With the prices of homes and interest rates plummeting to record lows, a lot of people are in the market searching for the ideal home to move into. But when it comes to clever selling tactics, real estate ads are notorious for covering up the true condition of a house or condo.
While the real estate agent may be working in the best interest of their client, it's definitely a "buyer beware" situation when it involves certain words in the listing. Find out how to decipher messages of advertisements featuring homes for sale so that you can make an informed decision before everything goes to waste on a "handyman special."
Don't let the enticing lingo of real estate adjectives lead you astray on your quest for the home of your dreams. Before you can even get to the point of calling professional movers to schedule a move, you need to wade your way through the murky waters of real estate listings.
Here are a few of the most common tip-offs that the ad you're looking at is a real estate agent's creative interpretation of a problem house:
-Words and phrases like "ideal for one," "cozy," and "intimate," simply means: tiny, compact, and small. Homes that are posted with these words are probably no bigger than your current closet.
-"Vintage" and "retro" means that the home is old (duh!) and incorporates a lot of outdated features, but there could be a lot of value in the property, once you renovate it, of course.
-If a home is listed as having "potential," "needs TLC," "handyman special," or "a loving touch goes a long way," expect to walk into a non-stop spending situation. The entire home will have to be totally renovated.
-A "low maintenance" home most likely does not have much of a surrounding yard around it. Not a good choice if you have dogs or children.
-"Rustic" homes are probably going to need a good paint job. The flooring may also need to be revamped.
-"Backs to open area" or "no neighbors behind" simply means that the house is on the location of a future development project.
The photos of a real estate ad can also reveal a lot about the house, not by what you can see, however by what's missing. For example:
-Photos showcasing the large yard of a home or the state-of-the-art gym on the complex give you an idea that the actual interior of the home itself is in bad shape.
-If the listing shows various shots of the inside of a house, but nothing on the outside, there most likely isn't much of a yard on the property.
-Newly renovated houses will have shots of the redone interiors, so if pictures of the bathroom or kitchen are missing, you'll probably have to invest in getting them remodeled.
Now that you know how to read between the lines of the text in a real estate ad as well as the images, you'll be able to make a safer decision on what homes to check out before you purchase and get in contact with your local movers.
While the real estate agent may be working in the best interest of their client, it's definitely a "buyer beware" situation when it involves certain words in the listing. Find out how to decipher messages of advertisements featuring homes for sale so that you can make an informed decision before everything goes to waste on a "handyman special."
Don't let the enticing lingo of real estate adjectives lead you astray on your quest for the home of your dreams. Before you can even get to the point of calling professional movers to schedule a move, you need to wade your way through the murky waters of real estate listings.
Here are a few of the most common tip-offs that the ad you're looking at is a real estate agent's creative interpretation of a problem house:
-Words and phrases like "ideal for one," "cozy," and "intimate," simply means: tiny, compact, and small. Homes that are posted with these words are probably no bigger than your current closet.
-"Vintage" and "retro" means that the home is old (duh!) and incorporates a lot of outdated features, but there could be a lot of value in the property, once you renovate it, of course.
-If a home is listed as having "potential," "needs TLC," "handyman special," or "a loving touch goes a long way," expect to walk into a non-stop spending situation. The entire home will have to be totally renovated.
-A "low maintenance" home most likely does not have much of a surrounding yard around it. Not a good choice if you have dogs or children.
-"Rustic" homes are probably going to need a good paint job. The flooring may also need to be revamped.
-"Backs to open area" or "no neighbors behind" simply means that the house is on the location of a future development project.
The photos of a real estate ad can also reveal a lot about the house, not by what you can see, however by what's missing. For example:
-Photos showcasing the large yard of a home or the state-of-the-art gym on the complex give you an idea that the actual interior of the home itself is in bad shape.
-If the listing shows various shots of the inside of a house, but nothing on the outside, there most likely isn't much of a yard on the property.
-Newly renovated houses will have shots of the redone interiors, so if pictures of the bathroom or kitchen are missing, you'll probably have to invest in getting them remodeled.
Now that you know how to read between the lines of the text in a real estate ad as well as the images, you'll be able to make a safer decision on what homes to check out before you purchase and get in contact with your local movers.
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Another great article by Richard Kelley Real Estate, Rich Kelley Realty Free reprint avaialable from: Learn How To Decipher Real Estate Ads.
