You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it first, right? Well, why on earth do we forge ahead, buying homes without trying them out? A house is much more of an investment, and it generally has a much larger impact on your life than does a car.
Wouldn’t it be great to spend a night or two in a home that you are considering buying? I know from first hand experience that no matter how many walk-throughs and inspections you get, there are always some surprises that come your way after you move in to your home. Wouldn’t be nice to discover that the dishwasher leaks, the neighbors dogs bark all hours of the night or the kitchen really is too small? Or perhaps you are choosing among properties and you don’t know which one has a better flow for your family?
Guess what? It may now be possible to take your potential house for a test drive. Test driving homes is a recent trend that is spreading fast in this declining housing market. Owners are offering anywhere from a one night to one week test drive of their house for sale, in an effort to entice skittish buyers to take the plunge.
I don’t know how long this trend will last, but it has even sparked a new television show, coming soon to TLC. Trading Spaces host Dough Wilson, will show buyers three houses for sale and give them the opportunity to live in two of them. The show is currently casting right now, and they are looking for both homes and buyers in the New York Tri-State area. So if you have a home for sale in New York, New Jersey or the Greater Philadelphia region, or if you are looking to buy in those areas and want to give it a try, here is your chance.
You can visit the TLC website to apply:
http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/apply/getontlc.html
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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