There are few people’s homes that I am more intrigued to see than Phil Spencer’s, the home-finding guru that has matched thousands of beleaguered house-hunters to their ideal home. So what do I, and the rest of his millions of viewers expect? A country manor with a sweeping drive, perhaps, or maybe a penthouse with a vaulted glass ceiling? 
Unsurprisingly for one of the co-presenters of Location, Location, Location, Phil’s own choice of home was entirely driven by location and adaptability. So I meet him on a street in Wandsworth, south London, not far from the last two houses he has owned in the area, and outside his current address, an unassuming terraced house that has been highly developed to meet his family’s needs. Impeccably designed and decorated, with an enormous extended basement, that even stretches under the astroturf garden, Phil and his wife chose to create their own home, rather than hunting out their dream one. And it suits him. Relaxed and comfortable in homely surroundings that reflect his priorities, it’s no wonder that Phil is so passionate about helping others find their own niche in property.

To celebrate 10 years of Location, Location, Location last November, viewers enjoyed a bumper pack of programmes from you and Kirstie, including A Decade in Property. Does it feel like you’ve been on screen for 10 years or has it flown by?
Making that show was very odd actually, because it took us on a very cathartic trip down memory lane – thinking back to all that’s changed and happened in our lives and the housing market since the first show. The market has been a real merry-go-round and people’s attitudes to housing have changed a lot. Looking back, it feels like there will never be another decade like the last, and to be honest, I hope there isn’t. What we’ve just experienced in property will only happen every half a century. It has been a really interesting period to see evolve and we’ve always felt very lucky to be the first property show. Lucky to be in it at the beginning and lucky to still be there now.

The overriding theme of the night seemed to be how much you and Kirstie enjoy your jobs, is there anything you would change about the last 10 years on screen together?
Maybe a few of the house-hunters! But not that many, most of them are great. I still get a huge sense of satisfaction when it goes right. There can be frustrating times, but if you want the highs then you have to accept the lows. People say that I’m a calming influence on the team – sometimes there can be 12 people in the production crew, all running around and stressed, but it never really affects me. I like to spend time with the house-hunters so that I can get to know them and help them relax. The better I get on with them, the better job I can do.

Do you think house-hunters can still sometimes misunderstand a home-finders role and the financial benefits?
Home-finding is still a small industry. At the high end of the market most people take advice, but in the mainstream market it’s not done very often. I believe it will be in the future though. Buying a home is one of the most significant purchases you will ever make and you take advice on other major purchases in your life, so why not when you’re buying a home? When you’re selling you take advice from an estate agent and you pay them to add more value than they are costing. It’s the same for a buying agent, I believe they can, and they must, add value to the process. So aside from the advice and knowledge of their market, they should be able to save you more than they charge. In which case, at all budgets, people will stand up and take notice. I believe it will happen.