HGTV coming to Crystal Lake for 'Tiny House Hunters' episode

Looking to sell his tiny house, Brent Hollenberg is going to get some help from HGTV.

The cable television channel is expected to film Aug. 25 in Crystal Lake for an upcoming episode of “Tiny House Hunters,” in which home seekers across the country looking to downsize are presented with three unique tiny homes to visit.

Hollenberg, the owner of Reclaimed in Crystal Lake, built his 196-square-foot home last year with the intention of his family living in it. Hollenberg’s wife, Megan, was pregnant at the time. The couple has three children, ages 10 months, 3 and 5.

The family lasted about 12 days in the home, Hollenberg said.

“We decided it wasn’t for us, but we tried it,” he said. “It was like being in jail with your wife.”

The 28-foot-long home, listed at $59,000, is now parked in front of the Reclaimed showroom at 82 Railroad St. in Crystal Lake.

Hollenberg said an HGTV representatives saw his post on Facebook about the home being for sale and called about two weeks ago asking to visit. He said he’s been told the Friday filming will entail him walking a potential buyer through the home on camera.

“If she picks ours, then we sell it, which is great,” he said.

“I have no idea who’s going to be looking at it. They don’t give me too much information,” said Hollenberg, who also has not been told when the episode of “Tiny House Hunters,” now in its fourth season, will air.

He also has scheduled an open house at the home from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 27 for those interested in seeing it. The home is listed as sleeping six to nine people, with a main loft for a king-size bed, a second loft for a queen-size bed and a bonus room for bunk beds or storage/office space.

The home includes a towable 28-foot trailer, allowing it to be moved. It was hand-crafted using reclaimed wood throughout and to surpass building codes, Hollenberg said, making it unlike other routine tiny houses “that are really plain and boring.”