Kickin the Tires on Your Next Home

I read with interest last Sunday’s article by Dana Perrigan in the Chron on “Trying Out a Home Before You Buy It.” I guess this could become the new trend in home-buying; much like kicking the tires and taking a test drive of a vehicle, you get to take your home out for a spin, or rather, stay in and have a spin. In short, you get to spend the night in what could be your next home. You get to see what the neighborhood is like at night, what kind of noises are apparent as you try to go to sleep, how well the stove works, and if the heat or AC really does the trick (as well as you can in a 24-hour period). Seems like a good idea, given that you will probably be making the largest financial investment of your life.

The concept is based on a new weekly TV show produced and aired by HGTV called “Sleep on It.” The concept: A buyer knows he loves a house, but just can’t make that leap to buy. After touring two homes, our buyer — with the approval of the sellers — chooses one house that he and his family will sleep in. They get the run of the house for 24 hours to “kick the tires” and experience (hopefully) the trials and the joys of living in that house and in that neighborhood. We find out if they are going to buy the house or pass on it based on their sleepover experience. (See the next episode on Wednesday, January 9th, 10:30 pm.)

I’ll have to tune in to see how it works and whether I’d be willing to do this as a seller. Would you? It would entail moving out of your house for 24 hours. More importantly, I would want to pack up or lock up valuables, personal papers, etc. Yes, I’m sure realtors would vet their clients, but you can never be too careful. Do you think this will be the new trend? An added incentive to sell a house?

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