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Tiny House Hunting Bingo

Have you seen these shows? People are shown three tiny houses and they choose one to buy.

Here in Australia, double episodes of Tiny House Hunters currently screen on 9Life; Tuesday at 8.30pm, Saturday at 5.30pm or streamed online.

Some things happen so often on these shows that we've made a Tiny House Hunting bingo game. (Download the pdf version)

Here's the bingo sheet, with explanations below. Play along next time you're watching. See if you can get three in a row.


Composting Toilet

These are a common feature in tiny houses, particularly houses on wheels that are going to be moving a lot. Some people love them; some are freaked out.
Mark this square if someone is passionate about the matter.

Accommodating Pets

Even in tiny homes, it feels like having pets is as common as having kids. I've seen an under-couch run area for guinea pigs, a cat walk for kittens to traverse from one loft to the other, and special built-in areas for dogs to sleep and eat.
Mark this square if a pet is going to be in the tiny house.

Loft Headroom

A tiny house bedroom is often in the loft, which means a little less headroom. I feel like if I had a dollar for every person that's tried the do-I-bump-my-head test, I'd be able to buy my own tiny home.
Mark this square if someone does a loft sit up test.

Ladders v Stairs

Obviously there are pros and cons for each. Ladders take up less space and are movable. Stairs are easier to navigate and can incorporate storage. This is a deal-breaker for some. Others make the change after buying.
Mark this square if some express a strong preference.

"Full Size"

This one's my pet peeve. Buyers and agents refer to "full size" appliances, kitchens or bathrooms. But what does it mean? How many litres is a full size fridge? How many square feet in a full size kitchen? No-one knows but they still love using this meaningless phrase.
Mark this square if anyone describes something as "full size".

Polar opposites

He wants 450 square feet, permanent structure with privacy. She wants 200 square feet, easily mobile with a light and open feel. Have these people talked about this at all, before coming on the show?
Mark this square if the 'wish lists' seem mutually exclusive.

"That's over budget"

In the first segment, buyers state their budget. If you think "budget" means maximum price, think again. Agents will show over-budget houses. Buyers will often buy them anyway.
Mark this square if a buyer remarks that the house is over budget.

Living with friends/family

Often if buyers are relocating, they'll temporarily live in a spare room of a friend or family member. Some say it's good practice for living tiny. Sometimes the parent's kitchen is the same size as a tiny house.
Mark this square if they are currently living with a friend or family member.

"Rustic"

This commonly-used term is also really hard to define. If you see enough episodes, you'll see a very wide variety of houses all described as "rustic". I think there's also sub-categories, like rustic farmhouse.
Mark this square if the word rustic is used - whatever it means.

Happy tiny house viewing. Enjoy the show and the game. :)

Have I missed anything? Let me know your suggestions in the comments.

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