The 8 Biggest Issues HGTV’s Hilary Farr Has Run Into During Renovations

Hilary Farr’s HGTV journey is proof that even the pros run into issues during renovation. As the host of both “Love It or List It” and “Tough Love,” Farr has faced her fair share of challenges. She always thinks big when it comes to transforming a home, and that can come with unexpected setbacks. From reimagining floor plans to restructuring the budget, Farr always finds a way to work around the obstacles.

Structural issues don’t discriminate, even when it comes to HGTV stars. Hilary Farr is full of genius renovation ideas to improve the flow of your home. However, her history is proof that not every concept works for every space. Throughout her career on HGTV, there are a few moments that stand out as her most challenging renovations to date. Whether you’re embarking on your own renovation or you simply want to admire Farr’s clever approach to design, these instances can be fascinating and informative.

In Season 14, Episode 15, of “Love It or List It,” Farr wanted to create a second ensuite bedroom for guests. However, she realized that the existing septic system wouldn’t be sufficient for an additional bathroom. She explained to her clients: “You’re on a septic tank system, and your septic tank will not accommodate giving this house an extra room designated as a bedroom. So, the new septic tank that I would have to have dug for you to accommodate an extra bedroom — it’s expensive. The number that I’ve been given is $50,000.” However, she came up with a plan to reposition the existing bathroom for a more functional layout and turn the bonus room into an entertainment and media room.

If you’re also limited by a single septic tank or an inconvenient sewer system location, there are a few simple ways to make your single bathroom feel more private and maximize the space you already have. One option is to follow Farr’s lead and move the door to your bathroom. If you currently have an ensuite that forces guests to traipse through your bedroom, try rerouting the entrance rather than putting in a second bathroom. You can also change the layout of your bathroom by separating the toilet from the shower area to enhance the feeling of privacy.

Farr had a brilliant idea for expanding the living space in Season 1, Episode 5, of “Tough Love” — or so she thought. She originally wanted to tear out the fireplace to push the wall back, but her contractor informed her that the adjustment would be more involved than she had anticipated. He explained: “So, we ran into a little bit of an issue. This wood stove was installed before the rest of the stone was installed around it. There’s no way to get this out without removing everything.” Because of the added cost, Farr decided to build a new wall around the fireplace and add alcove shelving for depth.

Although Farr found a creative workaround, fans were conflicted about her choice to cover the fireplace altogether. YouTube user @saraheschweiler4939 comments: “Pity to cover up the fireplace. A fireplace in the dining room would have been lovely! And the stonework of the fireplace was a warm echo of the stone of the exterior.” This viewer isn’t the only one who has mixed feelings about hiding historic stone fireplaces. There was a major scandal on TikTok that involved a homeowner painting over a natural stone fireplace with white plaster. If you really want to remove or alter your fireplace, consider a more temporary solution like blocking it with removable wall panels with wooden slats or curtains.

Season 14, Episode 19 of “Love It or List It” required Farr to shift her priorities. Farr originally planned to place her client’s home office downstairs, but she later found out that his profession required him to view X-ray images with no natural light. This meant that the only viable location was the attic. However, his machinery required high levels of electricity — and the attic didn’t have any wiring. Farr explained the situation to the clients, “I have to reroute a lot of the power, so your budget just doesn’t even come close to covering this.” She ultimately decided to prioritize the attic renovation, causing her to axe some of her planned kitchen remodel.

Renovating your home on a budget is all about prioritizing what matters most for your lifestyle. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are several budget-friendly home upgrades that can save you a full remodel, or allow you to allocate the funds to other areas. A great way to force yourself to be selective is to consider the return of investment on specific upgrades. For example, BankRate reports that a garage door replacement has a super high average return of 193.9%. A new entry door came in a close second. However, if you are trying to decide on a single room to focus on, this data suggests a midrange kitchen remodel is the most profitable choice.

In Season 17, Episode 7, of “Love It or List It,” the planned renovation got a lot more complicated once the crawl space was revealed. The contractor had planned to install new plumbing and electrical from the crawl space. However, he alerted Farr to a major issue: “So, if you look, that is our crawlspace. There’s no clearance between the joists and the grade. We don’t have enough space to get in and get our guys under there and do the plumbing or do the mechanical.” The only solution was to rip out the flooring. While the clients were initially upset about losing the historic significance, Farr turned a panel from their original floors into a gorgeous headboard.

There are several tips to follow when renovating a historic home, and it’s good practice to preserve as much as possible. However, sometimes structural issues make it impossible to keep every detail. In addition to Farr’s issue of a too-narrow crawl space, there are other problems that can make it impossible to keep the original floorboards. It’s a good idea to replace your floors if they have been refinished too many times or reflect excessive water damage. If you need new flooring on a budget, consider wood grain-style laminate flooring like these top-rated vinyl planks from GreenFullHouse.

Season 17, Episode 5 of “Love It or List It” demonstrated how expenses can arise outside of the home as well. The homeowner was the one to break the news to Farr: “We’ve run into some issues with trees out front. Nature has taken its course, and I have to take out a lot of trees, and it’s going to cost me an arm and a leg.” This outdoor issue majorly ate into the budget, costing Farr about $35,000. She weighed the pros and cons between sacrificing the upstairs bathroom or the kitchen remodel, and ultimately decided a new kitchen was the priority.

Hilary Farr has completed some of the best kitchen makeovers we’ve seen, but deciding whether to renovate a bathroom or kitchen is a personal decision. Although we mentioned that a kitchen remodel can have a notable ROI, your overall budget will also determine what to renovate first. A bathroom remodel is typically less expensive than redoing a kitchen, so if you don’t want to stretch your budget, the bathroom might be the way to go. The bathroom will generally also take less time to complete if you’re in a crunch. Costs may also depend on which of your spaces is more dated. If your bathroom or kitchen is already somewhat modern, it’s best to focus on the area that is severely lacking.

Farr’s clients really wanted a new mudroom and laundry room in Season 13, Episode 1, of “Love It or List It.” However, Farr’s contractor alerted her to a huge issue: “This hot water heater is only feeding the main floor. The hot water tank that’s in the attic is feeding the second floor. Basically, we need two systems. So, if I eliminate this one, I need to re-pipe the whole house.” Farr decided to extend the mudroom by enclosing the porch and add laundry to that entry space rather than creating an entirely separate laundry room. She told the clients, “You will still have in this area, the mudroom, you will still have your laundry … But nevertheless, you’re not going to have a designated laundry room.”

If you have a patio or deck that butts up against a back or side door, you can follow Farr and extend your mudroom or foyer by creating an enclosed porch. This is a great solution if you need more space for laundry or storage. There are also budget-friendly ways to DIY a patio enclosure in a pinch. However, keep in mind that you need insulation if you want to use the space comfortably all year. If you don’t want to build out an entirely new space, consider using a storage unit that maximizes your current mudroom. This Aiho entryway hall tree includes shoe storage, hooks, and a bench.

In Season 13, Episode 3, of “Love It or List It,” the renovation process revealed a dangerous problem. Farr told the clients: “They found soaking wet insulation here. This is the masonry brick fireplace that runs through your home, obviously from the roof all the way down into the living room. The water was coming in around the flashing. There’s always metal flashing around the base and around the top of a chimney. And it wasn’t a problem we could let go.” Because the repairs weren’t in the budget, Farr decided to nix the laundry room expansion in order to fix the pressing problem.

Wet insulation can be considered a significant health risk and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Damp insulation can harbor both mold and harmful bacteria. Also, it can actually increase your electricity bill because it can act as a conductor. It is best to check for wet insulation if you notice strange smells, water stains, or peeling paint.

What’s worse than wet insulation? No insulation! That’s exactly what Farr found in Season 18, Episode 9, of “Love It or List It.” Her contractor informed her that the new spray foam insulation would cost about $7,600. Farr told the clients, “You had absolutely no insulation in your house. Zero. Was the house cold and drafty?” The couple informed Farr that it felt like the windows were always open. Unsurprisingly, they all agreed that new insulation was non-negotiable.

Even if your home has some insulation, it may be missing insulation in select rooms or there may not be enough in the attic or roof, making heat escape quickly. If your home falls into one of those categories, there are several types of insulation for you to consider. Fiberglass, cellulose, foam, and mineral wool are some of the most common kinds of insulation. Fiberglass is the most common. However, installing fiberglass can cause respiratory issues, so it is best to employ an experienced contractor. Although spray foam is typically a more expensive option, Amazon offers an affordable Stanley spray foam insulation kit that is ideal if you need a quick solution. Always hire a professional if you are not experienced with the installation process.