The Truth About Who Pays For Repairs & Materials On Mike Holmes' Renovation Shows

HGTV's Mike Holmes is one of the biggest — and most trusted — names in home renovation. The Canadian contractor first shot to reality TV stardom with the 2001 debut of "Holmes on Homes," giving way to a slew of spinoffs and solidifying his status as a go-to building expert. Indeed, Holmes' tips and tricks for a seamless home renovation are invaluable and have helped countless homeowners make smarter decisions.

These days, his kids, Mike Holmes Jr. and Sherry Holmes, have also gotten in on the renovation game, delivering expert advice and revealing what goes on behind the scenes of their family business. One of the questions they've received often is who actually foots the bill on shows like "Holmes Makes It Right" and "Holmes and Homes." Because while it's true that Holmes knows how to work with a tight budget, many of his on-air renovations are total overhauls using luxe materials and quality finishes.

Taking to Facebook in 2024, Mike Holmes Jr. told fans that the answer actually changes with every single project and depends on the show, project, and specific circumstances surrounding the job. "Sometimes the network helps cover some of the costs through their sponsorships," he wrote. "Sometimes our wonderful trades and suppliers and product partners step up to donate materials, products, and even their own time." However, in some cases, the Holmes family and even the homeowners end up pitching in, too. 

Sherry Holmes also took a turn answering one of fans' biggest questions in a video posted to Mike Holmes' YouTube channel. As she explained, there are actually three parties who work together to cover renovations that appear on Holmes' various shows: the TV network, the tradespeople and suppliers, as well as the Holmes family.

As Sherry explained, "We get a budget from the network that goes towards filming our shows." However, that only goes so far and. As she admitted, "A lot of the time, we blow through that budget." When that happens, suppliers step up to donate everything from building materials to furniture for free. Similarly, some tradespeople offer to do their jobs pro bono. 

If they're still short after that, Holmes' production company, The Holmes Group, often helps cover the difference. Sherry told fans that Mike Holmes himself is also willing to pay some of the additional costs. "We just want to make sure we do the best work we can possibly do and give them everything they deserve," she enthused.

Despite the Holmes family's assurances that most of the on-air renovations they undertake are free of charge, there are times when homeowner participants do need to take out their pocketbooks. "For some projects, the homeowner is also responsible for contributing to the job financially," Mike Holmes Jr. admitted in a blog post on the Make It Right website.

Indeed, in 2011, a member of a family who appeared on "Holmes on Homes" took to Reddit to share his experience and revealed that the family did have to fork over some cash. Holmes spent two weeks renovating the family's flooring after a huge renovation blunder for a Season 2 episode called "Floor Fiasco," and while the job was a slam dunk, it came with an invoice. "The deal was labor was free, but we had to pay for the materials," the Redditor recalled. Even so, it was still worth it because, as he explained, "Free labor made the granite flooring way more affordable than it would have been otherwise."

What's more, Mike Holmes Jr. told fans in his blog post that some of the furniture they use on TV actually comes from a staging company, which means it's taken away after a shoot is finished. However, he underscored that it's the exception, not the rule. "Most of the times, especially if the family is in dire need, we end up covering the cost to help give everything the homeowner has in the house," he concluded.