Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Realtor-ese
A recurring topic because we real estate agents are so darn creative! In no particular order:
"Lake": any body of water large enough to hold a (small) frog.
"Trout Stream": any trickle of water too small to be called a lake.
"Renovated": if no mention is made of anything specific, assume that there's nothing to mention, so count on the dust bunnies having been swept from under the beds and, maybe, ashes cleaned from the fireplace.
"On the Stamford/Greenwich border": in Stamford
"Enjoy as is, renovate or start anew": Reserve a dumpster.
"Has great potential": Reserve a dumpster.
"Convenient to transportation": backs up to I-95.
"Not a drive-by": It's a drive by - and keep driving.
"Must see": Same advice - keep driving.
"Motivated Seller": We can't possibly unload the place at its current price but the dumbass seller won't publicly admit it - bring a low-ball offer and let's talk.
"Won't last": It did, or we wouldn't still be advertising the turkey.

Send in your own favorites and I'll add them here.

Reader Updates: "seasonal water views". Go up on the roof, climb a step ladder and wow!. I myself, because I'm a truthful sort of guy, prefer to call these nature sightings "seasonal water glimpses".

"Much loved" = obsolete

"Charming" = small

Cozy – means that it’s really a dollhouse or doghouse

New paint – it’s amazing how far $5 per gallon paint goes

New carpet – covering up the scratched hardwood floors

Close to Park – SO close that you’ll never find a parking spot
Peaceful backyard– because 36,000 cars drive by the front yard each day.
Professionally remodeled – the owner and their siblings didn’t do the work, the neighbor’s sister’s husband’s son did.

Movable center island – the kids ran into it so many times it came loose.

Quaint - it’s pink!

Steps to the creek – be ready to sandbag the front yard each spring.

On golf course – high insurance for broken windows

"Classic": brand-new, trying to look established

"Georgian": anything with stone, no matter how little of it, on any part of the facade, even if you need a magnifying glass to find it.

"Condo alternative" - so small that only a single person or couple can live in it.

"Compound" or "retreat" sounds like it's in the middle of a war zone

"First time on market in 70 years" : Last updated when Grandpa sold the horse and used the proceeds to replace the outhouse.

"Lovingly maintained"--the harvest gold appliances still work like a charm and the sheet vinyl in the kitchen has been so carefully patched, you'll hardly notice.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

A Foot is a device for finding furniture in the dark.

Anonymous said...

seasonal waterviews - you have to go to the 2nd floor in the middle of winter and stand at a certain angle to see the sound.

Anonymous said...

"much loved" = obsolete

Anonymous said...

"charming" = small

Anonymous said...

I smell a new book coming!

Greenwich Diva

Anonymous said...

Cozy – means that it’s really a dollhouse or doghouse
New paint – it’s amazing how far $5 per gallon paint goes
New carpet – covering up the scratched hardwood floors
Close to Park – SO close that you’ll never find a parking spot
Peaceful backyard– because 36,000 cars drive by the front yard each day.
Professionally remodeled – the owner and their siblings didn’t do the work, the neighbor’s sister’s husband’s son did.
Movable center island – the kids ran into it so many times it came loose.
Quaint - it’s pink!
Steps to the creek – be ready to sandbag the front yard each spring.
On golf course – high insurance for broken windows

Anonymous said...

I never understand why a listing will mention that the house has been in the family for xx generations or that the house is on the market for the first time in 30 years. Why would a buyer care about this? Why is this a selling point? Can't they say anything better about the house?

Anonymous said...

"classic": brand-new, trying to look established

"Georgian": anything with stone, no matter how little of it, on any part of the facade, even if you need a magnifying glass to fine it.

CEA

Anonymous said...

condo alternative - so small that only a single person or couple can live in it.

Anonymous said...

anything called a "compound" or "retreat" sounds like it's in the middle of a war zone

Anonymous said...

Definition and picture of Georgian architecture - moderate size, simple:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_architecture


What Real Estate Brokers Say Is Georgian - gargantuan, bells & whistles:

http://www.sothebyshomes.com/greenwich/sales/0064371

http://www.sothebyshomes.com/greenwich/sales/0063287

http://www.sothebyshomes.com/greenwich/sales/0064209


CEA

Anonymous said...

Good Ones! :)

Anonymous said...

"Lovingly maintained"--the harvest gold appliances still work like a charm and the sheet vinyl in the kitchen has been so carefully patched, you'll hardly notice.

Anonymous said...

Beach rights = Tod's Point access