Working with Ann Maurice, TV's House Doctor

I’m often asked how I first met Ann Maurice, TV’s House Doctor, and I have to say it was completely by accident. However, she managed to change my life.

Following a BSc Degree in Hotel and Catering Management in Manchester, I enjoyed managing various hotels for several years and I lived in exotic places such as Jersey, Guernsey and Bermuda. Finally returning to the UK, I moved into retail management, and developed a theory that good presentation was the key to success. Whether it was hotel rooms and table settings, or windows and shelf displays in shops. Everything had a better chance of selling if it was presented well.

One evening, over ten years ago, by chance I saw a House Doctor program for the first time. Ann Maurice was on my television screen telling everyone that their homes had a better chance of selling if they were presented well. Wait – that was my theory! I loved this programme.

I researched House Doctor and discovered Ann had just started running weekend seminars on home staging. I was fascinated by the idea – I’m creative, organised and practical, I’ve always loved home interiors and had often advised friends on colours and schemes for their homes. I met Ann and was selected for her first Advanced Property Presentation Course, where we staged two homes – one of which increased in value by £18,000 following an investment of only £2,000.

The homeowners with Ann

I was delighted to join Ann’s team, and helped her to set-up the House Doctor Network, training and mentoring new recruits to the network. I worked with Ann on numerous houses, and took hundreds of photographs – see some below.

Lynn Pick and Ann Maurice

This photo above always makes me laugh when I see it – I had to bend my knees and Ann had to stand on her tiptoes so the height difference wasn’t too much! That’s why she’s clinging on to the chair!