Jonathan and Drew Scott, two of HGTV’s most popular hosts, are bringing their reality show Property Brothers to Westchester. And it’s not just homebuyers and loyal fans of the show who are excited—HGTV is currently casting for Westchester homeowners to appear on the show, and has already tapped several local businesses to work behind the scenes. In addition, the show, which helps homebuyers purchase and renovate homes, will help expose Westchester County to a wide television audience.
Bringing Property Brothers to the Lower Hudson Valley and Connecticut makes sense because “these areas offer a wide variety of stunning dream homes and inspirational fixer-uppers,” says Ken Seeback, the show’s senior associate producer. “We’ve had fantastic support from our local contacts and are excited to have already begun filming just a few weeks ago.”
One local business that will be featured on the show is Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, which operates more than 25 offices serving Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York. Julian Diaz, a real estate salesperson at Rand Realty’s White Plains office, is working with the production as the show’s real estate researcher in Rockland and Westchester. “I’m thrilled to have been given the chance to work on this project with Drew and Jonathan,” says Diaz. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the real estate possibilities that are offered in the Lower Hudson Valley, and I’m really looking forward to this collaboration.”
Denise Friend, manager of the firm’s White Plains office, thinks the show will be great marketing for Westchester County. “With the properties being highlighted on this show, I think this project will allow us to draw attention to the promise in these markets and benefit them as a whole. It’s a dynamic piece of marketing that shows the great real estate potential in all of these areas,” she says.
Croton-based home improvement contractor Franzoso Contracting was also selected to work with the Scott brothers, according to an announcement it recently posted on its Facebook page. While Franzoso did not share any details about where the project is located or what it entails, he confirmed that the show contacted him directly to include his firm in the project.
Interior designer Brittany Zachos, owner of Rye-based Zachos Design Group—and one of 914 INC’s 2014 Wunderkinds—was selected out of three other candidates to work behind the scenes on Property Brothers. Zachos will aid in the design of four to five homes throughout Westchester County with a turnaround of just seven weeks for each.
“I am so excited to be working with the Property Brothers for season five. So far it’s been a fantastic adventure and a great team to work with,” Zachos says.
Filming for the Westchester episodes, part of the fifth season of Property Brothers, has already begun. The network has not yet set an air date, but it is expected some time in the fall of 2015.
