In a tough real estate market, Langford homeowners Kevin Kersten and his wife Karina, are hoping to use reality TV to sell their home.
The Langford home will be profiled on the Home and Garden Television network program Urban Suburban.
On the show, a young family from Victoria will scope out houses in both the urban setting of Victoria and in the suburban areas of the West Shore.
“Basically it’s the age old decision,” said Sarah Daniels, the show’s host who is also a real estate agent. “(Viewers will) see the opportunity for how far a dollar goes.”
Other than solely looking at the homes in both areas, Daniels said the show will also compare commute times and the proximity of schools and day care centres for each home.
After all the homes are viewed and profiled, home buyers will decided if it’s “worth the extra time in the car,” Daniels said, adding more often in the suburbs people get more square footage for their dollar.
The Kerten’s home had been on the market for nearly three months when they were asked to include it in the “suburban” portion of the program.
“I am happy HGTV finds my home worthy of the show,” Kevin said. “The only reason we are selling is I need more land (for my business).”
The Kersten’s 3,200 square foot, four bedroom home on Bellamy Road has a one-bedroom suite.
While having his home featured on TV is an interesting experience, he said the bottom line is “the show is less important. I want to sell my home.”
The Kerstens are looking to purchase a home in Metchosin, with more space for their landscaping business.
Kevin said he loves the West Shore area and his wife isn’t bothered by commuting to downtown Victoria to work. “We have everything that downtown (Victoria) has,” he said.
Urban Suburban contacted real estate agent Patrick Novotny from ReMax Camosun in the process of scouting potential homes in Greater Victoria.
“People who chose to be downtown get much older houses and much smaller homes (than on the West Shore),” Novotny noted.
For this house in particular, Novotny said he thinks it was selected for the show because “it shows really well. The house is renovated and it’s a great value.”
Urban Suburban film crew have been profiling homes coast to coast in cities such as Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver.
The episode featuring Langford and Victoria homes is scheduled to air on Oct. 26.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com