Love It or List It viewers slam ‘miserable’ mum who won’t leave ‘crammed’ house with garden the ‘size of Dairylea slice’
LOVE It or List It viewers have slammed a mum-of-five as 'miserable' and 'impossible to please' after she refused to consider moving house.
Shaun and Sarah, who appeared on the latest episode of the Channel 4 show, gave viewers a close-up look inside their home, which has a vast array of issues.
Despite being just minutes from the beach and boasting an enviably designed interior, the parents share the tiny two-person kitchen with no room for a dishwasher and minuscule garden the 'size of a Dairylea slice'.
Their £432,000 three-storey Victorian semi-detached house, which is located next to a commercial unit, on a 'busy' A-road in Whitley Bay, the UK's 'best' seaside town, also has a singular bathroom shared between seven.
Their suburban seaside abode was packed with problems that made managing family life with five children nearly impossible, which resulted in the couple having spent five years battling whether to keep their home or sell.
Sarah and Shaun enlisted the help of property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, with a budget of £70,000 for renovations on their current home, or £650,000 to find a new one.
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Sarah, who runs a reusable cloth nappy library, was firmly on team 'love it', insisting their current home had a “lovely family feel”.
But viewers firmly disagreed with her decision and claimed they would have 'moved in a heartbeat' due to the lack of space for her large family.
Meanwhile, product marketing manager Shaun was convinced the family should 'list it' since there were “a number of things in this house that just don't work” - namely the 'non-practical' facilities.
He admitted: “The kitchen is really tiny, you can't swing a cat in there. It's really a maximum of two people.”
Sarah revealed she was forced to do the washing up three times a day as a result of not having space for a dishwasher, and, without adequate laundry facilities, has to do 10 loads every single week.
But their final decision to keep their house came as little surprise to Kirstie and Phil, who had struggled to convince the pair to even look at other houses.
With Sarah firmly set on holding onto their family abode, she offered little enthusiasm when it came to viewing other potential properties.
But after discussing the extensive changes that would need to be made to renovate their home, including installing at least one new bathroom and adding an extension to their kitchen, the couple finally went with Phil to view a potential new property.
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The best renovation to add value totally depends on your property, the local market and your potential buyers.
Zoopla shared a list of upgrades that will instantly add value to your home.
- Loft conversion - increase of 15%
- Off-street parking - adds £50,000 to property price
- New kitchen - increase of 15%
- Garage conversion - increase of 15%
- Cellar or basement conversion - increase of 10-15%
- Open plan living space - increase of 3-5%
- New bathroom - increase of 3-5%
Despite the other house being just over one minute from their current pad, Sarah was immediately apprehensive and told the property guru there were “a few compromises I can't get my head around”.
With five children, Sarah shared a number of demands for where they might live, as she explained: “I like being able to walk to the corner shop and buy a pint of milk”.
The couple then decided to go ahead with renovations to their existing home, but described the Victorian house as “stubborn like a child” - as making changes only seemed to reveal other problems integral to its construction.
I would have moved in a heartbeat. They have the garden the size of a Dairylea slice
X user
Phil described looking for a property that suited all the family's needs as “one of the most complex searches” and admitted Sarah was “proving a difficult nut to crack”.
And with none of Phil's suggested houses proving to be a success, the property guru remarked that Sarah was “not really giving it time of day” - despite her husband's desire to move.
Love It or List It viewers react
And since the show aired, viewers have slammed Sarah's unenthusiastic response to the properties.
Moving house hacks
1. Declutter Before You Pack
Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load.
2. Create an Inventory
Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move.
3. Use Quality Packing Materials
Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move.
4. Label Everything
Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized.
5. Pack a 'First Day' Box
Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day.
6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup
Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place.
7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items
Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury.
8. Colour-Code Your Boxes
Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home.
Several Love It or List It fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, describing the mum-of-five as a 'misery'.
One user slammed: “Miserable woman! Lighten up hen, your own house is a coup”.
Another chimed in: “Kids are crammed in and have nowhere to play”.
The houses Phil’s shown them aren't that great I think he could have done better
X user
Whilst someone else claimed: “I would have moved in a heartbeat. They have the garden the size of a Dairylea slice.”
At the same time, a fourth viewer chimed in: “What a misery! The house is huge and so much better than what they have.”
But at the same time, one woman understood Sarah's view, as she penned: "Tbf the houses Phil’s shown them aren't that great I think he could have done better."
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Meanwhile, another wrote: "Absolutely not leaving walking distance to the beach."
Kirstie and Phil's Love It Or List It is available to stream now on Channel 4.
