HGTV's 'Love It Or List It' Renovation Show Accused Of Ripping Off North Carolina Couple
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A popular home renovation show has been accused of failing to deliver on its promises.
A North Carolina couple turned to HGTV's 'Love It Or List It' when they decided to fix up their home.
As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, they're taking the production company to court, and claim the renovations left a lot to be desired.
The reality show bills itself as a hit TV series that appeals to homeowners in search of a new home to "better suit their needs."
In each episode a home is renovated, and the owners get to decide if they love it and want to stay, or list it for sale.
It all builds up to a big reveal at the end of the show.
Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan signed up hoping to be wowed, but they weren't.
"We're going to list it," Deena said.
Nearly seven months after their episode, Murphy and Sullivan have yet to list it, or move back in.
They filed a lawsuit against the subcontractor and the Canadian company Big Coat TV which produces the show.
The couple claimed the renovations were "disastrous" and alleged that their $140,000 "was essentially used to create" a stage set for the series.
"We took out a substantial loan for this, and you know we put in some of our own money," Sullivan said.
"Here we were looking for a warm, inviting space to come and retreat," Murphy added.
The allegations include damaged and stained floorboards, open holes, low grade carpeting, and unpainted surfaces.
The couple's attorney claims the poor workmanship occurred because Big Coat TV acted as a general contractor during the renovation, and hired local subcontractors to do the work.
"For the homeowners here this is a renovation project, and for Big Coat TV it's a TV show. What we allege is that Big Coat hired contractors who did substandard work," attorney Jim White said.
The couple's lawsuit also claims the subcontractor only received about $85,000 of their money, and that the production company pocketed the rest, approximately $55,000.
The Toronto based production company said it completed, "more than 250 renovations without any issues," and that the "claim is in no way supported by any of the facts in the case."
"We feel stressed out. We feel sad, really disappointed," Murphy said.
The lawsuit also claims the show is scripted, with roles and reactions assigned to the various participants on screen, including the homeowners.
