Some buyers are now asking to have a sleepover before committing to an offer — what the ‘try before you buy’ trend reveals about the US housing market

“Houses are a huge expenditure,” he told The Wall Street Journal [1]. “For $60 million, you should try it before you buy it. It’s a smart thing to do.”

While they didn’t end up buying it, Albert still walked away with $500,000 for the couple’s two-month stay, which included his full-time staff and the use of his vehicles.

It may not be a widespread trend at this point, but some buyers are asking sellers if they can ‘try before they buy’ — and, while it’s not for everyone, some sellers are agreeing to it. Here’s how this unusual approach works, what it can teach buyers about a property, and what sellers should know before opening the door.

The benefits for home buyers

A home is often the biggest purchase a person will make in their lifetime. The median list price of a house is $422,933 (as of July 31, 2025), according to Zillow [2], but depending on where you live, that could be much higher.

And it’s an ongoing expense that takes up an increasingly larger chunk of a person’s take-home pay.

“A typical family would have to pay 37% of their income for a median-priced existing home while a low-income family would need to pay 74% of their earnings to make the same mortgage payment,” according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI) [3].

Despite how large of a purchase a home can be, buyers might only spend 30 minutes at a showing with their real estate agent. This is a short window of time to make such a big decision, and made even more difficult during a sellers market when competition is fierce.

During a showing, you might ask questions about the condition of the house, the cost of utilities and how soundproof the walls are. And a home inspection can identify issues with the foundation, roof, plumbing and electrical systems. But neither of these are guaranteed to give you sense of how you’ll feel in the space.

Does the layout work for you? Can you hear the neighbors? Is the traffic too loud? Is the nearest coffee shop too far away? What’s the commute like to work?

That’s where a sleepover comes in. While not all sellers are open to the idea, it doesn’t hurt to ask if you’re interested in the property but have a few concerns holding you back. You may be required to pay for the privilege. If you’re negotiating a rate, you may want to use local Airbnb or VRBO rates as a guideline.

What sellers need to know before opening the door

Not everyone thinks a sleepover is a good idea, though. Ruthie Assouline, a real estate agent for Douglas Elliman, told The Wall Street Journal that sleepovers are a “Pandora’s box for liabilities” [4].

For sellers open to a sleepover, it’s important to pre-screen buyers. You’ll also want to ensure you have the appropriate insurance coverage.

Several insurance companies offer short-term rental insurance or vacation rental insurance, which includes coverage for liability, property damage and protection for personal belongings. A standard homeowners insurance likely won’t cover this arrangement (since it’s business-related).

To protect yourself from liability, you could also ask the buyer to put down a damage deposit and sign a waiver.