A North Carolina couple is suing the producers of Love It Or List It, saying the show left them with a house that was shoddily constructed. The Raleigh News & Observer says that Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan agreed to participate in the hit HGTV series under the guise that they were considering a move to a rental property with their teenage foster children. The problem, according to the suit against Big Coat TV and Aaron Fitz Construction, was that the show’s principals—designer Hilary Farr, real estate agent David Visentin, and contractor Eric Eremita—are “actors or television personalities playing a role for the camera,” not people who “played more than a casual role in the actual renovation process.” While this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s ever suffered through Farr and Visentin’s bullshit “no, you are” banter, it’s still mildly disheartening to hear. 
 
 For the episode, which aired in April 2015, Murphy and Sullivan were asked to deposit $140,000 into a fund with the production company, who would later use that money to pay Fitz and other subcontractors. According to the suit, the couple voiced its concerns about Fitz, saying it had below-average reviews on Angie’s List, but they were ignored. Over the course of the renovations, only $85,780.50 was disbursed to Fitz, leaving the couple wondering where the rest of their money went. The suit also questions how Big Coat can operate as a general contractor, a role it’s not licensed for. 
 
 Murphy and Sullivan are also claiming that Love It Or List It is even more of a scam than it generally seems, with the couple saying the show never used a licensed architect to develop plans for their house, and that they were never shown houses that were actually for sale in North Carolina—or for sale by any licensed North Carolina real estate broker. They also say any work done on the show was work that they’d previously made plans for with another company, Werx-Design Build. 
 
 According to the suit, the actual work done on the house was “disastrous,” leaving the home “irreparably damaged.” Duct work was left open, leading to vermin entering the house, and the couple complains of “low-grade industrial carpeting, unpainted surfaces, and windows painted shut.” 
 
 As the News & Observer summarizes, “Big Coat’s purported agreement,” the lawsuit contends, ‘admits that it is in the business of television production, not construction. ... The homeowners’ funds essentially pay the cost of creating a stage set for this television series.’” 
 
 Maria Armstrong, Big Coat’s CEO and the show’s executive producer, says that the company intends to “vigorously defend what [it] consider[s] false allegations.” 
 
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 A North Carolina couple is trying to pull back the curtains on a popular home renovation reality show. 
 
 Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan are suing the production company for HGTV’s “Love It or List It,” claiming the hit show turned their dream home into a nightmare. 
 
 The lawsuit against Big Coat TV and one of its contractors alleges the couple were “victims of shoddy work and unfair trade practices” that left their floors, windows and other parts of their home damaged. 
 
 RELATED: 'Fixer Upper': What it's actually like to be on the home show 
 
 The show’s premise is to renovate a family’s home while the owners contemplate moving into a new home. But the couple's lawsuit may provide too much of a peek behind the reality television curtain. 
 
 TODAY The program's hosts, David Visentin and Hilary Farr 
 
 “One of the things they're doing in this lawsuit is kind of blowing the secrecy off of reality TV,” said TODAY legal analyst Lisa Bloom. 
 
 In their lawsuit, Murphy and Sullivan describe Big Coat’s business model as “skewed.” They said they gave the production company $140,000 for renovations, but only about $85,000 went to the contractor. They claim the production company used the remaining funds “for the production of its series.” 
 
 TODAY North Carolina couple Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan are suing the show's production company. 
 
 In a statement to TODAY, the couple’s attorney said the company’s incentive was “to make decisions that favor the television show but not the homeowners.” 
 
 RELATED: 'Fixer Upper' Joanna Gaines shares her spring cleaning checklist 
 
 The “Love It or List It” production company disputes the allegation. 
 
 “We believe that this claim is in no way supported by any of the facts of the case, and we will be defending ourselves vigorously in this matter,” it told TODAY in a statement. 
 
 TODAY sought comment from the contractor listed as one of the lawsuit defendants but did not hear back. ||||| Property Brothers franchise Property Brothers The promotional poster to the program Owner Cineflix 
 
 Scott Brothers Entertainment Films and television Television series Property Brothers 
 
 Buying and Selling 
 
 Brother Vs. Brother 
 
 Property Brothers: At Home 
 
 Brothers Take New Orleans Audio Radio program(s) Off Topic with the Scott Brothers Miscellaneous Apps Property Brothers Handbook Books Dream Home: The Property Brother's Ultimate Guide to Finding & Fixing Your Perfect House 
 
 The Property Brothers franchise is a media franchise that stars Canadian twins Jonathan and Drew Scott and centers around the selling, purchasing, and renovation of real estate property. The shows also often guest star their older brother J.D. Their first program is Property Brothers—produced by Cineflix Media—and airs on the W Network in Canada, HGTV in the US, as well as various networks in over 130 countries. The success of this show led to spin-off series, including Buying and Selling, Brother Vs. Brother, Property Brothers: At Home, Property Brothers: At Home on the Ranch, and Brothers Take New Orleans. 
 
 Television [ edit ] 
 
 The brothers create upwards of 60 hours of broadcast content each year, and have as many at 17 projects going on at a time.[1] Kathleen Finch, the president of the DIY Network and HGTV, has planned to have a new episode of original content each week of the year.[2] Because of their filming schedule, they no longer take personal clients.[3] However, they hire local design, real estate, and construction companies in the cities where they film.[3] 
 
 Property Brothers [ edit ] 
 
 Property Brothers is a Canadian reality television series that is produced by Cineflix. Its history begins when Drew was living in Vancouver and auditioning for acting roles.[4] He was offered the chance to host a show called Realtor Idol, based on the American Idol format.[4] The show never materialized, but producers wanted him for a show tentatively called My Dream Home, with the intention of having a male and female host.[5] When they learned he had a brother who was also in real estate, they developed a show around the pair; that company would later film their pilot for Property Brothers.[6][4] The show first aired on the W Network in Canada,[citation needed] and was later picked up by HGTV.[6] 
 
 The series features Drew, a real estate expert who scouts neglected houses and negotiates the purchases. Jonathan is a licensed contractor who renovates houses. Together, they help families find, buy, and transform "fixer-uppers" into dream homes on a strict timeline and budget.[7][8] It airs on W Network in Canada and HGTV in the United States. 
 
 The series received and Emmy nomination in 2015 for Best Structured Reality Program.[9] 
 
 Buying and Selling [ edit ] 
 
 On Buying and Selling , the twins help couples sell their home and buy a new property based on their changing needs.[10] Jonathan renovates the family's current home for a successful sale, while Drew checks out the best options for the family's new property.[10] Drew then oversees the selling of the renovated home and the buying of a new house.[10] 
 
 The first season had a rating of 8 million viewers in the 25 – 54 age group, and it ranked as a top 10 HGTV primetime program among the same viewers.[10] The second season began on December 4, 2013.[10] The fifth season started on July 13, 2016.[11] The sixth season debuted on April 19, 2017.[12] 
 
 Brother Vs. Brother [ edit ] 
 
 In November 2012, HGTV greenlit production on the Scotts' third program, Brother Vs. Brother.[13] In the show's original premise, each brother was assigned properties of similar value and structure, and headed a team of home improvement experts, including renovators, builders, and designers.[13] Given an identical timeline and a budget of $500,000,[14] each brother mentored his respective team as they made improvements on the home, and each week, the poorest performing member was eliminated from the competition.[13] The last remaining team member won a $50,000 cash prize.[13] At the conclusion of the renovations, an appraiser and a real estate expert would judge the overall renovation and re-assess the values of each property.[13] The brother who had the house with the highest resale value won.[15][13] The show is edited to six episodes.[15] 
 
 The show debuted on July 21, 2013.[14] David Font—a landscape professional and business owner from Miami, Florida—won the $500,000 cash prize.[16] Team Drew took the season, with $15,000 more in final property value for his home.[16] 
 
 The third season premiered on June 3, 2015,[17] and unlike in past years, eliminated the teams.[18] With their older brother J.D. as the referee, the twins purchased and renovated two houses using their own money with the goal of increasing the property value of each home.[17] Also, the twins faced weekly challenges before a panel of HGTV and DIY Network guest judges (including Jen and Brandon Hatmaker, David Bromstad, Josh Temple, Hilary Farr, and David Visentin), and the losing brother would have to complete dares, like dancing in an all-male revue.[17] The season had an audience of over 13 million viewers.[15] Jonathan won.[15] Proceeds from the sale of the homes were donated to Rebuilding Together,[19] a charity that benefits low-income homeowners. 
 
 The fourth season premiered on June 1, 2016.[15] Each twin bought, renovated, and sold a Vegas home.[15] The season's judges included Lex and Alana LeBlanc, Anthony Carrino, John Colaneri, Egypt Sherrod, David Bromstad, Tiffany Brooks, and Vanilla Ice.[15] The season brought in 14 million viewers.[20] 
 
 The next season of Brother Vs. Brother was filmed in Galveston, Texas,[21] and premiered on May 31.[22] Penalties for losing challenges included "be[ing] forced to endure miserable outings such as riding a terrifying amusement park attraction, climbing an 81-foot obstacle ropes course or heading out to sea to catch shrimp for the winner’s dinner."[22] Celebrity guest judges included David Bromstad and Egypt Sherrod, as well as other personalities from HGTV and the DIY Network.[22] They sought to collaborate with fellow HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper, which is filmed in nearby Waco, Texas, but the couple was busy.[20] Proceeds from sale of the homes went to Rebuilding Together—a national U.S. non-profit organization for low-income homeowners.[22] Drew won the season, selling his home for $690,000. 
 
 Property Brothers: At Home [ edit ] 
 
 The twins decided to sell their individual homes and purchase a joint property in 2011,[23] with the goal of establishing a hub for their extended family and friends.[24] Jonathan began the search for a place that met all of their criteria (e.g. within 20 minutes of the airport),[2] and they ultimately purchased a foreclosed, 5400 square-foot house for $400,000.[2][25] With a renovation budget of $2 million,[2] the project became the basis of a fourth television series, with working titles that included The Brothers Big Reno Project and Property Brothers: Behind Our Build.[27][28] Eventually renamed Property Brothers: At Home, it was the first production under the umbrella of Scott Brothers Entertainment.[29] The show premiered on November 26, 2014 on HGTV in the United States, as well as in 2015 on the W Network in Canada.[30] 
 
 Property Brothers: At Home on the Ranch [ edit ] 
 
 After the success of Property Brothers at Home, Scott Brothers Entertainment went on to create another spin-off series called Property Brothers: At Home on the Ranch. In it, the brothers went back to the area where they grew up in the East Canadian Rockies in Longview, Alberta to accomplish a 10-week renovation of the ranch of family friends Tom and Rosemary Bews.[31][32] The renovation included the kitchen, dining room, living room, fireplace, and bathroom of the main home, as well as the guest cabin and the eight-stall horse stable.[33] 
 
 The four-episode installment premiered on November 25, 2015 on HGTV.[32][31] As part of the show, the brothers—along with Nashville songwriters Victoria Shaw and Chad Carlson[33]— wrote and recorded two country singles that premiered during the third and fourth episode of the series. The singles “Hold On”[34] and “Let the Night Shine In” were released on various music platforms,[35][36] including iTunes, Amazon.com and Google Play. Both songs were co-written by the brothers along with Nashville songwriters Victoria Shaw and Chad Carlson. "Hold On" hit #38 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and was accompanied by a popular music video that has more than three million Vevo views.[37] 
 
 Brothers Take New Orleans [ edit ] 
 
 In Brothers Take New Orleans, Jonathan and Drew, with J.D.'s assistance, competed in the renovation of a traditional "shotgun house" duplex in New Orleans that was built in 1904.[38] The house's owner was displaced after damage caused by Hurricane Katrina; a fraudulent contractor then took her renovation money without completing the work.[39] The home had been uninhabited for 11 years when the brothers worked with the New Orleans disaster relief organization SBP to completely restore the home.[39] The brothers were allotted four weeks and $125,000 each to increase the value of their homes at no cost to the homeowner.[38][40] They collaborated with local designers and contractors to maintain the historical integrity of the home according to local code.[38] 
 
 Produced by Scott Brothers Entertainment, the show premiered on HGTV on November 23, 2016.[40][38] Each week featured a specific design challenge: the kitchen, bedroom, living room. Guest judges Scott Bakula, Hoda Kotb, and Ben and Erin Napier were brought in to decide the winner.[40][41] 
 
 Future programs [ edit ] 
 
 The brothers are currently filming the next season of Property Brothers in Nashville, Tennessee.[42] Drew and his fiancee, Linda Phan, are in pre-prouction on a four-episode chronicle of them remodeling their home in Los Angeles.[43] The house was built in 1921 and has been designated as historial; it has never been remodeled before.[44] The show will be called Property Brothers at Home: Drew’s Honeymoon House,[43] and aims to have all the renovations done in time for the couple’s wedding rehearsal dinner.[45] Jonathan will participate in the design and remodel.[43] The program is set to premiere in November 2017.[45] The seventh season of Buy and Selling will go into production in September 2017, due to air sometime in 2018.[46] 
 
 Long term, the brothers would like to host a talk show, and say they have been approached by "several broadcast networks," but the timing is not right at the moment.[20] 
 
 Web series [ edit ] 
 
 Brothers Big Day Off (2014) 
 
 (2014) Toddler Vs. Toddler – Red Arrow Industries completed post-production on the series. [47] 
 
 – Red Arrow Industries completed post-production on the series. In the Scott Seat 
 
 Books [ edit ] 
 
 In 2015, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced that they had signed a deal with Drew and Jonathan for the book Dream Home: The Property Brothers' Ultimate Guide to Finding & Fixing Your Perfect House.[48] It was released April 4, 2016 and debuted at number nine on the New York Times bestsellers list for advice/how-to,[49] and number three on the Wall Street Journal bestsellers list for nonfiction.[50] The book received largely positive reviews. The Library Journal called the book the "happy exception" to other DIY books, and said that "loaded with checklists and tips, this manual is fantastic."[51] 
 
 App [ edit ] 
 
 Ahead of the airing of the 100th episode of Property Brothers, the brothers released the Property Brothers Handbook, an iTunes app that provides design tips and exclusive content from the show.[52] It was launched on September 8, 2015 and remained free to download until September 22.[52] The app was produced by Cineflix in association with Corus Entertainment, and Secret Location, with the participation of the Bell Fund.[52] 
 
 It was re-launched in 2017. 
 
 Radio [ edit ] 
 
 The brothers also did a 13-week, 60-minute lifestyle radio series called Off Topic with the Scott Brothers, which aired on Corus Radio.[53] 
 
 See also [ edit ] 
 
 References [ edit ] 
 
 Cited works [ edit ] 
 
 Scott, Drew; Scott, Jonathan (2016). Dream Home: The Property Brothers’ Ultimate Guide to Finding & Fixing Your Perfect House. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-544715-67-5.
– When Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan wanted to renovate their Raleigh, NC, rental property, they didn't want a DIY project, so they did what they thought was the next best thing: signed up to have an HGTV show do it for them. But per a lawsuit the couple has now filed against Big Coat, the production company behind Love It or List It, as well as the local contractor who overhauled the home, they were left with "disastrous work," including holes in the floor and windows painted shut, the Charlotte Observer reports. The suit also alleges the "reality-TV" program is "scripted, with 'roles' and reactions assigned to the various performers and participants, including the homeowners." And the show's hosts, designer Hilary Farr and real estate agent David Visentin, and its resident general contractor? "Actors or television personalities … [who don't play] more than a casual role in the actual renovation process." Per their contract with Big Coat, the couple deposited $140,000 that would be used to pay Aaron Fitz Construction and its subcontractors. About $85,000 was distributed to Aaron Fitz during the overhaul, even though Murphy and Sullivan say they expressed concerns about mediocre reviews seen on Angie's List. The rest of the money got pumped into producing the show, the couple claims, reports Today.com. They say the show is "even more of a scam than it generally seems," as the AV Club frames it. "The homeowners' funds essentially pay the cost of creating a stage set for this television series," the suit says. A statement from Big Coat's CEO says the company will "vigorously defend what we consider to be false allegations." (This DIY project took six months to make and much less time to eat.)