Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Day 1

We were there this morning as Ty Pennington and his crew from ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” rolled their bus into Gainesville to surprise a local family with the home makeover of a lifetime. Stopping at the doorstep of Tobin and Jill Wagstaff’s home at 1415 NE 7th Street, they announced the selection of the Wagstaff’s home as the show’s latest project.

ABOUT THE FAMILY The Wagstaff family is comprised of Tobin, 29, his wife Jill, 32, and their four children: Tobin James Jr., 7, Rudy, 6, Dallas, 5, and Larissa Jolene, 4. In 2002, the Tobin and Jill (college sweethearts) started Studio Percussion, Inc., a non-profit music school and arts center, to share their passion for the arts with everyone—including those with financial limitations or disabilities. The organization specializes in teaching drums and percussion and seeks to inspire its students toward community involvement and leadership development.

The studio currently serves about 200 people, more than half of whom receive financial aid or a full scholarship to attend. The main studio doubles as a bedroom for Dallas and Larissa Jolene. As the organization can only afford to pay Tobin a salary for his services, Jill also works as a preschool teacher to make ends meet. With so much invested in the bettering the lives of their family and others in the community, the Wagstaffs have little time to tend to their home. The floors and rooftops are rotting away and a faulty electrical system runs throughout.

ABOUT THE SHOW After kicking off with a ceremonial march down 7th Street by the University of Florida marching band this afternoon (Tobin was a member of the UF drum line and Jill was a Gatorette), the “Extreme Makeover” crew will spend the next seven days giving the Wagstaffs a brand new home. Until the completion of the project, the Wagstaffs are being sent on a surprise rock and roll vacation (stay tuned for details--should be amazing, if the rumors are true!).

After demolishing the existing house tomorrow around sunset (Dec. 8), the show’s team, local builder Ark Remodeling & Construction and hundreds of local volunteers will work to create a safe, new home for the Wagstaffs. The new home will be revealed next Monday, December 14. Go here for more coverage!

Photos by Rodney Rogers