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That is interesting. I wonder how people get involved in it? I remember them doing the house in Raleigh and while I don't know the homeowner, I know other people that know them. We were all curious as to how people from the local community got involved. Is it one of those things where you just have to know people or do they actually invite the community to help out?
When EM gets down to their finalists, they obtain a list of names for community contacts so they can forewarn the community and have it get prepared. When the XYZ family in my town was chosen, the phone chain got active and we got a call to come down to the high school for an EM meeting. My husband was doing a lot of carpentry work at the time since he was between jobs so his name naturally came up and I did know the family and the head volunteers. I'm not sure how they amassed their list but it seemed as though everyone in town was there! I have some pictures of the house going up. But I haven't yet figured out how to post them on C-D.
So to answer your question, in my community, it was who you knew initially. But the need for volunteers is so great that no one was turned away.
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One of the bigger issues has become the valuation of the houses: in most cases, the value of the new house is much higher than the old house, and even if the mortgage is paid off, the property tax bills soar (especially in Texas and California), and some EM homeowners have not been able to manage the new property tax bills and have had to sell. Perhaps the "EM house" label has helped them.
I'd heard that too. In our town, additional money was raised to help the family with their taxes in perpetuity. The town kicked in as well, knocking a good amount of the valuation.
Also, the landscaping company that did all the landscaping volunteered yard service also in perpetuity. I think that this family's karma just came back at them in their favor. They give so much to the town that it was just time to get some back. One of their children is disabled and they do a lot to fundraise nationally.
All good deeds aside, I still feel like there is no way anything quality can come out of a house that has been built from ground up in less than a week.
I also don't particularly care for the show. It's not the fact that they do good deeds for deserving people but the fact that I've read about how much money the show makes for the production company. Don't think that Ty is volunteering his time.
All good deeds aside, I still feel like there is no way anything quality can come out of a house that has been built from ground up in less than a week.
I also don't particularly care for the show. It's not the fact that they do good deeds for deserving people but the fact that I've read about how much money the show makes for the production company. Don't think that Ty is volunteering his time.
On a similar note, it is sad that the house they demolished was in fact demolished instead of renovated. Yes, it was not in the greatest shape, but it was not condemned and it was an historic home that could have very easily been renovated with probably less money than was spent (donated?) to build the new home, and still come out basically like new. I am all for helping people out by providing a nice home if they are in need, but is it really necessary to waste resources that way? It seems like the house was destroyed only for the dramatic effect of television to garner viewers. I even heard that the show wouldn't even allow people to come in and salvage any of the historic elements of the home that could have been used in other restorations.
All that said, though, I do hope the family is enjoying their new home that they deserved!
On a similar note, it is sad that the house they demolished was in fact demolished instead of renovated. Yes, it was not in the greatest shape, but it was not condemned and it was an historic home that could have very easily been renovated with probably less money than was spent (donated?) to build the new home, and still come out basically like new. I am all for helping people out by providing a nice home if they are in need, but is it really necessary to waste resources that way? It seems like the house was destroyed only for the dramatic effect of television to garner viewers. I even heard that the show wouldn't even allow people to come in and salvage any of the historic elements of the home that could have been used in other restorations.
All that said, though, I do hope the family is enjoying their new home that they deserved!
You are referring to the Raleigh house, right? Because the house in my town was also old (historic) but couldn't accomodate a handicapped child. The family had started to renovate it themselves before EM but part of the foundation was crumbling and an entire side of the house fell in on them.
You are referring to the Raleigh house, right? Because the house in my town was also old (historic) but couldn't accomodate a handicapped child. The family had started to renovate it themselves before EM but part of the foundation was crumbling and an entire side of the house fell in on them.
Yes, the Raleigh house. I have no idea what town you are in, so I don't know anything about that one!
Thanks for the link. I feel the same way that you do about razing an historic house. That happened here, unfortunately but the house had issues---so I just wanted to make sure we weren't talking about that house!
Happily, the new house design fits the neighborhood and the lot, beautifully. So there can be a happy ending. Local architects were used.
Thanks for the link. I feel the same way that you do about razing an historic house. That happened here, unfortunately but the house had issues---so I just wanted to make sure we weren't talking about that house!
Happily, the new house design fits the neighborhood and the lot, beautifully. So there can be a happy ending. Local architects were used.
If we can keep things on the NC forum with topics on NC, that would be a big help in not confusing others (again) please. Thanks.
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I even heard that the show wouldn't even allow people to come in and salvage any of the historic elements of the home that could have been used in other restorations.
