What Most HGTV Fans Don't Know About Brother Vs. Brother

When you think of HGTV, you probably envision the Property Brothers. Drew and Jonathan Scott have created an empire, as the duo not only have a multitude of shows, but have home decor and furniture lines, and even video games (yes, they have their own home design game available on the app store). Drew and Jonathan started out on the home network with their show "The Property Brothers," but quickly evolved with time. As of publication, the duo have spearheaded shows including "​​Buying and Selling," "Brother vs. Brother," "Property Brothers: At Home," "Brothers Take New Orleans," "Property Brothers: Forever Home," and more. In short, they are the Kardashians of the HGTV world, and it doesn't look like they'll be slowing down any time soon.

Of course, viewers only really see the highlights when it comes to their show "Brother vs. Brother." The premise of the series pits the two against one another in a race to renovate and sell a home each — whoever gets the bigger profit wins. It's highly entertaining, boasts a number of challenges and guest judges, and is easily one of Jonathan and Drew's best programs. But what goes on behind the scenes? Here's what most HGTV fans don't know about "Brother vs. Brother."

There's nothing better than working in an office that is pet friendly. But when you're in charge of a construction site and set, it seems like you can write the pet-friendly rules yourself, and that's the case for Jonathan and Drew Scott. As noted by HGTV, Jonathan's chihuahua, Gracie, often finds herself on the set of "Brother vs. Brother," and she can be seen just hanging out in the background while her dad and uncle work. 

In one photo featured by the network, Gracie was seen hanging out on the back of the Scott brothers' sofa while a scene was in preparation. And, in another sweet snap, the favorite dog was sitting calmly and taking in the "hectic production." (Honestly, what did we do in a former life to be subjected to credit scores and rent when dogs can just hang out and eat food?) Jonathan is clearly a fan of his pup, and he has often taken to social media to give both of his dogs a shout-out. Telling his social media followers that his dogs, Stewie and Gracie, "need no introduction," Jonathan hailed them as his "fur babies" on National Dog Day. Love to see it.

It's fair to say that Jonathan and Drew Scott know how to push themselves with each passing season. The renovations are bolder, the markets are harder, and the competition becomes that much more intense. Speaking about the latest season as of publication, Season 7, Jonathan told People that, even off-camera, the stakes couldn't have been higher for him and Drew, as they took on one of the biggest real estate markets. 

"Not only are these the biggest residential renovations we've ever done, but there's a lot more on the line," Jonathan said of the season. Drew echoed the sentiment, highlighting the increase in financial investment that both had to stomach during the show. "You know, in L.A., renovation costs are quite a bit higher," Drew said. "Every dollar counts and, at the end of the day, we have to sell these houses. That's how we determine who the winner is. It's not even just a matter of making sure you sell for the most money — it's making sure that you save as much as you possibly can and find that balance." But, that's Los Angeles for you — everything is more expensive.

It's difficult to believe that the producers don't have a say in which Scott brother wins "Brother vs. Brother" each season. But, in a sit-down with People, Jonathan and Drew Scott were emphatic that it's up to buyers to decide which brother pulls a bigger pay off — neither they, themselves, nor production, have any say in the matter. "We have no control over who wins ... the buyers decide," Jonathan said. "No one goes bigger than Hollywood, so some of the rewards and punishments this season are next level — it's stuff that people would only dream about being able to do." 

After deciding which brother gets the bigger profit, are they buyers happy? Not necessarily. As noted by Haute Residence, Cineflex — the production company behind the brothers' work — was sued by a couple who lived in one of the flipped homes in Las Vegas, Nevada. The couple claimed that there were "wires left exposed, uneven baseboards, improperly attached doors, and a number of renovations not executed according to code." While Jonathan and Drew were not specifically named in the lawsuit, it definitely was not the best look.

Those home reveals that serve as the pinnacle of an HGTV show always look stunning. How do Drew and Jonathan Scott do it all? And do they (or production) decide who wins "Brother vs. Brother" before the season even starts? Jonathan and Drew sat down with Country Living to dispel some rumors about "Brother vs. Brother," and explained that while some viewers might think that the winner is chosen to serve the production's wishes, the show really is authentic. They have no say in the matter, and emphatically explained that the show isn't staged. 

"'Brother vs. Brother,' people think it's staged as far as who might be the one to win, but it's not," Drew said. "We legit bring in our friends to judge, and they might decide that today they like blue and I have more blue in my design than Jonathan and they pick me, or whatever it is. That's what makes it more fun." Also, where's the fun in having the show staged? As aforementioned, the brothers are extremely competitive both on and off the screen. Establishing who takes home the coveted title before the season even starts would take out half the enjoyment.

The goal of "Brother vs. Brother" might be gorgeous homes, but Jonathan and Drew Scott don't let their professionalism get in the way of having fun. What some viewers might not know about "Brother vs. Brother" is that not only are Jonathan and Drew playful on-screen, but they get up to some shenanigans off-screen. For instance, Jonathan decided it would be great to cover Drew's house (where he lives, we should add) in toilet paper as a way to throw him off his game. 

"Thanks a lot," Drew said as the twins spoke about the prank with USA Today. "It was very mature." "Never claimed to be mature," Jonathan said in a rebuttal. Of course, Drew's wife had plenty to say about the claim, and the culprit twin admitted that he felt like a "teenager" because he ran away from the scene of the crime in a frenzy. As payback, Drew had an ice cream truck park next to the house that Jonathan's reno project in the hopes that it would beckon his construction crew over (and thus off the job). What the Scott twins make very clear is that there's always room for fun.

COVID-19 messed up a lot of things — like, a lot. We know that the sentiment probably falls on deaf ears, given that everyone's lives were disrupted by the pandemic but, with that said, everyone dealt with the spreading virus differently. When it came to "Brother vs. Brother," Jonathan and Drew Scott's seventh season looked a lot different from the series' past, but they learned to work with the limitations to still create a dynamic season. 

As noted by The Cinemaholic, the production crew of "Brother vs. Brother" utilized illustrations and graphics to map out houses on-screen, rather than touring and filming the homes in-person. When it came to the in-person shoots, the entire production schedule "slowed down," thanks to social distancing protocols. As such, the whole shoot took place with a "much-relaxed pace." In addition, the crew was shaved down to those who were very necessary, and the sets remained closed off to any outsiders. Once inside the filming bubble, handwashing stations, temperature gauging, and safety briefings became the norm. Those on set also had to sign affidavits, committing themselves to limited social interaction. Where they could, production worked remotely, but all the efforts culminated into a productive and engaging Season 7.

When it comes to the homeowners featured on "Brother vs. Brother," what a lot of HGTV fans might not know is that the show doesn't always display the clients in the most authentic light. There is a common misconception that the homeowners are "crazy," but Jonathan and Drew Scott told Country Living that those featured are often displayed at their most stressed-out state. 

"The homeowners are never as bad as how they look on the show," Drew said. "Because we're taking two or three months of renovation and cramming them into 40 minutes. You see the highs and the lows, so it's not quite as stressful." That's not to say that some clients really are that bad. Country Living also noted that one client on the show was so bad the filming had to be canceled. Drew shared that, although he tried his best to put himself in the shoes of the client and be understanding, he had a "throbbing vein" reaction to a handful of homeowners. Anyone who's worked in customer service knows just how tricky people can be.