TV crews with “If Walls Could Talk,” a weekly series airing Sundays on HGTV, will soon be in the area to film homes with intriguing pasts and unusual stories. Now in production on its ninth season, the series kicks off with new homeowners who make surprising historical discoveries about their homes as they explore and restore them.

A lucky few people may be surprised to learn that historic artifacts they’ve discovered are worth a fortune when the “If Walls Could Talk” appraiser drops by for a look.

Crews, who will be in the general area of Portland to Augusta, hope to film in the coming months. Homeowners who would like to be considered for the program should contact Jenna Friederich at (303) 712-3146, or send her an e-mail at [email protected].

Each half-hour episode of “If Walls Could Talk” features homeowners from across the country who share their discoveries.

Some recent stories:

• A Connecticut family moving into a neglected 1800s Victorian finds antiques and a mysterious locked cabinet. What they find inside tells the touching story of their home’s original owner. They also discover original paintings in the attic, which the “If Walls Could Talk” appraiser estimates are worth thousands of dollars.

• A husband and wife transform a turn-of-the-century bank into their dream home. In the process, they find the original bank vault full of safety deposit boxes that are still locked.

• A Colorado couple find books, clothing and jewelry in their new home. These and other clues add up to the story of a best-selling author who lived in the house until she disappeared.

• A New York bachelor buys a 100-year-old mansion and makes a chilling discovery in the basement – his home sweet home used to be a funeral parlor.

The series, which premiered in September of 1998, has aired more than 200 episodes, each filmed in historic neighborhoods throughout the country.

“If Walls Could Talk” is produced for HGTV by High Noon Entertainment in Denver, Colo.