2025年5月27日 星期二

Real Estate Translation Guide: 30 Adjectives UK Estate Agents Use (and What They Really Mean)

 🏡 Real Estate Translation Guide: 30 Adjectives UK Estate Agents Use (and What They Really Mean)

When browsing property listings in the UK, sellers and estate agents often use descriptive adjectives to cast homes in the best possible light. However, there's often a gap between what’s said and what’s meant. Below is a list of 30 common adjectives, what they sound like, and what they might really mean.

🔍 1–10: Small but "Charming"

  1. Charming – Quaint and likely small or old-fashioned. May have "character," or may need rewiring.

  2. Cosy – Tiny. Possibly no space for a wardrobe or dining table.

  3. Bijou – Very small. Might suit a borrower from The Borrowers.

  4. Compact – Every room is multi-functional… because they have to be.

  5. Snug – Suffocatingly small, especially the bedrooms.

  6. Characterful – Uneven floors, exposed beams, and possibly damp.

  7. Unique – Weird layout. Staircase in kitchen? Toilet in the hallway? Could be anything.

  8. Quirky – Someone made a few eccentric decisions in the 1970s that have never been undone.

  9. Rustic – Outdated. May include visible brickwork or missing central heating.

  10. Traditional – Needs renovation. Possibly last updated in 1982.

💫 11–20: Location, Layout & Listing Language

  1. Sought-after location – You’ll pay extra just to be near good schools or a train station.

  2. Conveniently located – Next to a busy road or directly under a flight path.

  3. Up-and-coming area – Not great now, but developers are hoping.

  4. Well-proportioned – Rooms aren’t awful, but probably not great either.

  5. Deceptively spacious – Bigger than it looks from the front… or it’s not, but we’re hoping you’ll be curious.

  6. Open plan – We knocked down a wall. Now the kitchen smells are everywhere.

  7. Flexible accommodation – There’s an awkward room we’re trying to find a use for.

  8. Versatile space – You might be able to fit a bed in the cupboard under the stairs.

  9. Ample storage – There’s a loft or airing cupboard, probably no garage.

  10. Character home – Not modern. May include leaded windows, wonky doors, and uneven floors.

🛠️ 21–30: Condition, Potential & Euphemism Alert

  1. In need of modernisation – Everything needs replacing.

  2. Blank canvas – No flooring, no kitchen, or magnolia walls and no personality.

  3. Ideal for first-time buyers – Cheap, small, or located somewhere inconvenient.

  4. Potential to extend (STPP) – You’ll need planning permission, and the current house is probably too small.

  5. Low-maintenance garden – Paved over or has artificial grass.

  6. Private garden – The fence is taller than usual.

  7. Partially renovated – We started but ran out of money (or interest).

  8. Recently refurbished – New paint and flooring. Check the plumbing.

  9. Tastefully decorated – The seller has good taste (hopefully). If not, you’ll still need to repaint.

  10. Luxury finish – New countertops and a power shower, often stretched to justify the asking price.

🧠 Final Thought

Estate agents in the UK are masters of euphemism and optimism. While not always misleading, these adjectives should prompt you to read between the lines and view the property in person whenever possible. A "charming bijou residence with versatile space in a sought-after area" might just be a tiny flat above a chip shop — but with nice curtains.


張貼者： 於