If you’ve ever tuned into HGTV‘s hit Fixer Upper, you know hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines put shiplap and family values above all else. But apparently there’s a third, unspoken priority that alums of the home makeover show haven’t quite taken to heart.
Each episode’s premise is simple: to help families turn tired, newly-purchased houses into relaxing, clean spaces to call home. According to the Waco Tribune, though, at least six of the houses the pair have renovated and decorated are now available for rent on sites like Airbnb and VRBO.
Chip and Jojo have apparently discovered the development, and they aren’t thrilled.
One homeowner, Dave Morrow, described renters as “mostly women in their 50s and tend to be big Fixer Upper fans or Baylor (University)-oriented.”
In an official statement from their company Magnolia Homes, through spokesman Brock Murphy, the Gaines say they understand the impulse to rent out the homes, but they’re going to be more thoughtful about the wording in their client contracts moving forward.
“We have no problems with our clients’ interest in using sites like VRBO and Airbnb to rent out their homes. In fact, we get it. But we are going to be more strict with our contracts involving ‘Fixer Upper’ clients moving forward.
“We want to honor our national viewing audience. We want to do remodels for clients’ homes. That’s the true intent of our show, and we want to ensure that does not get lost in this new vacation rental trend. What started off with perfectly understandable intentions could cast a shadow of a doubt on the much bigger picture, and we are going to do our best to protect that moving forward.”
Another day, another unforeseen home renovation hiccup.
H/T Jezebel