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English for real estate agents

I.

Buildings and accommodation:

cottage

roof

mansion

expensive

lighthouse

inexpensive

tent

bedsit

terrace

living costs

palace

bungalow

windmill

caravan

luxury

lavatory/toilet

average

sitting-room

alike

study

manor

porch

main

pantry

youth hostel

staircase

barracks

shabby

hovel

utilities

inn

worn

lodgings

housewarming

tenement

to have/give a
housewarming

district

gas

skyscraper

to let

unique

to move in

apartments

to move out

monastery

to be included in

convent

furnished

ranch

unfurnished

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to put up

trailer

permission

dormitory

estimate

rooming-house

to scale

roommate

response

to raise

site

reasonable

to level

heating

foundation

central heating

to lay

deposit

drains

in advance

to install

to keep

to provide

rules

specific

separate

to approach

bathroom

to hunt

dining-room

fixture

living-room

to bind

hall

term

cellar

drop

larder

to obtain

loo

upkeep

loft

real-estate

alcove

tile

chimney

closet

passage

lounge

guttering

to glaze

edge

fitting

landing

for sale

lobby

to lower

morturary

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convenient

greenhouse

lodger

cell

to share

spacious

tenant

facilities

to disturb

beam

landlady

grating

resident

space

safety

shape

to renew

mess

to squat

to occupy

to quit

to renovate

to evict

significant

attic

residential

basement

banisters

outskirts

frame

scenery

proper

nature

accommodation

to rent/lease

hinge

advertisement/ad

plot

bustling

capital

landlord

to come to a
decision

II.

Rooms in a House

Word

Meaning

attic

storage room at the very top of the house

basement

the lowest level of the house

bathroom,
washroom

the room for bathing and using the toilet

bedroom

the room where people sleep

dining room

room with a table and chairs for eating; in some houses this
room is only used on special occasions

hallway

long narrow area that joins one room to another

kitchen

place for preparing food; sometimes has a table and chairs for
eating informal meals

living room;
family room

place where family spends leisure time; often has a TV, also
used for entertaining

lobby

area in the front entrance for hanging coats and placing shoes

master
bedroom

the largest bedroom in the house; used by parents

nursery

room for baby or young child

pantry

room off the kitchen for keeping dry foods and storage items

patio

outdoor area in front or backyard; usually sits slightly off the

ground; often made of wood

playroom

room filled with toys; books and games; indoor area for kids to
play

rec room

often in basement; extra room for watching TV and playing

games such as billiards or ping pong

sunroom

enclosed room with large windows; often used for relaxation,

visiting, or reading

III.

Furniture and Decor

Word

Meaning

bed

long frame with a mattress on top for sleeping; has blankets

and pillows for comfort

bookshelf,
bookcase

tall wooden piece used for holding books

chair

various types of furniture used for sitting on

change table

surface found in the nursery, used for changing a baby's

diaper

couch/sofa

long comfortable piece for sitting on; found in common rooms

counter

surface in the kitchen; used for preparing food and holding

small appliances

cupboards

storage area with doors; used for holding food, dishes,

cleaning supplies, etc.

desk

piece used for doing work and holding papers, books, writing
tools; usually found in an office

dresser, bureau

piece of furniture for holding folded clothing

entertainment
centre

piece of furniture for holding television, stereo, and other

electronic devices

fireplace

square opening on a wall to hold a fire and warm up the home;

may be electric, gas, or wood

mirrors

special glass placed on a wall or counter, used for viewing

one's self

pictures,
paintings

decorations hung on walls or placed on surfaces; often framed

shelves

long surfaces for organizing and storing household items

tub, bathtub

found in bathrooms, a large area where you lie down and wash
your body

window sills,
ledges

long shelf-like surface beneath a window

IV.

Appliances

Word

Meaning

dishwasher

electric appliance that washes dishes; can be "built-in" (under

a sink) or "portable" (moved and attached to the sink when in
use)

dryer

electric appliance used to dry laundry

fridge

electric appliance used for keeping food cold

freezer

electric appliance used for keeping food frozen (very cold)

garbage
disposal

located inside a drain; chops up bits of food into small pieces

to fit down the pipes

microwave

electric appliance for cooking food quickly

oven

electric appliance for baking and heating food

stove, range

elements on top of an oven for heating, frying, and boiling

food

washing
machine

electric appliance for cleaning laundry

V.

Renting accommodation

A list of useful phrases for renting accommodation : room, apartment, house.

Questions - Requests - Enquiries

I'd like to rent a flat/apartment

/house.

Answers - Queries - Information

For when / for what date / for how

long?

I'd like to be :

near the beach.

close to the town centre

in a quiet area

What does the flat/apartment/house

contain?

For how many people?

How many bedrooms do you need?

There's a living-room, a kitchen,

(...) bedrooms, and (...)
bathroom(s).
Bed linen is / is not included in the
price.

Is bed linen / are towels provided?

There is a supplement for bed linen.

Bed linen and towels can be rented
at
the reception.

Is there a cleaning/housekeeping
service?

Yes /no/ with a supplement, etc.

Are there any restaurants nearby?

We can provide a list of restaurants

in the area.
There are many restaurants/cafs
in the
vicinity.

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We have a swimming pool and a
tennis
court.
Are there any sports facilities?

Other sports can be found nearby...

There are lots of sports in the area:
sailing, rafting, waterskiing
,windsurfing,
horse-riding, hiking ...
Entertainment is provided :

Is there any entertainment ?

every evening

available locally /nearby/ in the

area

There are also lots of excursions to

choose from.
There are many interesting places
to visit
Can you recommend places to visit? in the area.
Do you have any
brochures/guidebooks?

We have all sorts of documentation

available :
maps, brochures, leaflets,
timetables, etc

What about babysitters?

Do you have a babysitting service?

Yes we do / no we do not provide a

babysitting service.

What is the price.

What are your rates?
How much does it cost?

Our current rates are :

....... per night / per week / per
person

How far is it from ...

The apartment/house/building is
......minutes from the beach

the beach?

the airport?

the nearest town?

There is a shuttle service to the

beach/airport/town centre.
There is a taxi rank just outside the
building/house.

Could you send me a brochure

please?

With pleasure.
Could you give me your address
please?

Questions/Requests/Enquiries
I'd like to rent a flat/apartment/house.

Answers/Queries/Information
For when/ for what date/ for how long?
For how many people?
How many bedrooms do you need?

I'd like (it) to be ... near the beach

... close to the town centre
... in a quiet area
What does the flat/apartment/house contain?
Is the bed linen/are towels provided?
Is there a cleaning/housekeeping service?

There's a living-room, a kitchen, (-) bedroom(s)

and (-) bathroom(s)
The bed linen is/is not included in the price.
There is a supplement for the bed linen.
Bed linen and towels can be rented at the
reception.

Are there any restaurants nearby?

Are there any sports facilities?
Is there any entertainment in the area/nearby?
What about babysitters?
Do you have a babysitting service?
What is the price?
What are your rates?
How much does it cost?

There is a swimming pool and tennis courts.

There are lots of sports available in the area :
sailing, water-skiing - windsurfing - rafting horse-riding
Entertainment is ... provided every evening
... available locally/nearby/in the
area
There are lots of excursions to choose from.

How far is it to/from .... the beach

.... the airport
.... the nearest town?
Could you send me a brochure/some
information please?

There is (is not) a shuttle service to .... the

beach
.... the airport
.... the nearest
town
There is a taxi rank ... outside the building
... at the end of the street.

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VI.

What words do I need to know about renting a

home?

Here are some of the words and phrases that you might hear when you start looking for a place to
rent:
Arrears
Unpaid rent that a tenant owes to the landlord.
Bachelor / Studio Apartment
A small apartment with only 1 room used as both bedroom and living space.

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Credit Check
Many landlords make an application to a credit bureau to check a potential tenant's record of
paying bills. Usually, landlords believe that a good credit rating means that a tenant will pay the
rent on time.
Den
A small room, in addition to the bedroom and living room. Often used as a home office or TV
room.
Detached House
A single house that is owned by 1 or more persons. Owners may rent 1 or more rooms or the
whole house.
Evict
To force a tenant to move out of a rental home.
Guarantor / Co-Signer
Someone who signs a lease along with the tenant and agrees to be responsible for paying rent if
the tenant does not pay it.
Housing Help Agency / Centre
A non-profit organization that helps people, including new immigrants, find housing. In Ontario,
most major cities have a housing help agency, and its services are usually free.
Landlord
A person or company who owns apartments or houses and rents them to people to live in. A
landlord can also be called a lessor.
Lease
A legal contract between a landlord and tenant. A rental contract can also be called a tenancy
agreement or a rental agreement. It can be a spoken (verbal) agreement or a written agreement.
Legal Aid Clinic / Community Legal Clinic
An agency that provides free legal advice to people with low income. Most cities have at least
one legal aid clinic.
Month-to-Month
A tenancy where the tenant rents one month at a time.
Neighbourhood
A small, somewhat distinct area that is part of a larger city or town.

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Reference
Someone who can tell a landlord about a potential tenant's employment, character or ability to
pay rent. A reference is not responsible for paying the rent if the tenant does not.
Rent
The payment a tenant makes to the landlord, usually each month, for the right to live in that
apartment or house.
Rent Deposit
Money paid to a landlord before the start of a tenancy as a deposit to cover any future arrears.
The amount of the deposit cannot be greater than one month's rent (or one week's rent, if you are
renting weekly).
Semi-Detached House
A single house that is joined to another house with a common wall.
Social Housing
Government-subsidized, non-profit housing that is managed either by municipalities or
community/religious groups. This is sometimes also called subsidized housing . Some nonprofit housing organizations are also co-operatives. Co-operatives are managed by their
residents.
Tenancy Period
The period of renting a house or apartment. It is usually specified in a rental contract, lease or
tenancy agreement. Most tenancies last for one year at first, although month-to-month tenancies
are also common.
Tenant
A person who lives in a rental apartment or house. A tenant can also be called a lessee.
Townhouse / Row House
A small house that is joined to a row of other small houses.
Vacancy Rate
The percentage of rental apartments that are available in a community.
Vital Services
Services that are essential. These include heat, hot and cold water, electricity and fuel (such as
natural gas).

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VII. ESL Vocabulary for Buying a Home or an

Apartment
English Words and Phrases for Buying a Home
Apartment Complex

Listen to the phrase

This is what a group of apartments owned by the same company is usually called.
Lets go check out that new apartment complex over on Riverside Drive.
Landlord

Listen to the phrase

The landlord is the person that rents the property to the person who needs the house or
apartment. Landlords collect the monthly rent and are responsible for repairs to the property
as stated in the lease.
My landlord gets angry if I pay the rent late!
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________

Tenant

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A tenant is the person who is renting the apartment or home. Her name will be on the lease.
The tenant is responsible for any damage to the apartment.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Lease

A lease is a contract between the tenant and the landlord that states the conditions of the
renting of the property. The tenant signs the lease before moving into the property. If the
tenant breaks any of the rules in the lease he could be evicted or charged a fine.
I signed a lease for one year.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Break a Lease

When the tenant does not pay the agreed upon amount of rent for the agreed upon amount of
time this is called breaking the lease.
If you break the lease your credit score will be bad.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________

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Credit Approval

Before you are able to rent or buy an apartment or house the person you will be paying will
need to check on your credit history. They will check on your financial history and make sure
that you are a responsible person that pays your bills. If they find that your credit history is
good, you will be granted credit approval. Now you will be able to rent the apartment or get a
mortgage to pay for the home.
If I can get credit approval I will be able to get that new house.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
References

To get a credit approval you may be asked to list the name and telephone numbers of people
you know to verify your identity and credibility. These people would be your references.
Before the apartment complex lets me sign a lease, they want to check my references.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Security Deposit

A security deposit is a certain amount of money you have to give the landlord before you can
move into the apartment. This money is returned to you at the end of your lease, provided
that there are not any damages. The landlords ask for this security deposit so if the resident

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leaves early, or destroys the place, he will at least have some money towards the expenses.
Before you move in youll have to pay a security deposit of $250.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Co-signer

If you want to rent a house or an apartment, and the landlord requires that you have a higher
income than you do, you can get another person to sign the lease with you. This other person
is the co-signer. Your income, and your co-signers income, will be looked at to determine
if you are someone who is likely to be able to afford the rent.
Since I am a student, I dont have a high income. I will need a co-signer so I can get into
that apartment.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Notice of Eviction

An eviction is when the tenant is forced to move out of the property being rented out. Tenants
are usually evicted due to breaking a stipulation of the lease agreement.
When I returned home there was a notice of eviction on my door. I should have paid the
rent!
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________

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Amenities

These are extra features an apartment or apartment complex may have. A pool or a nice gym
are examples of amenities that an apartment complex could have. Examples of amenities in
the actual apartment living area would be a fireplace or a large bathtub.
This apartment complex has a lot of great amenities. They have an indoor pool, a basketball
court and a game room.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Mortgage

A mortgage is a loan to purchase a home, where the property is used to guarantee repayment
of the loan. Individuals will get a mortgage through a mortgage company so they can buy the
house immediately. This individual pays a set amount every month to the mortgage company
until he pays off the loan.
Our mortgage payment each month is $1300.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Down Payment

A down payment is a sum of money you pay towards your home when you first buy it. In
some situations you are required to pay a certain amount as a down payment before you can
move in.
We will need $10,000 for the down payment on our new house.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________

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Realtor/Real Estate Agent

This is the title of the person who specializes in real estate and finding you the home you
want. This person also will help you find a buyer for a home you would like to sell. Real
estate agents make a percentage of what your house sells for.
My realtor is Barbara Smith. She is really good at her job.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Asking Price

This is the price that the seller of the home has indicated that he wants to sell it for.
Depending on the economy, and other factors, the seller could go up or down on the price.
His asking price is way too high. Nobody is going to make him an offer.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
To Flip a House

This is a term used to describe the act of purchasing a home with the intention of selling it in
the near future for a profit. Usually the buyer will buy a rundown home, fix it up and try to
sell it for more money. This is called flipping a house.
How long do you think it would take to flip that house?
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
A Lot

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A lot is the piece of land that the house will be built on or is already built on. An
advertisement for a house could say, Beautiful two story house on a spacious lot.
I want a large lot so that my kids have somewhere to play.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Wooded Lot

This term is used to describe a lot with many trees. Wooded lots are desirable because they
provide more privacy and shade, so the price is usually a little higher.
If you live in a wooded lot your neighbors wont be able to see into your windows.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Cul-de-sac/Dead End

This is a street in a neighborhood that ends and has no exit. The cul-de-sac is circular and
there are usually houses built all around it. Many people like to live in these areas because
there is not much traffic. The only traffic comes from people who live off of the cul-de-sac.
I like living in a cul-de-sac because there isnt a lot of traffic.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________

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Upgrades

When you buy a new house from a home builder usually you have two options for the
different features in your house. You can get the standard features or the nicer ones, which
cost more. When you choose the fancier features, you chose to upgrade. An example of an
upgrade would be to get the more expensive lights installed in your house instead of the ugly
ones that are standard with the home you are buying.
This house comes with a lot of upgrades like tile floors and stainless steel appliances.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Subdivision

An area of real estate or land that is divided up into sections to build homes on. The homes
are usually on a small lot of land and built by the same builder.
In our subdivision there are 100 homes all built by Centex.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
HOA/Home Owners Association

This is an organization created by the developer of the subdivision that enforces any rules or
codes. This group is in charge of the maintenance of the public areas like the pool and the
sidewalks. Each resident is a member of this association and pays a monthly fee. That money
goes towards things like neighborhood parties and landscaping. The HOA will meet a few
times during the year and discuss any issues.
The HOA has decided to put a new pool in.
__________________________________________________________________________

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____________________
Townhouse

A townhouse is also known as a row house. It generally refers to a type of dwelling having
two floors, with the living area and kitchen on the first floor, and the bedrooms on the
second. Townhouses share a common wall between units.
Near the downtown area you will find a lot of townhouses.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
No Money Down

If you buy a house usually you need to make a down payment. If the seller advertises no
money down than it is not required to make the down payment.
Now is a great time to buy a house. You can get a new home with no money down.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
4BD/2BA

You may see this type of expression in a newspaper that advertises real estate. BD stands for
bedroom and BA is for bathroom. So in this example the house or apartment has four

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bedrooms and two bathrooms.

We have three kids so we want four bedrooms and two bathrooms. We are only looking at
the adds that say, _4BD 2BA_
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Breach of Contract

This means a failure to perform promises that are made in the contract. If I sign a contract
that says I will not have a pet in my apartment and I have one anyway that that is a breach of
contract.
My land lord is suing me for a breach of contract because I have too many people living
with me.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Furnished Apartment

A furnished apartment is one that already has furniture in it. These kinds of apartments are
usually for a person who is working in town for a long period of time.
I am only going to be in Seattle for six months. I will need to rent a furnished apartment.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
To Put Down Money

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If it is required that you make an initial payment on the home you want to buy than you have
to put down a sum of money. You could say, I put down $10,000 on my new house in
Atlanta.
If you dont want another buyer to buy that house youll have to put money down on it.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
All Bills Paid

If you rent a house or an apartment and the monthly price you pay includes utilities (electric,
gas, phone) than it is all bills paid. The tenant doesnt have to worry about paying
individual utility bills. The landlord has already charged the tenant in their monthly rent for
those services.
The rent for this house is $1000 a month. This price is all bills paid.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Floor Plan

A floor plan is how the inside of the house is set up. It refers to the positioning and location
of the different rooms in the house. An older person who has trouble walking may prefer a
floor plan that has all the rooms close to each other so he wont have to walk a lot.
I like this floor plan. Having the kitchen next to the den is great.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
One-Story or Two-Story

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A floor or level of a house is called a story. A house with only one level is a one-story
house. Most homes for sale are either one or two stories. Three story houses are usually very
large homes that cost a lot of money.
My grandmother needs a one story house since she cant walk up the stairs.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Ghetto/Slum

If someone describes a place as a ghetto or a slum it is slang for low income housing
with a high crime rate.
There is a lot of crime in the ghetto.
__________________________________________________________________________

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____________________
Ritzy Area

If a neighborhood is considered ritzy than the homes are expensive and fancy.

Our friends make a lot of money. They live in a nice big house in the ritzy area of town.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Starter Home

A home that is relatively small that a young couple would buy for their first house. The idea
is that when the couple makes more money they would move to a bigger nicer house.
My son and his wife just got married. They just bought a small house near their work. It is
cute, but it is just a starter home. In a few years, when they have more money saved, theyll
move to a bigger house.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Curb Appeal

This describes a home that has an attractive front yard and front porch area. The landscaping
is nice and inviting.
If you want to sell your house you need some curb appeal.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Run Down

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A home that is old and is falling apart.

My home is old and run down. I need to make some repairs and paint the exterior.
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________
Fixer Upper

A house that is old and run down, but with some repairs and updating, has the potential to be
a nice home again. These homes are many times found close to the downtown area of a
particular town or city. This is where the first homes were built years ago when the town first
got started. In the US there is a trend of people moving back into the downtown areas that
were abandoned. Old houses are renovated and, due to their desirable location, they can be
worth a lot of money.
If you are going to buy fixer upper you better have some money for repairs