Year to Date "Best Bargain Gone Wrong"
At least that is how things are supposed to work, but one family that received an extreme makeover in 2005 is now facing the possibility of their lives once again changing, but not for the better.
The Harpers' Story
The Harpers, while living in the projects in Brooklyn, New York, suffered the loss of their 2-year-old son who choked to death before paramedics could save him. The Harpers needed a change. Desperate to get away from the projects, took on extra work until they had enough money to buy their first home.
Wanting a safe place for their children to live, they found their first home in Clayton County in Georgia. But the house turned out to be a major money pit. The roof was filled with holes and a broken septic tank would fill the home with raw sewage.
Their new house became so intolerable that many times they would be forced to sleep in their van, until the van was wrecked.
Having spent all their money on buying their home, the Harpers were unable to afford the desperately needed home repairs.
Then their lives took an extreme change. The ABC program, "Extreme Makeover," saw the decrepit condition of their home and came to the rescue. Together with Atlanta-based Beazer Homes USA and several volunteers from the community, the Harpers received a new home. But it was not just a home, but rather a sprawling 4600 square foot mini-mansion. The inside of the home was filled with top-of-the-line appliances and home interiors, four fireplaces on the main level, a solarium and a home office plus a three-car garage.
All the construction costs and the labor were free, donated by those involved in the project. In addition, the family received $250,000 to be used for the children's education and for future home maintenance. Total value of the project was an estimated $700,000.
We all slept better knowing that the Harpers' had a beautiful and healthy home and could now focus on the future.
But unfortunately that is not how things have played out for the Harpers. The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported that the the house is up for auction because the Harpers used it as collateral for a $450,000 loan to start a construction company which failed.
Squandering or Financial Ignorance?
Usually when you give a gift you have no claim to what happens to it, but I suspect if you ask some of the volunteers who donated money, time and expertise to help the Harpers, they may not be happy with this news.
Lake City Mayor Willie Oswalt, who helped with building the home, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "It's aggravating. It just makes you mad. You do that much work, and they just squander it."
Was it squandering or financial ignorance which caused the situation? Perhaps their dream of starting a business seemed possible with much of their other financial burdens under control. And possibly it could have worked had one of them had a good understanding of finances to make sound decisions.
ABC said they advise all families who got a new home to find help from financial planners. It could be possible that the Harpers looked to the money lenders for good financial advice.
Why So Grand?
Many of those selected for "Extreme Makeover" appear to be living frugal lives as a necessity, not necessarily by choice prior to their makeover. Often the homes built for them tower over that of their neighbors, almost to the point of being ostentatious.
For some, managing taxes and other financial responsibilities of owning a large home could become a financial disaster. Even paying the electric bill on a big home could become too costly.
I’ve always wondered why ABC producers feel it is necessary to build such big homes rather than sensible homes, but then I guess they would have to change the name of the show to just Makeover.
I agree wholeheartedly, Donna. Why give a house that a family probably can’t handle or afford?
There was a family in my state that received a house because theirs was uninhabitable due to mold/rundown conditions. The daughter was sick with asthma.
Even the local paper was shocked at the large home given to this family. They were not at all affluent and could barely afford the shack they were currently living in. How were they going to pay for upkeep and property taxes?
I still think of this family. Thanks for writing this!
I am disgusted with the thought that one very anecdotal story may set the tone for viewing what is done for some very needy people.
How many homes have been built for needy families? Then how many are having trouble maintaining them? Humans are not perfect. Things happen. And going into business for oneself is part of what this country is based upon.
Why should the family that had a home built for them be judged any differently than any other family that tried to achieve the “American dream”? Such judgemental attitudes are what makes people feel justified (wrongly) by saying,”Why help them out when they’ll just waste it?”
This story is merely a way to rationalize a justification for doing nothing in the face of extreme need. Maybe THAT should be the name of the show.
Then it wouldn’t be so easy to dismiss the idea that one should hold oneself responsible for doing something to help.
LadyW8tn41
I heard about a family in New Jersey too. They had the makeover but couldn’t afford the taxes. I think they’re in foreclosure now. Such a shame, but bigger is not always better right?
This is indeed sad news. This family had no business being allowed to put up that gift house as collateral. Yes, I agree with the point about people being allowed to pursue a dream, but within reason. This family was bailed out and that was beautiful. But you don’t risk everything for a crack at the big top, especially with young children in the mix. In the case of the NJ family, back taxes are a problem, and I would hope that something can be worked out here unless they, too, took a risk they should have avoided. These shows give much deserving American families second chances. Most of us don’t get second chances.
I think the network should not throw so much at just a few familes. How about spreading around the vast budget. Perhaps they could help two or three families if they gave less money to more families.
I have always wondered how the people could afford the taxes on those houses and the upkeep. I have a 4-bedroom and 2 bath home and the air conditioning about kills us in the summer time. The winter time is about the worst because the natural gas has gone up so much. So if its bad for us, I can imagine how they would find hard to cope with those large houses. I think the suggestion that if they could help 3 or 4 families and build an efficient and affordable houses the families could easily manage the utility bills.
As others have said, I think that it would be nice if the home were within the means of those getting it. Thy do need financial advice. They have not had such a grand home, and have never had to pay bills as large as they will with the new home. Some may have been in financial trouble, not due to circumstances beyond their control, but because they were not making good financial decisions in the first place.
I think that Extreme Home Makeover should not only “suggest” the new homeowner seek financial counseling, but should hook them up with a good financial counselor when they give them the keys to the house.
People are not born with financial sense. They don’t teach it in college. I know a few people who have made excelent salaries, have excellent retirements too, but the money is all spent each money before it is deposited in the bank. I’ve tried to help one man who has $1,000 more a month in income than I do, but I’m doing much better financially, don’t have to worry about my bills or juggle which ones I will pay. Since I gave him the financial advice and he did not apply it, I’ve given up on him. He will just have to muddle his way through life spending more each month than he gets in retirement. He puts so much on credit cards that doesn’t belong there. He spends on others when he should be using that money to pay off his own debts.
Even with financial counselors, you have to do a lot of reading yourself and decide who is giving you the best advice.
I have enjoyed this show for the vicarious thrill of enjoying the delight of the “givers”. The builder and the community, who are providing the benefits.
I also enjoy the childrens joy at their changed fortune, toys and customized room.
I have been appalled at the “over the top” aspect of building these families mini-mansions. I have wondered how the single Mom or Dad was going to keep this giant house clean and if they would be able to afford the energy costs of heating or cooling. Who would provide the monthly subscription costs for internet and cable. Also, were these people capable of keeping a healthy, picked up home or would their previous lifestyle catch up with them.
I must be a socialist because I would like to see four $150,000 homes of normal size given to families. It also seems a shame to put a mansion in a neighborhood where several other families who didn’t apply and “win” can harbor some degree of envy.
This show for me has evolved into the “queen for a day” variety where the show self promotes and enhances the plight of the family so much as to seem to exagerate the entire process.
I rarely watch this anymore.
I don’t watch this show anymore either. The homes they build are ridiculous for the average person to maintain. Like the one in this story—who needs 4 fireplaces on the same floor?!
And they put these extreme homes in neighborhoods of very average homes, which I’m sure causes problems after the show is over.
ABC – help more people by building less ostentatious homes and spread the wealth around to more families in need.
I’ve become more and more uncomfortable watching the families try to react for the camera. There have been a few good makeovers, for example the family with the handicap & horse program but for the most part the makeovers have become too extreme. I first watched because I honestly thought ABC had partnered with Habitat; I kept watching for design ideas because I am remodeling a little trailer to ‘age-in-place’ but the ideas were plainly out of my budget, I stopped watching after one season because I was offended really, by the crassness, the pathetic willingness of most families to give up their dignity, and the grotesque absurdity of the extravagent ‘homes’ being built. I saw a few homes that were great, sensible, but most-tooooo much.