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Q. I'M A BIG FAN OF HOME IMPROVEMENT TV SHOWS. HOW CAN I GET MY HOME PICKED FOR A FREE MAKEOVER? A. First, consider the golden rule of real estate: location, location, location. Check

the "casting call" pages for shows on the DIY Network and HGTV and you'll notice that to be eligible for a makeover, homeowners usually need to live in or close to a specific

city. See also: Renovating for love, with the long term in mind. RELATED * Tip-offs to home-repair rip-offs. READ * 7 steps to hiring a contractor. READ * Is your home hosting billions of

germs? READ You'll also need to be "energetic" and "personable," at least that is how the websites describe the homeowners who'll be selected. You're

usually asked for photographs or video of yourself and your property. In other words, the producers are generally looking for camera presence. They also want some measure of do-it-yourself

skills, or at least a willingness by newbies to attempt them in front of a lens. FREE IS NOT FREE And you should know that not all TV makeovers are really free. Some shows expect you to pay

the bills. You'll need a budget of at least $20,000 (and live within 35 miles of New York City) to be featured in DIY Network's _10 Grand in Your Hand_, in which homeowners seeking

to save that amount do hands-on work typically handled by contractors. At least a $5,000 budget (and a home near Minneapolis) is needed for DIY's _Sweat Equity_. A few shows provide

free labor and materials, but you may be liable for taxes for the donated materials. For PBS's _This Old House_, the granddaddy of home improvement shows, you can expect to put up even

more. "All out-of-pocket costs are paid for by the homeowners," reports Jessica Hartzell of WGBH Boston. "However, the show coordinates product discounts and donations where

possible." _This Old House_ projects tend to be multi-room and focus more on preservation than simple renovation. Only two renovations are done each year, one in the Boston area and the

other is often in a warmer climate. CAMERA-SHY NEED NOT APPLy "The TV crew looks for an old house with plenty of features to save and update," Hartzell adds, and owners who

"aren't camera-shy." Projects need to be completed within seven months. For sister show _Ask This Old House_ — where a host comes to viewers' homes for everyday repairs —

labor and materials are, for the most part, provided free and homeowners are invited to help. Spokespeople for the DIY and HGTV networks did not return emails and phone calls seeking

additional selection criteria for their shows. If you'd hoped to get your house on the most heartwarming of the fix-it shows, ABC's _Extreme Makeover: Home Edition_, you've

missed your chance. After nine seasons of helping homeowners who have stirring back-stories such as battle-injured veterans, down-on-their-luck community leaders or parents of special-needs

children, the show will air its last episode on Jan. 13. Also of interest: Make your house a home for life. >> _Sid Kirchheimer writes about scams and consumer issues._