview with Country Living. "The budget goes towards your wish list, but the design team will also make decisions about what they think the home needs to be a TV-worthy renovation."

Overall, this financial commitment for the homeowners does not include any new furniture. At the end of the renovation, Joanna often uses her own store, Magnolia Market to dress the rooms before displaying them for viewers and the homeowners.

"Our show features real clients with real budgets. The furniture budget is not part of the renovation budget, it’s something some clients add at the end," Joanna wrote on her Magnolia blog, according to Bustle. "About half of our clients already have all their own furnishings, some of which I use for the reveal, and others buy the items I decorate the home with."

"The main reason I decorate the rooms for the reveal is because I want the clients to get the full picture of how to maximize their newly renovated space."

Joanna Gaines doesn't only use her own show furniture from Magnolia Market, the interior designer has been known to incorporate some of the Fixer Upper couples' own furniture in the big reveal.

Fixer Upper Couples Can Purchase The Staged Furniture After The Show

So, what happens when a couple falls in love with the furniture staged during their big reveal in Fixer Upper? Well, they had the option to purchase and keep any of the furniture used in their new home. Since the furniture Joanna Gaines used on Fixer Upper came from Magnolia Market, it was all available to purchase. Even viewers who fancied a particular item showcased were able to find it on Magnolia Markets online store to purchase for their homes.

"They give you an itemized list of how much everything costs at the end to see if you want to purchase things at a discounted price," shared Rachel in her interview with Country Living. "I think it's so funny because you wouldn't want to get rid of all your furniture."

In her interview, Rachel confirmed that after the cameras stop rolling, the furniture used in the staging for Fixer Upper's Reveal Day is taken away, unless the homeowners have set aside an additional budget to keep the furniture.

"I wasn't really sad to see the staged decorations go."

"We did buy some of the decor, but I was excited to fill our home with our things and make it ours," stated Rachel.

Some viewers have pointed out that Fixer Upper has reused some of the bigger furniture items, like couches, armchairs and dining room tables, in multiple episodes.

What Former Fixer Upper Couples Have Said About Their Experience With Chip And Joanna Gaines

While Chip and Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper has faced its fair share of scandals, several couples who have worked with the HGTV stars had nothing but good things to say about their experience.

"She does do an amazing job," Laura Ferguson said in an interview with home and design blogger Rachel Teodoro about Joanna working to incorporate Laura's personal furniture into the showing. "[The] big blue buffet [is so] special to me! [My husband Kyle and I] bought it when we were first married. It was cherry wood. One day in Austin, I decided I wanted to jazz it up so I painted it blue, antiqued it and added gold gilding. So, when Joanna wanted to use that piece in our final design it made me giddy!"

"I thought Joanna would implement her style but she really pays attention to what the homeowner wants," Rachel Whyte expressed, explaining that during the process she and her husband, Luke, only met with Joanna twice during renovations, but she would call and text them several times. "Joanna actually called us along the way to ask if we would like an iron railing on the staircase, which was normal wood at the time... It was essentially an upgrade, because [Chip and Joanna] decided they wanted to try something different."

Not all couples share the same positive statements as Laura and Rachel, though. Season 3 couple, Ken and Kelly Downs reportedly became "furious" with Chip and Joanna Gaines after realizing the neighborhood Fixer Upper moved them into was unsafe.

"It’s been a problem from the beginning,” Kelly said to the Waco Tribune, noting she and her husband had been "intimidated and harrassed" and an alleged drunk driver crashed their car into the Downs' home. "It's like the Wild West here... There's been a lot of commotion coming from the bars and the store across the street."

“We feel deceived by the city of Waco and Magnolia Realty.”