13 Commonly Used Words in Real Estate Listings That Are Usually Red Flags

There’s a psychology to selling a home . From pricing strategies designed to inspire bidding wars to meticulous preparation that helps you imagine living there, real estate agents know that selling a home isn’t just about selling a property, it’s about selling a lifestyle.

This process starts long before you actually show up to see a home — back when the real estate agent is listing the property. We all know that listing descriptions are marketing copy, but even if you read them with a skeptical eye, you might not notice some of the misleading words and phrases sprinkled in because they seem so innocuous. Most of these hidden red flags aren’t exactly lies — they’re simply attempts to disguise the truth with softer language. Here’s what to look for.

Red flags

Real estate professionals use language skillfully. Red flag words aren’t always obvious, but you can look for any phrases that seem out of place or overly poetic. Here are some of the most common terms real estate professionals use to make a bad listing worth your time.

• Cozy. Probably the most overused word in real estate listings, “cozy” is used to create images of comfort and intimacy. But any real estate professional will tell you that “cozy” really means one thing: small. Sometimes the placement of the word can give you some clues — for example, if it’s a “cozy garden,” the house itself may be quite spacious.

• TLC/Handyman’s special. Both of these terms conjure up images of easy, low-effort makeovers—a little paint, maybe new carpet. But in real estate listings, they usually mean you’re buying a project—and probably an expensive one. No one would list a house with the sign “needs $200,000 in renovations,” after all.

• Convenient location. Look for something that is supposedly conveniently located nearby . Easy access to major roads may mean there is a ramp nearby. Local bars and restaurants? In this case, “convenient” translates to “noisy.” What you’re really looking for is “within walking distance.” Things are only convenient when they don’t negatively impact your life when you’re not using them.

• Unique. This word implies that you’re getting something special, unlike all the generic condos that otherwise clog the market. And maybe you are, but it’s often used to describe homes that are hard to sell because of design elements that most people don’t like. Barbara Corcoran told CNBC that “unique” is “the worst word in all of real estate writing,” meaning “nobody wants it.”

• Quiet. This may seem reasonable enough – people often want peace and quiet in their homes . But when you see this word in a listing, you have to wonder why the agent felt the need to highlight this aspect of the property. Often, it’s included because the property is in a noisy area, so emphasizing that it has nice windows and you can’t hear all that traffic or crowd noise when you’re trying to sleep can allay concerns. If “quiet” is also one of the first qualities mentioned, it may mean that this is the only selling point for the place.

• Charming. This classic is hardly a code word anymore—most people understand that it usually means “old.” In the absence of the words “renovated” or even “updated” (see below), it probably means it’s a time capsule that could use some work.

• Vibrant. This word paints a picture of a cool, trendy area filled with people from all over the world. However, it usually means loud.

• Original condition. Context is important here. If certain architectural or design elements are in original condition, that can be a great detail. If the entire place is in original condition, that could mean that literally everything from the wallpaper to the plumbing is 75 years old and in desperate need of replacement.

• Green Belt: This is a tricky one because it is factual, but important information is often left out when it appears in the listing. A green belt is desirable because it is an area of ​​nature that cannot be developed, so if the property is adjacent to a green belt, you will potentially have a great, unspoiled view and possibly access to wildlife without the threat of someone building on the land and making it an eyesore. But green belts are not always nature reserves – they often hide power lines or other infrastructure, so it is important to find out the purpose of the green belt.

• Updated. This word works well to make a run-down place seem fresher. If a home has been renovated, the listing will say “renovated ” and will likely include details about the quality of the work and materials. “Updated,” on the other hand, usually means that a few things have been replaced — new carpeting, new appliances, one of three bathrooms. But these updates often happen at different times, usually don’t have a coherent design, and can leave the home feeling patchy and disjointed.

• Generous (size). There are no standards when it comes to describing the size of things in a home, and the word “generous” is so open to interpretation as to be useless. However, it does seem large—if you get a “generous” portion of something, it’s large, right?—so it’s often used when rooms or other aspects of a property are actually average in size, to make the space seem larger and grander.

• Motivated. This word appeals to our greed and desire to make a deal: if a buyer is motivated, you can lower your offer and demand concessions! But ask yourself (or, better yet, the listing agent) why they are motivated. Has the house been on the market for months, but is it failing to sell because of defects (which you will have to fix)?

• Well maintained. This innocuous phrase sounds great — no one wants a house that isn’t well maintained . Except that well maintained is sort of a baseline for real estate. Stressing this usually means the house hasn’t been renovated, rebuilt, or significantly improved in a long time. Sure, it works, but you’ll probably spend money in the near future to get it out of last century.

Finding one or more of these hidden red flags in a property description doesn’t necessarily mean the property isn’t worth paying attention to, but it does mean you should be prepared to dig into the reality behind the marketing copy.

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