What You Need To Know About HGTV's Bargain Block

HGTV is the network that churns out wholesome television shows dedicated to DIY enthusiasts, home renovation lovers, interior decor aficionados, and more. "Bargain Block" is one of such shows. According to IMDB, it was released in 2021, thereby making it one of the newest additions to the platform. Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas are the co-hosts of this heartwarming series on which they help build dream homes for residents in the Detroit area. 

Keith uses his decor prowess to conceptualize and create mind-blowing and seemingly impossible decor styles, which captivate homeowners every time they view the finished work. Thomas, on the other hand, is the major manpower behind the designs, tearing down and building different parts of the home to make it perfect for the homeowner. A reviewer on the IMDB platform commented about this show saying; "I love this show. The guys are helping this great city. Very cool designs and it's fun to watch the transformation. I wish them much success so they continue to bring life to the neighborhoods." After the first season, the show must have done something right in the eyes of the HGTV brand, seeing as they chose to renew it; leading to a second season that aired earlier this year. 

Much like this show and other shows, as seasons pass, loyal viewers of HGTV tend to become more and more invested in the content to the point where they yearn to learn more juicy details such as behind-the-scenes information surrounding the filming of the show. Some may also want to know more trivia-worthy news and additional details about the show hosts. If you're reading this, chances are that you've probably discovered the "Lies From 'Love It Or List It' You Were Led To Believe Were True" in addition to "The Untold Truth Of 'Love It Or List It Vancouver.'" Hence, we shall now take a deep dive into "Bargain Block," dishing out every shred of information you need to know about the show as we go along.

Both Keith and Evan spend their own money, going from block to block to buy dilapidated homes which they then tear down just to create dream homes for people. According to Evan when speaking to Hour Detroit, the homes are so much worse than they appear. He terms them, "houses that are heavily blighted and not being lived in." Indeed the homes are blighted, yet through skill and patience, Evan and Keith then renovate and furnish the homes thereby breathing life into the location. 

Keith shares the same zeal if not more than Evan's zeal when it comes to finding the worst fixer-uppers. In an episode from Season 1, he speaks on the sorts of damaged houses that he prefers to work on. He says, "If it is a nasty house....the one that's absolutely about to collapse...give me some fire damage...that is the one that I am most excited about ." Evan adds that such a damaged location is "Keith's dream home"(via Discovery Plus).

It is great to be a viewer of the show, whereby you can enjoy the ability to sit back and watch all the magic happen on your screens. That's surely more exciting than Keith and Evan's roles which require a lot more to renovate the homes. In reality, all these magical achievements they perform for viewers to witness, come with lots of costs and budget constraints. It's no surprise though, because, the nastier the house they choose, the higher the financial costs they would need to shoulder. For example, many homes they buy are unbelievably filthy and have been abandoned for years. Straight away once they reach the site, you could see the costs piling up, such as the number of dumpster trucks they would have to hire in order to clear out the nasty site for fresh work to begin.

Most HGTV shows involve people spending countless amounts of money because they need to pay to be on the show and in so doing get their homes renovated. In multiple cases, after these homes are renovated, homeowners tend to not be able to keep the accessories and furniture you see on the reveal day because in such cases, the house has been staged to show the homeowner how they could arrange it to benefit them. On those shows, the homeowners would then have the choice to shell out more cash to buy the items used in staging the house so that they need not stress themselves in having to start a new phase of decoration.

"Bargain Block" as a show, is totally different! In the first season, Keith and Evan confirmed that they "design the homes to a T with custom artwork and furniture and we sell them fully furnished." Contestants of "Bargain Block" actually get the chance to keep every single customized accessory, fixture, and furniture used to enhance the home and make it what it is revealed to be on the final day. 

Since Keith and Evan shell out the cash to build by themselves and decorate the homes by themselves, they've also added in the cost of all the furniture so that you do not need to stress yourself when you purchase the house. You literally only need a key to move in and start enjoying your home. Isn't that a bargain?

Keith introduces himself in the intro of "Bargain Block" as the "creative ...behind these renovations, " yet it is not safe to assume that he has a university degree in art. According to Nine Homes, Keith loved business so much that he began his first business venture as an ambitious youth at the age of 14. He also went on to study business in college.  LinkedIn confirms that between 2004 to 2007, Keith studied Business Administration and Management acquiring a Bachelor's Degree at the end of his studies. That was not enough for Keith though, because, between 2011 to 2013 he went on to pursue a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial studies.

Nevertheless, the world of art, decor, and construction became a path of expression for him. On his Instagram bio, he describes himself as a builder/designer/artist and an affordable housing advocate. He is now a full-fledged artist, and his art even has its own social media page per Instagram. All 31 posts posted on Instagram prove that Keith is talented and multifaceted in his own right.  

You may or may not have missed the "this is my partner in life" statement that Keith makes in the opening montage of "Bargain Block." If you've ever wondered what he means by that statement, we can confirm that it extends beyond being business partners. According to Seen The Magazine, Keith Bynum says "I got on Match.com one day, and Evan was the only other gay guy there...I don't remember who winked at whom." Evan Thomas also added, "It was the only Match date either of us went on."

These two lovebirds have been blissfully partnered up for some time now, however it won't come as a surprise to learn that people are unsure that they would last due to their differences. Even as the episodes unfold in front of us, we see that they do not always see eye to eye but Keith and Evan are not worried about this at all. Evan has been more vocal about this, saying via the Detroit Free Press, "People sometimes say Keith is the balloon...I'm kind of like the string that keeps him tethered to reality. I feel like my role in the show and in our business is letting him do all his creative things and then I'll chime in when I think it's getting a little too out there or unrealistic." 

On an episode of the HGTV show, Evan spoke about Keith once more, saying, "Those creative types, they can sometimes get ahead of themselves. I try to bring him back down to earth ..make sure that we do the job right...I think that's possibly why we make such a powerful team. "Evan also expressed to Pride Source, "A lot of people have told us that it would be a struggle to work with their partner and essentially be around them 24 hours a day,... We joke about being worried we have become co-dependent being around each other so much, but overall it's a great relationship and we are very fortunate."