“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” builds two homes in Auburndale
Extreme Makeover: Homes Edition has set up shop in Auburndale to build two homes for Polk County families as part of its 2025 season reboot. Here’s a look.
A popular home improvement reality show is preparing for its return to cable television, and two Polk County families will be among the lucky beneficiaries.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition teams have come together in Auburndale to build two homes for Polk County families. Hundreds of volunteers are working around the clock to build homes from the ground up at Brookland Park, a new development by national builder Taylor Morrison on Old Lake Alfred Road.
“We have two homes under construction at the same time, two days apart,” said Doug Miller, president of Taylor Morrison’s Tampa division. “Each home will take about five days to build.”
Miller said crews began work Sunday, just as winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Debby began hitting Polk. There were only two weather-related interruptions: 30 minutes when high winds and rain forced roofers to work, and when a tornado warning was issued for Auburndale Monday morning, sending crews scrambling for shelter.
“This is a first,” he said. “The further we get into the process, the more we learn that it’s not five days of television magic. It’s really a five-day buildup.”
“Dreams” under construction
One of the homes will be a two-story home with six bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and a garage. The other will have five bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and a garage. The homes will not follow the builder’s standard floor plans, according to Miller, and have been designed with custom features to meet each family’s needs. He estimated the value of each at around $450,000.
“On Sunday and Monday, the scene was different,” Miller said. “As they were putting up the walls, you could see how many people are working together to make this possible.”
Construction workers and volunteers have been banned from taking photos or videos inside the house to avoid spoiling any surprises. Despite the weather, construction is on schedule for the Move that bus! unveilings scheduled for Saturday and Monday. Extreme Makeover’s new presenters Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of global lifestyle brand The Home Edit, are expected to be in town for the move-in and unveilings.
The identities of the two families have not been disclosed by Extreme Homes or Taylor Morrison.
Miller said he participated in the Braveheart Walk on Wednesday morning, where he personally delivered the news to a second family that they had been selected from thousands of entries for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “As builders, we talk about making the American dream a reality, and being involved in an endeavor like this embodies that,” he said.
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Volunteer workers make it possible
Gayle Coutant, the site’s volunteer coordinator, said there are between 35 and 40 volunteers working around the clock for each eight-hour shift. These people checked in contractors, made sure they had the necessary safety equipment, set up tables and chairs for rest, cleaned up trash and more. Some traveled more than two hours to lend a hand.
The local craftsmen are also volunteers, Miller said, who donate their time and expertise to help build the houses. Up to 150 workers work on one house at a time.
Some of Extreme Makeover’s volunteers are working in the arts and design field, helping to design and build custom pieces for the selected families. Others have begun assembling furniture to help ease the move-in process.
Silent auction to help families cover costs
Taylor Morrison has launched an online campaign to help the selected families cover preliminary moving costs, Miller said. The builder recognizes that families may face costs such as homeowners association fees, utility startup fees and other one-time expenses.
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Individuals who wish to contribute can make a donation to the Legacy Fund, which will be distributed to help select families in Arizona, Florida and Texas.
There is also a silent online auction featuring an array of kitchen appliances, household items and several vacation packages. It can be found online at airauctioneer.com/legacy-fund. Bids will be accepted until September 20 at 3 p.m.
Reach Sara-Megan Walsh at [email protected] or 863-802-7545.
