A Chester couple featured in a new episode of Channel 4’s Love It or List It – with the husband desperate to sell their “freezing” and “miserable” three-bed period property on the outskirts of the city. But it was his wife who ultimately got her way – despite them viewing three impressive properties up for sale in the area.
The popular show with property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer is now in its 10th series. It centres around the pair battling it out in a ‘Love It or List It’ challenge, with Phil offering alternative property options while Kirstie redesigns the current house so homeowners don’t need to jump ship.
The first episode of the new series saw them visit Carl and Katy at their Edwardian semi-detached house, with Chester city centre and the River Dee featuring frequently in the footage. As Carl hailed from Stoke-on-Trent and Katy was originally from North Wales, the city provided the “perfect” half-way location between their two families.
However, according to Carl their home is not “the perfect property”. He said that while working from home he sits at his computer “just freezing”, adding “it’s a bit miserable really”.
The couple, who have two children – a four year old and a nine-week old baby, purchased the property seven years ago. Carl said he was “excited” to list the house but Katy had an “emotional attachment” and was keen to stay. “I love the house,” she said. “Obviously we had our kids here… it has lots of memories.”
Before Phil took them on three property viewings in the area, Kirstie got to work on plans for a renovation project that would cater for the growing family’s needs. She designed an additional wall to stop the draught on the ground floor, but more significantly came up with a huge roof lifting loft extension to create two new double bedrooms and an extra bathroom.
This cottage in Wervin featured on Love It or List It
(Image: Channel 4)
The renovation cost £75,000 and was completed over a nine-month period. Meanwhile, Phil had taken the couple on viewings in Westminster Park, Wervin and Huntington.
Katy wasn’t keen on the four-bed in Westminster Park, telling Phil it didn’t “feel bigger” than their current home. The cottage in Wervin, which came with a third of an acre of land, made Katy smile – with Phil boasting that she was now “wavering”.
It was the third house that really got their attention though – with Cheshire Live having reported on the five-bed property with ‘postcard’ views in November last year. However, when pressed for their decision on whether to ‘love it or list it’, the couple chose to stay put at their newly-renovated home.
The loft conversion
(Image: Channel 4)
Kirstie joked that Katy had put Phil “in his place”. Carl explained what had changed his mind. He said: “We did so much work and put so much time and effort into the house. Now it feels liveable. I’ve got an awesome office upstairs.” Katy interrupted her husband, stating: “Our office!”
Before the extension, the couple’s home was worth £335,000, but it is now worth £463,000, adding £128,000 in value. “You spent money very, very wisely,” Kirstie told them.
You can view the episode here.
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