Real Estate Road Test
By Anne Louise Bannon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Tame home-buying show is best for real estate junkies.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
REAL ESTATE ROAD TEST follows potential buyers as they look for a new place to call home -- with the added fantasy element of getting to spend a night in each of two possible candidates. Designer/host Doug Wilson shepherds the families through the process, giving them a few choices before they pick two to "road test."
Is It Any Good?
It's never entirely explained how the folks who own the homes have set up the road test, but it's clear that getting that extra opporutnity can make a big difference in which home gets bought. One couple was completely split on two prospective choices -- he liked one, she liked the other. After the road test, the split actually remained -- but with each now preferring the home he or she previously didn't like.
The show is reasonably engaging, and the storyteling is pretty basic. But there's not much here to excite someone who's not a real estate junkie -- in other words, don't expect kids to care.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the home-buying process really works. Ask kids why they think the people on the show get to spend a night in a house they're thinking about buying, when most people can't. How does that affect the process? Families can also discuss the trend of real estate themed TV shows. Why are
they so popular? Are they supposed to be entertaining or informative?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 31, 2009
- Cast: Doug Wilson
- Network: TLC
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate