The popular television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is known for providing families in need with opulent and highly customized homes. And in the past few years, more than a few of those homes have hit the auction blocks as the owners, newly-freed from mortgage obligations as part of the show’s “reward” to them to help them overcome other adversity, have over-leveraged the properties in order to fund businesses or make other changes to their lives. However, one of the most recent properties to go on the block is going up for auction for a much simpler, more practical reason: “It’s time to downsize.” The owners of the home are selling the house, which was built for them in 2005 after their previous home exploded[1]. The house is over 4,000 square feet and has five bedrooms and 4 ½ baths.
The television show has definitely changed lives – and millions of viewers tune in to see what amazing amenities Ty Pennington will come up with to help struggling homeowners deal with personal crises and, often, unique medical issues. However, the show has also met criticism that it does not properly vet participants ahead of time and even ultimately exacerbates situations for families unable to deal with their sudden windfall. One family stands accused of seeking “excessive medical care” for daughters with an alleged immune disorder[2]. After receiving the house and many other gifts, the family sold the property and relocated to another state where doctors questioned the prior alleged need for constant medical attention.
Do you think that this show should come with counseling?
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[1] http://www.kansas.com/2011/05/29/1870591/open-house-offers-peek-inside.html#storylink=omni_popular
[2] http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2011/05/20/another-extreme-makeover-family-leaves-home/
It only stands to reason if folks can’t afford to keep up the home they have they can’t keep up such elaborate homes. I have always wondered, when the homes are built for folks are they given to them totaly free of charge or are they expected to carry a mortgage to pay it off. That again should be obvious if they can’t afford what they have they can’t afford a “Pennington” house.
Counseling sounds like a good idea, or rather a necessity for most people that get a large windfall. As proverbs says “Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.”
Proverbs 13:22-24
I think this show “Extreme Makeover” along with several other TV shows including “Horders” should come with continued counseling. I not here to argue that these programs are bad, they help people who really need the help. Without the proper knowledge and education they will probably wind up in the same situation.
I think Realtors should make home purchasers fill out a budget sheet and only show houses that fit within the home buyers budget. I think banks, mortgage brokers, car dealerships should do the same. The real question here is how do you protect the “foolish uneducated buyer”.
-Dan
I have a huge problem with the show (and I haven’t watched since the middle of the first season). I am disgusted with the waste and extravagance. Build a family a nice comfortable home; that would be awesome. The over-the-top atmosphere typifies the show and “cheapens” (pun intended) everything that is done.
What ever happened to personal accountability? Most of the time someone pays off the mortgage in the final segment of the show. If any recipients of such a gift are ill prepared to act like an adult, it is not the responsibility of the producers to provide counseling! Lacking a mortgage payment goes a long way to cover any new operating expenses, increased property taxes and insurance. How many families have been helped beyond their dreams? I would venture to say probably most.
Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be built by Television Shows. Who’s gonna do it? You? They have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for the few that complain. You have that luxury. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain personal responsibility to a homeowner who rises and sleeps under the very roof they provide, then questions the manner in which they provide it! I’d rather they just said thank you and went on their way.
I watch the show quite reguarly and I think it is great how they help families.
I do have some concern with the extranvaganze of the homes. Is it really necessary to have such a grandular home. If they went smaller they could help many more families in need. The money could be spread across the country to more deserving families.
It is said, when people hit the lottery that most people lose it shortly after due to making many wrong finacial decisons. In order to aquire such a sum of money you need to be disciplined on how you spent it or it will be spent.
I think having a legal advisor and a counsellor to help the families through this journey of new found finacial freedom would make the show complete.
Have a great Day!
Denise Clermont
Yes, these folks should be counseled before getting such a windfall.
I would invite those who are so critical, to look at a very positive episode of Extreme makeover, and that was the project complete in the spring of 2009 in Indianapolis. One Bernard McFarland and his community project, Pack House 2000 was the recipient of the efforts of some 5000 people as a new home and a library were built in a week to serve his growing mission for kids. I believe they are doing better than ever. Ironically, the builder who put it all together for Mr Pennington’s show has had to let all his holdings for new homes go this year. So it isn’t always the recipient who struggles after the “gift” is given. Pack House continues to serve the youth of inner city Indianapolis, and it was an amazing show because the whole neighborhood around the new construction got the benefit of that workforce, not just Mr McFarland. Houses got painted, sided and roofed, condemned homes were plowed under, and the whole area got a huge facelift. It ain’t all that bad folks.