When it comes to reality shows, it seems there's nothing more beloved than home makeover shows. At least, there's nothing more beloved than Chip and Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper series, including its spinoffs. The couple's wholesome image helps support the series, and the fact that they're parents of five kids is also a point for the pair. Yet not everything is what it seems.
Some have accused Chip and Joanna of being "hateful," while there have been rumblings about the quality of the pair's home renovations. And when it comes right down to it, not everyone is convinced that Chip and Joanna Gaines are good at their jobs—or good for their local community.
Chip And Joanna Gaines Operate Magnolia Homes Out Of Waco, Texas
Chip and Joanna Gaines started their company, Magnolia, in 2003. The couple launched in Waco, Texas and many of their projects happen in their local area.
For many years, the Gaines family has served as a pillar of their community, though neither was actually born or raised there. Still, the couple is credited with giving parts of the community a face lift, as their designs and home renovations have bolstered the real estate market.
Of course, some also blame the Gaineses for inflating the local housing market, making it impossible for people who have grown up there to purchase a home and stick around.
That's only the beginning of the controversy, though, with critics saying there are many things the public ignores about the Gaineses.
Some Waco Locals Claim The Gaines Family Is Only Helping Themselves
Many people who claim to live in Waco, Texas disagree with the assumption that "the people of Waco love Chip and Jo for all that they do for the community."
One commenter simply called them a "scam," noting that their spouse is a framing carpenter and finds some of their remodels appalling. That same commenter claimed their aunt was on the show Fixer Upper, and that the property was left "all kinds of [messed] up" afterward.
Another person shared their friends' experience making an offer on a Chip-and-Jo-renovated home; the friends "backed out because it had substandard wiring that wouldn't pass their FHA loan inspection," the person wrote.
After they backed out, the friend said, Chip Gaines "was SCREAMING at them in the front yard of the house" for refusing to use the Gaines' inspector. What's worse, the person claimed that the folks who eventually bought the house "had to move out after the kids tested off the charts high for lead and the lead abatement cost $$$$ and took forever."
Apart from structural and other issues with renovations, many say that Chip and Joanna are not nice to interact with, whether informally in Waco or formally in business dealings.
One shared a story about Joanna being rude while they were dining at Magnolia. Another said Joanna was a bit snooty when her kids were getting haircuts in town.
Yet another stated that Chip was "sharp" when it came to business dealings, but suggested that he often lawyered up to avoid doing what was, according to the commenter, the right or legal thing in a situation.
But are Chip and Joanna really impacting people's lives in Waco, Texas?
Are Chip And Joanna Gaines Making Waco Living Worse?
The tea doesn't stop there from purported Waco locals. Other commenters noted that most of Waco isn't happy with the Gaines or Magnolia, and weren't before the couple became famous and netted their reality show.
One person wrote, "They were crooks and rude before they even had the show, and only got worse once they got it." They went on to explain that local vendors, pre-Fixer Upper, had to wait forever to get paid and that the homes that Chip and Joanna renovated "would always have major issues with them."
That person didn't give any specific details, but stated that "Their legal issues have been in the news and are open record."
Another apparent local said they knew people that interacted with Chip and Joanna pre-2013, and that "I don’t know of anyone who particularly trusts them."
Many other commenters agreed that the cost of living rose starkly after Magnolia took over the city, and blamed the Gaineses for trying to "get rid of" the Salvation Army, among other slights.
Multiple people lamented not being able to afford a home in the area, calling it "gentrification" at its finest.
One person summed up, "They have done alot more bad than good and people think they help the city so much but they really don't."
Ultimately, the general assumption is that people living in Waco don't love Chip and Joanna Gaines, whether due to bad business deals, garbage home renovations, or simply steep housing costs.
As one person noted flatly, "So, yeah, we hate Magnolia. It’s also a tradition to flip off the Magnolia billboards."
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