How to get on "Dachny Otvet" and save big on repairs

The program "Dachny Otvet" has been airing on the NTV channel for over 10 years. It tells the stories of lucky people who have received the opportunity to remodel their home or plot for free.

Before becoming these lucky ones, participants undergo a rigorous selection process based on specific criteria:

1. The site and house where the renovation is planned must be located in the near Moscow region with good transport access. The film crew will not travel to the regions or long distances from the capital.
2. Prospective participants must have an interesting story about how they met, started a family, or had an unusual career—anything that would be of interest to viewers. All stories must be supported by photographs, video archives, or other supporting documents.
3. All family members must be photogenic and look good on screen.
4. Important qualities of participants are communication skills, a sense of humor, energy, and stress resistance.
5. The house and plot must be equipped with all utilities. There are special requirements for power sources: the network must be capable of withstanding a load of over 5 kW.
6. The family will need to leave their home for at least two months, so having additional housing or the ability to rent it is important.

Design solutions involve remodeling and extensive renovations, so owners must obtain all necessary permits in advance. To obtain them, they must assemble the following documents:

• An application on behalf of the owner requesting permission for redevelopment.
• Certificate of ownership or other documents confirming ownership.
• Technical passport.
• Consent for alterations from all owners, persons permanently residing with the owner, or the tenant.
• If the house is classified as a cultural heritage site, then a permit from the relevant government agency is required.

Applications are reviewed within the legally required 45 days from the date of submission, and the applicant is notified of the decision within three business days. A refusal must be clearly justified. Typically, this is due to an insufficient number of submitted documents or a lack of prerequisites for the redevelopment.

The price of the issue

The show "Dachny Otvet" offers free home and property renovation services. Participants' only potential expenses are related to moving and rent. However, many families have extended family who are happy to accommodate them for such a significant occasion.

Risks

The main risk for homeowners is the theoretical possibility that construction workers could carry out work that violates current legislation due to certain conditions. In such a case, all costs would fall on the homeowners.

By participating in such a program, family members understand that the design ideas of invited specialists can be extremely bold, so there's always a risk of not getting exactly what they envisioned. But in any case, the resulting project increases the value of the house and land, saving money on renovations and furnishings.

Participant form

The program website contains an active link to an online application form, which can be completed online and sent to the organizers. The application must include detailed information about both the home and family members:

• How many people live in the house.
• Its technical characteristics and level of wear.
• Is the house their permanent place of residence?
• What communications are there?
• Square footage and plot size.
• Distance from the Moscow Ring Road.
• Features of transport communications.
• Planned alterations.
• Information about family members: education, age, hobbies, place of work, interesting biographical facts. The more unusual and interesting this information is, the higher the chance of being featured on the show.

The house and plot should also be described in detail, without missing a single detail.

The area of ​​the space the owners intend to remodel must be between 16 and 35 square meters. The application can include several items that they would like to change or improve, arranging them in order of priority.