---
title: "The Polls Are Open! HomeVestors Once Again Invites America to Choose The Ugliest House Of The Year® 2021"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/d7c4efc7-c21b-4b54-8b18-1fc09e1b2475
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20211210_the_polls_are_open_homevestors_once_again_invites_america_to_choose_the_ugl.html
category: "Real estate"
industry: "Business Services"
segment: "Real estate"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2021-12-10T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:10:13.644Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1486406146926-c627a92ad1ab?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# The Polls Are Open! HomeVestors Once Again Invites America to Choose The Ugliest House Of The Year® 2021

**TL;DR:** HomeVestors is hosting a contest to choose The Ugliest House Of The Year 2021, with a donation to Habitat for Humanity, and finalists include Scott Merchant of Boston and Bernardo Mazzuco of Orlando. The winner will be announced in early January and will also support their local community with a Habitat for Humanity donation.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2021-12-10. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20211210_the_polls_are_open_homevestors_once_again_invites_america_to_choose_the_ugl.html).*

## Story

This year, a donation of $50 per voter comment and $30 per voter share (up to $20,000) will also be donated to the winner’s local Habitat for Humanity, with voting ending Monday, December 13 at 11:59pm CST.

“As America’s number one home buyer, millions are familiar with our brand, but may not have seen the actual work we do on the houses we buy. This is our chance to show off our most extreme makeovers where we’ve taken the challenging or ‘ugly’ properties and made them exceptionally good – everybody loves a good ‘before’ and ‘after’,” said David Hicks, CEO of HomeVestors. “With everything from rodent infestations and natural disasters to neglect and vandalism, these houses were considered hopeless by other buyers, but not our independently owned and operated franchises.

They see potential in literally everything, and create beautiful homes that will be loved for years to come.”

Finalists for The Ugliest House Of The Year® 2021 include Scott Merchant of Boston and Bernardo Mazzuco of Orlando. The house that earned Scott his spot was in rough shape, needing a septic system, roof and siding, heating, electric, kitchen, bathrooms, and more. With several burst pipes, Scott also took care to address concerns about black mold, transforming a truly ugly situation.

Bernardo, for his part, took on a house full of animals, bugs, and out-of-control vegetation. After multiple trips to the dumpster and an exhaustive effort, he unveiled a property makeover worthy of national attention.

The public can now vote from this year’s two finalists as selected by HomeVestors’ judges, and the winner of both the competition and the Habitat for Humanity donation will be announced in early January. Finalists show how franchises living and working in their communities recognize latent potential and reintroduce rehabbed homes that also help increase the value of surrounding homes and drive revitalization.

“Each of our houses are after bought after one of our over 1,150 franchises made a personal visit and met the seller to discuss their selling option, and often, they’re helping that seller out of an overwhelming and difficult situation,” added Hicks. “This year’s finalists exemplify our ability to make ‘ugly’, beautiful again. And, this year’s winner, will also support their local community with the Habitat for Humanity donation they made possible.”

Voting is open through December 13.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Business Services (sector)
- Habitat for Humanity (company)
- home renovation (topic)
- HomeVestors (company)
- franchise competition (topic)
- ugly house contest (topic)
- habitat for humanity donation (topic)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20211210_the_polls_are_open_homevestors_once_again_invites_america_to_choose_the_ugl.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/d7c4efc7-c21b-4b54-8b18-1fc09e1b2475).