All applications are handled by ABC. I have nothing to do with who gets chosen for the show. It’s a surprise to me until a few weeks before the build when I get a dossier and house plans for the upcoming shows. We have an incredible team of people who go through the two-three thousand applications we get each week and find the extraordinary families who appear on our show. You can download the application here.

Volunteers are coordinated by the builders. Typically about a week before we show up in a town, the local news will start doing stories about us and calling for volunteers. Our producers work closely with the builders to make sure all the volunteers are in place by the time I arrive to yell “Good Morning!” I suggest that you follow the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition fan page, where two weeks before a family is notified they announce locations and builder’s websites so volunteers can sigh up. You could also sign up for a Google Alert or some other way of being electronically notified using the key words Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

You could try to read the credits by squinting or using your dvr in slow motion, but there is an easier way. All this information is online at abc.com.

I get asked this question so much which is why I put it here on the FAQ. I don’t have a favorite. How could I? Each story is different and each build is unique. I certainly have favorite moments, but many of the best moments for me don’t end up on television. Lots of times the things that stick with me happen when the cameras aren’t rolling—such as when I’m in town getting something to eat and someone comes up to me and tells me a great story. Or if I’m walking back to the catering truck and a kid is there with a football and we throw a little before I have to go back to building. These are the moments on the road that stick with me most.

The answer to this is no, we do not. We actually build the house in 5 days. Yep, it’s true. Our builders are incredible and we have volunteers working literally around the clock. If you ever get to see a taping of our show, you’ll notice huge lights everywhere like the ones the highway crews use. We work 24 hours a day. So if you think of it that way, then we build the house in what would be the equivalent of 10-12 days—still pretty amazing.

I live in hotels most of the time, but I pay property taxes in California! Actually, I have a great house in Los Angeles. It’s near the beach and my neighbors love me…maybe because I’m never there!

Design is my passion and doing my secret rooms on EM:HE as well as other projects is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. Unfortunately the rest of the job keeps me so darn busy that I don’t have time to take on private clients or jobs. That’s one reason why I have the magazine Ty Pennington At Home and my book Good Design Can Change Your Life.

This or some variation of this question comes up a lot. I’m a color guy—I love how colors work together to create an impact. But I don’t recommend going full throttle on a bold color if you aren’t already into that kind of design. If you’re thinking you want to paint the room, then use the bold color on just one wall—we call it an accent wall in the world of design. That way the color complements the room instead of overpowering it. But if painting a wall isn’t your thing, then use your walls as a blank canvas and showcase color against them. A bright red throw on a neutral sofa or a great colorful rug can make a huge statement without forcing you to pull out your sunglasses.

Anyone willing to donate time, services, or materials to the show should contact the production office through the ABC website. Those things are coordinated by the production manager and the builder. Thanks in advance for your generosity!

Sadly, the answer to this one is usually “no,” but let me explain why. I’m on the road with EMHE most of the year. Chances are pretty good that the date you need me, I’ll be building a house somewhere. When I’m not on the road, it’s often a holiday. Like Thanksgiving or Christmas. So I’m with my family. And on the very few days left I have to do things like laundry.

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