The Official Word on Mail-Ins
Hi folks!
I talked to the legal eagles here at HGTV and we’d like you to follow these directions when you send us mail-in entries:
Hand print your name, complete address, phone number (area code included) and date of birth either on a postcard or on a separate piece of paper no larger than 8½ x 11 inches, and mail the postcard or paper in an envelope with proper postage affixed to: HGTV Dream Home Giveaway, PO Box 53305, Knoxville, TN 37950 (the “Mail-In Address”). Entrants using U.S. mail may enter as often as they wish. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by February 19, 2009, and received by February 26, 2009. Limit one (1) entry per stamped outer envelope.
Postcards do not have to be placed inside envelopes.
Also, all mail-in entries sent to the address provided in on-air spots will be accepted. However, going forward, please use the mailing address listed above.
Thanks!
Mary
Take it from some one who has lived in the area. Sonoma isn’t all its cracked up to be. There’s the wanna-be wine snobs, the many who are just struggling to hang in there and homes that are being foreclosed at staggering rates.
HGTV doesn’t want you to know the truth about California. It’s in a serious nose-dive. The state is bankrupt! That “Dream” Home may not be sellable at the price it is being taxed. So, for those of you who think you’ll just be able to unload it because you won’t be able to afford to own it, think again. You could be stuck with the proverbial white elephant.
Hey Bloggers, I guess I’m like DB Coop — I can’t just look at one room when I come to this website –although I do have favorites, in which I linger. (Katydid must have extraordinary control). I couldn’t wait for this contest to start and now I can’t wait for it to end! I so excited and would be soooo ectastic if I won! I’ve been entering online once a day, but as much as I want to win this house, I can’t imagine sending in 100 – 200 mail entries a day — were you just kidding, 4Dewdrops?
By the way, Gail, can you clear up the questions we all seem to have about multiple entries (e.g. mail in and electronic)? Good luck to all us dreamers.
What is the house number?
I have read all of the blogs, and while I was much amused with the reading, I know in my heart of hearts I am the winner this year!!LOL. I am thinking something good has to happen soon, and why not let it be this? I love this home and the area. I live in Wisconsin!! Ok people I know you have all seen the happy cow commercials:) I have to say I am not a happy cow living in WI. I am already packing so move on over, and to copy a phrase from above, stay off my lawn!:)
Hi Mary,
My husband and I just got married 3 months ago and we went to Sonoma for our honeymoon. I absolutely love the town! Its so beautiful and peaceful. I was wondering what part of Sonoma the dream home is located in? Is it near Historical Sonoma Plaza? I would love to know only if you are allowed to disclose the location. I’ve been dreaming about owning a home in Sonoma since my husband and I left. Good luck to everyone and I hope one lucky winners “dreams” come true!!!
Does writing on the Blog increases your chances of winning? If it does then I guess I am out of luck. three kids rule my life.:)
You’re not alone Coop! I tour this home every day & imagine living there..I try very hard to imagine the actually living & breathing in each and every room…maybe this is peculiar, but I feel the imagination may cross the line into reality!! I not only tour the HGTV presentations, but I also view my own photos taken when I was in Sonoma! I love Sonoma County & also Mendocino County…this is HOME to me! What would we be without DREAMS?
I read an article last year about past winners and many of them only entered once! So there is hope for everyone. Don’t sweat it if you aren’t sending in 100s of entries. Good luck to all!
Hi,
Where can I find out information on that beautiful tub? I want one for my master bathroom. Also, that shower looks great. May I find out the dimensions?
What about a tour of the inside of the Dream Home? We live about 1 hour away and would love to tour it.
Thanks!
AH! My long-time DREAMER blogger buddies : MM, Lovelykitty, Katydid, and DBCoop (and Ingrid, too). I don’t have the self-control of Katydid…so I admit, I am hardcore like DBCoop (by the way, loved your food & wine analogies). I have to limit myself on this site purposely, as I have work and family life to tend to as well, which is a good thing, or I would visit and linger much more often! MM & K –I think that is fantastic that you both have twins, and are just realizing it now, after these months online… Obviously, we have other things in common, as well. Let the story continue!!
Oh My Gosh…I am in love..this house is so amazing. Me and my 7 month old watch the Dream Home program on On Demand everyday. I mean, everything from the beautiful wood floors all the way up to the ceiling just leaves me speechless. I have tried to pick my favorite room but it is just impossible. I have 3 girls and we already sit and talk like we are going to be moving to Sonoma. My husband laughs at us. I told him “you never know you might just be transferring your job to California”. Before I met my husband, me and my 2 oldest daughters went though some really hard times and I have prayed for a long time that one day, whether it is the HGTV Dream Home or not, that I can give them a home like this. They deserve it so much. They have been through alot more than what most 8 and 9 year olds have been through. So naturally when I saw this home I started entering. I just want to say to all the people that had a hand in creating this home that it looks absolutely heavenly. Good luck to all.
I AM CONCERNED WITH IDENTITY THEFT. IF I ENTER PERSONAL INFORMATION, LIKE MY BIRTHDATE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ENTRIES AFTER THE CONTEST? DO I NEED TO ENTER BIRTH DAY OR JUST BIRTH YEAR?
Whoever said “winning isn’t everything, it’s how you play the game” obviously didn’t know about the HGTV Dream Home sweepstakes!
Oops! Did I say 100 entries PER DAY!? No, I’m obsessed, but not that bad yet. Besides, with triplet 5 year olds and an 18 month old now, it’s enough to complete 10 mail in entries a week! I see there are twin moms here too, hurray!
To Kelly: Yes, last year I did use prepaid postcards to enter, but this year (because Coop’s paranoia has rubbed off on me), I am entering with stamped envelopes so all of my info. is safe and sound and away from prying eyes.
And, I am entering online everyday, once a day with only one email address. Plus, I am entering about 10 mail in entries per week (all 10 entries are in separate, stamped envelopes, but I do mail them on the same day). As I see it, you can enter by mail as often as you like and online only once a day.
Don’t worry Coop, I’ve been doing this for, what….4 years now? And people have won by entering only 11 TIMES! Just goes to show you that if it is meant to be, it will happen (but of course, I’ll give Fate all the help she can get!!).
AH! I see where I made my mistake…I should have said that I completed about 100 mail in entries total, and I also entered online everyday.
COOP! That comment about “snowballs chance in Sonoma”….omg…LOL!
I have ever sooo dreamt for a house so beautiful. My children tell me that this is the house I always wanted or they wanted. It is very beautiful. I Have been entering for 3 year and I pray that I will win. My kids are already talking about who is going to get the kids room. I know it’s kinda silly but you can you never know. Just keep dreaming and it might come true. I see my self there every day and that keep the stress away. Thank you for all that you do to make dreams come true.
Dear 4dewdrops!
OMG!! Five year old triplets and an 18 month old!! I cannot imagine how busy your day must be…I remember when my twins were five years old (they pulled me from one direction to the next)!! Do you also work outside the home? Super Mom? Do you have a support group with other mothers of multiple births? Do you have Fraternal, Identical, or Mixed triplets? Do you have a triple stroller, three bouncy seats, three high chairs, three car seats, bottle props, and other necessities? How did you survive the early years of parenting triplets? Did you have more than one diaper changing area? Did you have help?
When my twins were born, it was a struggle to find support of any kind as I lived in a very small community in Northern California! (Gualala)!! However, it wasn’t long before I found myself involved with other parents in a Parental Participation Group to form a nursery school (PALS). It was fantastic & helped tremendously in those early years of two to five years old! Anyway, I think it is great that you also had a single pregnancy, birth & have the experience of having one baby at a time (although you also have the three five year olds)! After my twins were born (boy & girl), I said that’s it, no more! Anyway, congratulations on having triplets & another child besides…Wow!!!
Hi Bonnie: I impressed that you read all the blogs ’cause I’m not so sure anyone else remembered that my children are twins!
Hey Coop!! Glad you are still here as I enjoy your comments so much!! I guess I was surprised that you could actually mail-in multiple entries per day!! I guess it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to mail off 10, 20, 30, or more? However, I don’t believe it gives me any better chance..it only takes one entry to win!!! I do like your idea that the folks at HGTV might as well start drawing up the winner’s affidavit of eligibilty with my name on it!! I could certainly handle the “surprise” reveal! What are the chances? One in 50 billion? I can’t any fathom how lucky one person could be to be chosen?
HGTV, I would like to know if we could enter once per day on -line, and place entries in the mail the same day. Please let me know.
I notice that the houses around the property are much smaller and older rather than comparable houses. Can you please give some information about the neighborhood?
Can you tell me the artist and/or location where the two paintings in the dining room are from? I love them!!! Thanks!
OK, I spoke with HGTV today. To clarify the Rules when submitting an entry ” ON-LINE”= A wife and husband can BOTH enter on-line once per day ( AS LONG AS THEY HAVE DIFFERENT E-MAIL ADDRESSES)!!! But remember, you may have to RE-ENTER your information AGAIN the next time. As far as using Multiple e-mail addresses and entries for YOURSELF ONLY, I Don’t Know— but I think the rule is ONE internet ENTRY per Day, per Person.
Good Luck Everyone– I’d love to live there too. I was there 20 years ago, and we loved it– We really immediately Connected to it. We thought about moving there at the time, but never did.
Diana
I understand it says “mailing labels” are invalid on the entries, but are they invalid on the outside envelope either as the return address or the HGTV address??? I just want to know for sure because my family members are arguing with me over which interpretation is correct and I don’t want to have entries be counted as invalid. Thanks!
oh my gosh!
all these questions about mail-in entries!
i’m glad i don’t have to reply to all of these! lol
from what i understand,
if entering electronically, meaning on hgtv’s website, one can only enter 1x per day.
and if entering by snail mail, its freakin limitless!
handwritten entries: meaning the paper inserted in the envelope or the postcard mailed in by itself
use labels for envelopes.
please correct me if i’m wrong.
i’m sending in 1,000,000 entries each day through snail mail….lol
I love old town Sonoma! How far from the main plaza and the old adobe is this house? It looks as if it might be outside of town in a neighborhood of less expensive homes. Could you post a map of the town to show where it is located? It might be difficult to sell the house in California’s plummeting housing market if it is the most expensive house in the neighborhood even though Sonoma is a desirable address.
LOL! That house is MINE!!
COOP: Potato chips, wine and chocolate aside, let me tell you how I do it. I have viewed videos, tapes, pictures and the special until I feel sure I could go into the Dream Home blindfolded and find my way around. When I scrutinized the kitchen I discovered an open pantry door….showing vertical plate racks . Nice, but where do you store the vac? BRENDA: I have no self control what-so-ever, That’s why I’m addicted to this blog.
4dewdrops: Your three of a kind beats my pair. Congrats.
Marie Miller, I won’t be sending in any mail entries. Times are tough here in Mi and I can’t afford the postage. Bonnie: lost my train of thought, so I’ll just say thanks. Off to dreamland. Thanks HGTV .
When entering the contest it won’t let me scrool down to Ut as my state it only does the first 6-7
Mike
I absolutely love this house, it is my favorite of all the dreamhouses so far. Great colors, decor, landscaping, etc. Great job dreamteam!
Can more that 1 person from the same household enter the contest, if they have different email addresses.
I don’t think that you need to put postcard entries in an envelope because you have already paid postage when you purchased the postcards from the post office
I have been entering since the very 1st dream home 13 years ago and I have to say that I still am praying that I might be given one of these fantastic homes. I am a single mom of 4 boys and even with some help from family when things get totally unbearable, I still struggle and I pray daily for some sustainable help. So, like so many many folks out there, my sons and I are so so excited about what could be. Good luck to all and please please let my family be the winners soon…keep up the great great work HGTV people…loving your shows and now without TV I am loving your websites instead….but honestly, wish I had TV again cause there’s so much I miss watching on HGTV…God bless everyone….gotta go…bye for now…
Hello ! I also wanted some clarification about the mail-in and e-mail entries. If we enter both on same day, will they be disqualified? Also, how are the electronic entries going to entered along with the mail-in entries; are they going to be printed out and all (mail and email) entries going to be in one big bin from which one lucky one will be pulled out? I am praying so hard to be the blessed one in winning this amazing home. It would be more than just my absolute dream home, in my dream town, but also it would fulfill my dream of being closer to my elderly father whom I would bring along to live with me. I could already imagine him sitting in the backyard enjoying the amazing weather and beautiful landscape, enjoying the time he has left on this earth. Thank you HGTV for giving us this opportunity to at least dream. Please make my dream come true !!! Lots of love…….
I have to say that all the “HGTV Dream Homes” have been spectactular, but I think they miss the what real folks want. Most people would like 4 bedrooms, plus a study or an office, 3.5 bathrooms, large family room, large kitchen with room for family & friends, large dining area. Then last but not least a 3 car OVERSIZED garage. Good Grief these small garages are ridiculous.
Having lived in New England all our lives, you can imagine how our curiosity was piqued when our daughter decided to decline college offers in the East to attend Stanford in Palo Alto, sight unseen! When it was time for her freshman orientation, the family all flew out together a week early. In order to become familiar with her new surroundings, her Dad & I toured the Bay area and wine country in Sonoma. It touched us in a very special way. We relished the thought of visiting her as much as possible, and since her graduation, we have always “dreamed” of owning a home in Sonoma! The Dream Home certainly fits the bill. We could just imagine the HGTV Dream Home filled with our own family, as well as all the friends that were made during our daughter’s wonderful years studying and enjoying all that northern California has to offer…
How is this fair to the regular joe?? I read on the blogs ,that people are sending in 200 to 300 postcards a day, If you have the money to do that, you don’t need the dream home. The people who don’t have tons of money to put in, can only enter once a day for free on the web. HGTV is this really fair?
To answer my own and others questions about the limit on mail-ins I read the rules nad e-mailing an entry is once a day this is what it says for mail-ins:” Entrants using U.S. mail may enter as often as they wish. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by February 19, 2009 and received by February 26, 2009. Limit one (1) entry per stamped outer envelope”.
So…it appears we can snail mail as many times per day as we want. Can Mary confirm this?
Lisa
I have sent in 181 so far and enter online daily.
Good Luck everyone
It is not about having the money to do it, it is about using your resources. I use a prepaid stamp machine. A stamp is a stamp!
donna: Yes, it’s fair. Some people can’t afford a computer and the only way for them to enter is by snail mail.
I’m not to lucky with contest but would be a dream come true for a place my best friend and family to come to a spot where he was born and lived 55 years ago and could take care of his parents and all to come to and be able to be together. Had a bad 2007 year and miss family and friends get-togethers Good luck and may the best one win!!!!!!!!!
What a beautiful house and landscape. I have been following and entering the Dream House contest for the last 6 to 8 years.
Sonoma is a great choice for the first Dream house in California!
It may sound a little odd but when I lived in Whittier many years ago, I especially loved the fruit trees and plants in the outdoors/yard around the home. How large is the property that the DH is built on? From the landscape video, it is hard to tell. Does the DH sit on more than 1 acre? In addition to the vineyard, herb garden, etc, are there also any citrus/fruit trees?
Good luck to everyone, its seem to be too big of a dream house for me, but i will keep dreaming, because right now me and my boyfriend with three kids, and we lived pay check by pay check every month i don’t know if i can pay for all the taxes that for the house, but i’ll keep dream and hope.
How is it really fair? If they are sending in about 300 postcards, they have to pay for 300 stamps. So if they can pay for 300 stamps why cant they afford a computer. Plus, you can go to the public library or a family/friends house and use the computer for free. The dreamhouse should be for those of us who really need a home, not for those who are greedy.
Wow. I have been reading through all of these comments and cannot believe some of the comments some of you are making!! First of all…this is a DREAM house. That means it is something you can only dream about. HGTV did the best they could to find a nice location, come up with a beautiful house and decor and then, give it away!!! I can't beleive that some of you are complaining about a DREAM house that you don't have to buy, get to move right into, or sell and then be set for life. Unbelievable!! You shouldn't even enter. Seriously…complaining about the color of the furniture, complaining about how close the nieghbors yard is? Get real. This is a FREE house and yes, you have to pay the taxes, but it is an opportunity of a lifetime!! Stop complaining about the DREAM house. Do you honestly think that they could please everyone? I have 2 girls, but I tell you what, if I win this house, you won't see me complaining about the boys bedroom or the fact that the furniture is white. It is FREE AND beautiful! If you don't like it, don't enter to win it and spare everyone your disapointment. UGH. STOP COMPLAINING about the FREE house!!!! You sound like if you did win, you would just compliain all the time abou the DREAM house you won that isn't decorated the right way and is too close to the naighbors pool. REALLY?
I have a 3 year old and a 4month old, both girls. I tell you what. If i won this house, I wouldn't worry about where the play room is going to be or that the room is decorated for a boy. I would move in, have fun and enjoy the beautiful house. It is a dream come true to just own something like that!!! Shame on all of you for complaining.
Does any one know if there is a bathroom on the first floor? I can’t seem to find it.
Good luck to all! It is a beautiful home!
People who actually live in Puerto Rico (US Territory) can enter to the contest?
Come on entrants! Read the rules, don’t read what you want to see INTO the rules! The bottom line; one online entry per person per day, PERIOD. Mail in entries are unlimited. Since a mail in entry is NOT an online entry it does not count as an online entry. Don’t waste blog space wanting clarification of something clearly evident. One means one, not … well does it mean per email address… Yes we all could have a thousand email addresses if so desired, but again One online entry per day. Now asking for clarification of unstated items is understandable. i.e. I think I may have accidentally entered twice on one day, does that void my entries for that day or the entire contest? Now that is a reasonable question.
Where is the pool? Can’t live without a pool. Also, is the property fenced? How many dogs are allowed? I wish the description included some numbers on lot size, etc…
I have read the blogs and can’t believe how worried people are about the entry rules…just enter! As one person noted, it only takes one to win.
As far as California being in a real estate nose-dive…some areas have been very stable and even resilient, I suspect Sonoma is one such area.