The Secret Language of House Listings

cozy = cramped

quaint = pre-code

homey = two-to-three layers of floral wallpaper throughout

charming = held together mostly by decorative molding

rustic = wagon wheel chandeliers in kitchen AND living room

fabulous = agent watches design shows on BBC Canada

character = no right angles whatsoever

historic = haunted, but the ghosts are usually friendly, except for ‘Shrieking Pete’, who has a thing for throats

local colour = all your kids will have tattoos by the time they’re thirteen

a must see = agent has bills to pay

river-front access = it’s on a floodplain, and we’re due

wooded lot = the ticks are expecting you

close to public transit = bus stop in foyer

high ceilings = your future will consist largely of exorbitant heating bills and ladder accidents

new paint, new carpets = you can scrub and scrub, but that luminol stuff never comes out

original fireplace = there’s no such thing as too much insurance

gourmet kitchen = sure to make you feel even worse about not knowing how to cook worth a damn

unique 3-piece bath = 3 toilets; don’t ask why

quiet neighbourhood = all your future neighbours’ kids have been seized by the county

low traffic street = one measly carjacking turns into an armed standoff and all of a sudden everyone detours around

safe community = every house has a safe (except yours)

good starter home = abundance of stairs makes up for lack of space, natural light

perfect for young professionals = while you’re at work all day, local teenagers will be happy to keep an eye on your house

ideal retirement home = no spare room for kids to crash in “just ’til work picks up again, I promise”

what a dump = agent is off his meds

one-of-a-kind = builder learned from serious design flaws on the first try

motivated seller = that sinkhole in the back yard isn’t getting any smaller

potential = nothing a little TLC and a goose that lays wads of crisp $100 bills couldn’t fix

handyman special = the lot must be worth something

act now = it’s on fire

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