Darren and Kate Mancuso of Relief Properties share home improvement tips in a new HGTV pilot.
“Which dump are you taking me to today?” Kate Mancuso asks her husband, Darren, in the opening episode of “Gut Job,” which premiered on HGTV in November.
The co-owner of Relief Properties in Strongsville was on his way to see a 1925 Ohio City home that had been on the market for two years and was in need of significant repairs, then toured a Lakewood home on Mars Avenue that had suffered a fire and needed to be converted from a two-family home to a single-family home.The show's sole premise is to buy one of two less attractive homes, strip it down to the bones and completely renovate it, then stage it and sell it for a tidy profit.
Filming the pilot took a grueling year, with the couple working 12-hour days in addition to their regular jobs, but the Mancusos are excited to be filming in their hometown and that their show will air alongside HGTV hits like “Flip or Flop.”
“There was a lot of B-roll of the city,” Kate says, “and we were able to talk about how great our housing stock is because there are so many homes with great character that could be completely updated.”
Transforming old homes into new ones has always been the couple's forte, but they don't just stop at flipping: Since founding their company in 2012, they've been flipping 15 to 20 homes a year and have been committed to a “discover and create” real estate model ever since.
“Every day there's something new, that's what I love about my job,” Kate says. “It all requires brainpower and thinking. It's like a puzzle, you're constantly moving pieces around.”
If buyers can't find what they want, the Mancusos and their team will help their clients find what they want — for example, an inexpensive house in a good location but in disrepair — so they can buy it and design and renovate it within their budget and specifications.
“There's not a day that goes by that I don't wake up with a problem to solve,” Kate says, talking about how they recently tore down a house only to discover that the drywall was covered in cement board, and that a house on Clifton Boulevard had solid brick and no studs. “There are always surprises with old houses.”
While the future of Got Job is a bit uncertain until HGTV orders more episodes, the Mancuso family is hopeful about a remodeled future.
“If they say, 'Yes, we want more,' we're ready,” Kate says.
Fixed Hint
If you're moving into a home in Cleveland, there's a good chance it's going to be pretty old, and the Mancusos had some tips to consider before embarking on a home renovation.
Invest in experts
“It's well worth it to hire a professional,” says Kate. “You want peace of mind when you close the wall that you won't have any issues later.”
Shop around to find the best deal
“You'll go over budget and there will be unknowns,” says Darren, “Get multiple quotes and hire a company that has a track record of doing what you're trying to do.”
Don't do more than you can handle
Small projects like painting may seem easy, but start small: “People often underestimate the time and effort it takes until they actually pick up a brush and do it themselves,” he says.