The Real Reason Fixer Upper Homes Are So Hard To Sell

The homes that Chip and Joanna Gaines have upgraded on "Fixer Upper" are no doubt showpieces, and the husband and wife team have made quite the name for themselves on the HGTV show giving dilapidated homes a much-needed makeover through their home renovation and redecoration business in Waco, Texas. 

As House Beautiful reports, the pair tied the knot back in 2003 and landed their very own HGTV show more than a decade later in 2014. Several seasons later, the couple enjoyed continued success, mustering up an estimated net worth of $18 million, per Business Insider. 

While the original "Fixer Upper" series wrapped in 2018, the popular renovation show was later revived by Discovery in 2021 in the form of "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home," per Deadline. 

As fans will know, homes that were fixed up by Chip and Joanna were regularly put on the market — but they can be surprisingly hard to sell. Although one might assume that being associated with the show might increase its chances of being sold, this certainly isn't the case. So, why do these stunning houses have such a hard time finding a buyer?

One major reason some of the "Fixer Upper" homes are hard to sell is their extremely hefty price tag. Speaking to Insider, realtor Kristin Clements, who in the past has worked on some of the properties overseen by Chip and Joanna Gaines, revealed that the trouble selling the properties has nothing to do with how they look, but a lot to do with the listing price. 

Per Country Living, one example of this is Chip and Joanna's "Asian ranch," which was listed at a whopping $679,000. In Waco, Texas, where the property is located, the average house price is roughly $200,000 — meaning potential buyers weren't exactly lining up to put an offer on the ranch. 

"I know big cities do that, but Waco's not there yet," Clements told Insider, adding that the "honey spot" in Waco, Texas, is "around that $150,000 to $250,000 range." She continued, "that's where we'll get people buying right away."

Waco-based realtor, Matthew McLeod, echoed Clements' comments. "No one is willing to pay extra money because a particular person remodeled their home, whether they're a celebrity or not." Per realtor.com, he continued, "The more expensive they get, the harder any home in this market is to sell." 

As expected, the homes featured on "Fixer Upper" get a lot of attention from viewers and potential buyers online. However, being associated with the hugely popular Chip and Joanna Gaines does not guarantee a sale. "Just by having the 'Fixer Upper' name in our description, we get a lot of traffic online, which is typically how you sell houses,"  realtor Kristin Clements explained to Insider. 

Clements also shared details of the kind of visibility the reality series can bring to properties, revealing that one renovated home featured on "Fixer Upper" Season 2 attracted more than 18,000 views online. By comparison, she usually expects around 100 views online for a home. Per Country Living, the huge online interest generally doesn't translate to physical showings for Clements, though. 

"People are looking at it just because it has a 'Fixer Upper' name on it ... Not because they can actually afford it," Clements told Insider.

As realtor.com notes, some of the lower-priced properties that have been featured on "Fixer Upper" have sold — and pretty quickly. An example is a home shown on Season 3 of the HGTV reality series, that was listed on the market for $219,900. The desirable Waco property, which included a detached building outside, was sold less than three weeks after being put on the market.

Speaking to Insider, realtor Kristin Clements shared her view that many of the homes renovated by Chip and Joanna Gaines have a lot of potential for the housing market. "I just think it's going to take the right buyer who wants to be in Waco," she explained. 

As for Chip and Joanna themselves, the pair have previously shared their top tips to consider if you're planning on selling a home. Per Sunset, the couple advises future sellers to do their research before making any important decisions, maximize all the spaces of a property before selling, and, of course, give your home a renovation — even if that means just adding a lick of paint — to ensure the property is as desirable as possible for potential buyers.