Love it or List it?

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Anyone who follows home improvement and property developments will know of the dynamic duo of Kirsty Allsop and Phil Spencer. They are famous for their Channel 4 programme of Love it or List it.


To apply, you must be a home owner and have enough finance in place to fund the renovations of your property and any costs involved in selling your house, should you choose to list it.

In exchange, Kirstie and Phil will provide you with all their expertise in the world of renovation and property searching.
We may not be on the programme but my wife wants to "List it" and is property searching at the moment. On the other hand, I want to "Love it" and do an open plan renovation, live here for another 15 years and have a more sellable house.

On the one hand the rationale for us "Listing" is that:

1) We had seen a new build in mind but the site had access issues

2) Our site has a sloping back garden and will require massive soil extraction were we to extend

3) The utility room is in an outhouse meaning going out to do our washing in all weathers

4) The sloping driveway can be treacherous in icey conditions

5) The current kitchen doesn't allow us to sit at a kitchen table - having instead to go to dining room for this. Not ideal when entertaining guests.

6) The sloping private back garden will be more difficult to manage as we enter old age.


On the other hand the rationale for "Loving" is that:

1) It is a prime site, with a great location that is; within 10 minutes of city centre and with beautiful local parks and the seaside nearby. It is also only 5 minutes from Belfast City airport. It is a wonderful location for schools and only 7 minutes to the train.

2) It has the potential for open plan living through by either a remodel using the existing footprint, or an extension into the back garden. The existing conservatory could also be remodeled with a simple  conversion.

3) It could have steps built alongside the front driveway, which would also overcome the slippery driveway issue.

4) This remodel would also offer a more sellable home in the future.

Watch this space, as we've just submitted our application to the "Love it or List it" TV production.

We'll still speak to you when we are national celebrities lol.

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