Date My House

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 10+

Property makeovers give real estate some romance.

TLC Reality TV 2008
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age 10+

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this real estate reality series compares staging and selling a home to the dating process. But despite many references to dating, relationships, and romance (and overnight house stays), the sexual innuendo is very mild and will clearly go over the head of young viewers. There's also some visible alcohol consumption (champagne, wine). Bottom line? Though the series is tame enough for kids, chances are they won't be that interested.

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What's the Story?

DATE MY HOUSE helps frustrated homeowners stage and sell their homes by teaching them to literally court potential buyers. Hosted by dating show veteran Bob Guiney, the show attempts to create a "love match" by restaging each featured house and reintroducing it to potential buyers. With the help of designer Nadia Geller, each home is given a 24-hour makeover in order to make a great first impression. It's then opened up for a "speed dating" session that allows people to check it out in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. An interested buyer is then selected to spend time in the home getting to know it better. Once the date is over, the potential purchaser must decide if s/he wants to make the ultimate commitment -- putting an offer down.

Is It Any Good?

By using dating and relationships as a metaphor, Date My House offers a new way to think about house selling. And lest you think that formula sounds a little risqué, rest assured: There's not much more here than tips for sellers on how to quickly and inexpensively stage their homes to improve their chances of a sale. It also gives potential buyers the chance to think more about the kinds of details (like nighttime noise) that they don't necessarily get to focus on while looking at a potential home in a traditional open house setting.

There's very mild sexual innuendo (like referring to making the property "hot"), but it will go right over young viewers' head. There's also a bit of drinking during the "speed dating" sessions. Despite these details, the show is pretty tame, though, frankly, kids probably won't find it very entertaining. Really, it's meant to give people who are trying to sell their homes in a difficult real estate market some creative ideas about how to up their property's appeal.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the trend of TV "home makeover" shows. Why are they so popular? Are they supposed to be entertaining or informative? Families can also discuss how some TV shows use metaphors to make their show different. Do you think using dating as a metaphor sets this series apart from other home makeover and home selling shows?

TV Details

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