actually, it is an old Catholic custom. My German Grand mother had her house blessed after nighttime noises and doors/windows opening and shutting themself kept her awake.
And in Oklahoma, our Osage parishoners frequently asked their new homes to be blessed.
Interesting post and gets back at my idea that perhaps these customs - unheard of by some Catholics here - are very old and very ethnic. They brought Catholic customs from their old countries. Anyone who has been to Italy or Sicily soon gets a sense of this ancient religion! Sadly, it is all being lost or considered outdated by our Protestant-style American Catholic Church. A religion without mystery and taboo is no religion to me!