They did a home in my parents’ town too. I was shocked how they handled the ‘donations’ from various businesses, like strong-arm maudlin, “If you don’t help with such and such kind of lumber, little Timmy’s bedroom won’t get finished” type promos on the nightly news. And as was mentioned up thread, they tore down the existing house in a not great neighborhood, to build something really custom (think a Sea World theme in one of the kid’s rooms and bathroom sinks at three feet high), that the folks who now can’t afford to heat / cool and keep it up, won’t be able to sell it.
Not to mention, they apparently treated the townsfolk and the surrounding neighbors like shit. Very disappointing from where they started to how they ended up. I agree there were much better ways to go about how they did this that would’ve been infinitely more beneficial to the entire community in general and the people they did the renovations for specifically.
Generally not one for the +1s, but +1.
Never went to a build that couldn’t use more people of any skill level.
That articles reminded me of a questionable trick the show used. Normally, the families would be liable for the gift taxes on the value of the house, furnishings and the vacation they’re sent on while the house is being constructed. But at least a few years ago, the producers would “lease” the family home for fifteen days at $50,000 and rentals of that short a period were tax free. And then they claim that the improvements are tax-free under an exemption for lessee improvements. The tax issues are discussed in this paper (Warning: PDF) from 2004.