“Love It or List It” is one of the longest-running and most beloved shows on HGTV, and fans love to see whether David Visentin or Hilary Farr will win over the homeowner. Hilary tries to fix up their current home using her skills as an interior designer, while David, a real estate agent, tries to find a new house the homeowner would love.
A Reddit thread directly asked reality show participants whether reality shows are real or fake and one user claimed, “My aunt and uncle were on “Love It Or List It” and they had them record both endings and the network chose which one they thought was best.” Another commenter said no one on the show actually wants to list their home, they just want a free renovation and to be on TV.
Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan, who were participants of the program in 2016, sued the HGTV show due to unfair trade practices and poor work. Their lawsuit, which detailed thousands of dollars of damages, claimed the show is scripted and, "These characters are actors or television personalities playing a role for the camera [...] none of them played more than a casual role in the actual renovation process."