“RealtorSpeak” — a New Language?

July 9, 2008

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Hey White Oaks Blog readers, let's have a little fun…and in the process you can help me set up the next topic for the next “What Do You Think” poll on the blog.

RealtorSpeak” is a term I have coined for the fictitious, and often bizarre language that Realtors tend to use when creating flyers for their listings, or writing descriptions of their properties on the MLS.   (and YES, I'm sure I have been an abuser of RealtorSpeak in the past!) While the words in RealtorSpeak aren't necessarily new, their use (or overuse) is…  Let's look at a few examples:

  1. Gourmet.     As in.. kitchen.  As in.. is EVERY kitchen in the world a gourmet kitchen?  It seems like it.  Where are all the gourmets?
  2. Gorgeous.    People are gorgeous, homes are not (yes, I have used this G-word way too many times.)
  3. Staycation.   Uh, no comment.
  4. Bungalow.   “Hey, Bungalow Bill..what did you kill, Bungalow Bill?”

You get the idea.  So, here's the deal, aka the audience pariticipation section…..  You send me your best examples of RealtorSpeak, and I'll take the top handful and put them in our next Blog Poll.  Then EVERYONE can vote for them.   Just click the “Comment” link below, or send me an email.   If we get a whole bunch, we'll do an American Idol style vote, where we go through several polls to get the top 5 or 10, and then we'll have a final vote for best (or would that make it the worst??)

So, what do you say?  Let's have some spacious, sparkling, charming, sought-after, park-like, gleaming, breathtaking, fun…shall we?

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6 Comments

  1. KR on July 9, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    I’m going with “Doll House.” I think it is a really funny term and I hear it so often though I do not really see it in the listings.



  2. chuck on July 9, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Nice!



  3. SC resident on July 9, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    I thought I saw a house listed in White Oaks which was called storybook.



  4. hi chuck on July 9, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    My personal favorite is “Old World Charm” aka original house in desparate need of repairs/updating/remodelling, or just plain tear down and rebuild.



  5. Kimberley on July 11, 2008 at 4:48 am

    How about “lovingly maintained” for “all 1950s/1960s/1970s original stuff?”



  6. chuck on July 11, 2008 at 2:21 pm

    “Old World Charm” and “lovingly maintained” fit the bill for many homes in San Carlos, since many homes are in virtually the same condition as when they were built in the 40’s and 50’s. Sometimes that means pink tile and knob-and-tube electrical wiring. It’s original..yes. But definitely in need of updating.

    Chuck



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