Christine Schwalm Design

So it's time to move and you're reading the listings online or in the paper to see what's out there in your price range.  But who can decipher that mess?  Some of the confusion is the use of all those abbreviations: EIK, w/w, and CAC, for example.  The shorthand saves time and money, but makes it difficult to figure out if the listing actually has the features you're looking for.  By the way, those jumbled letters mean eat in kitchen, wall to wall carpeting and central air conditioning.  NY1 has some helpful information to help you with the alphabet soup.  But that's just one way real estate listings cause confusion. 

What about the words you can actually decipher?  Words like "cozy" or "vintage" or "charming".  Well, in real estate talk those actually mean small, old and strange.  Again, NY1 to the rescue with an informative segment that explains the creative language realtors use when writing a listing. 

But it's not all negative.  Words like "mint" and "turnkey" indicate the property is in excellent shape.  If you're in the market, take some time to educate yourself so you spend your energy investigating the listings that best suit your needs.  And if you're looking to sell, keep in mind that the same home you find tiny and outdated may be cozy and vintage to a potential buyer.