When speaking with an interior designer, realtor, or super sweet friend about your current home or potential new home, certain politically correct words may arise that are quite humorous.
These words are gentle hints at potentially big problems that are disguised as positive attributes.
Since most people's greatest investment is their home, the best advice is to do your homework and get advice from friends and professionals before purchasing, remodeling, or decorating your home.
Try to find someone who will be up front and honest with you and not sugar coat the home's issues.
Here are some funny but true examples of politically correct home descriptions to watch out for:
photo courtesy of Mark Ittleman flickr.com/photos/markittleman/15089998066/Quaint.
Sounds charming, doesn't it? It probably means quirky or weird.
Unique or Special.
Those terms usually mean "I don't know what they were thinking".
Cottage or Starter Home.
The house is really small and will not accommodate more than 1 or 2 people.
Taste Specific.
You may think that you have a more refined taste than others, but it really means that your style (if you can call it that) is so weird that nobody gets it.
If you are trying to sell your home, you are probably turning away potential buyers.
Lots of Potential, Investment Opportunity, Diamond in the Rough, or Handyman's Special.
It sounds like the house just needs some new interior paint, but it is probably about to fall down and needs to be completely rebuilt.
No Appointment Necessary or Go Take a Look.
Sounds convenient, doesn't it? What it really means is that the house is not occupied and doesn't even have a lock on the door (it may not even have a door at all).
Lowest Price in Area.
That can also mean ugliest home in area.
Clean.
Great, the home is not dirty.
If that is the only nice thing you can say, then it is not worth looking at.
Up and Coming Area
The neighborhood should become more desirable in the next 5 years, but I would not go outside at night or let the kids play in the front yard for a few years.
