Over the years humorous articles have been written mocking comments on real estate ads. However, the following are examples of vague terms that can get real estate sellers into trouble. The age of consumerism has become the age of litigation, and the following terms should be avoided or used with caution.

We all know that “close to public transportation” could be interpreted as “built next to the 401”.

new roof

The term “roof” is misleading because it implies the roof deck plus the roof sheathing, joists, or trusses. The word “new” is also quite nebulous. “Shingles replaced in 2015” is a more accurate description.

upgraded wiring

Does the updated wiring mean that the size of the service has been increased or additional circuits have been added? Does it mean that the old knob tube wiring has been ripped out (which is not an Electrical Safety Code requirement, however, most of the time it is an insurance issue)? Sometimes it means the old outlets have been replaced with modern looking ones, however the wiring hasn’t changed at all.

A better approach may be to comment on the adequacy of the incoming service and, more importantly, the adequacy of the distribution network. However, both are very difficult to assess without a solid understanding of electricity. We all know that you can’t determine the size of an electrical service by reading the label on the basement main box. It may be better to leave this one alone.

Thermal Windows

There really is no such thing. The R-value (resistance to heat transfer) of a typical wall in a modern house is approximately R12 to R20. The R value of a single pane window is R1. What about a double glazed window? R2! Maybe R3. Window manufacturers call this a 100% improvement! The real benefit of double glazing is that it increases the surface temperature of the interior glass pane so that condensation does not form on the windows during the winter. “ThermoPane” was simply a brand name.

If the second pane of glass is a separate storm window, there will be a separate frame for the storm. This creates a second barrier to air infiltration and in some cases is a better arrangement than a double glazed window in a single frame.

improved plumbing

Are we talking about new bathroom fixtures or new copper plumbing? If we are talking about new pipes, are we talking about all the new pipes inside the house or just the accessible ones in the unfinished part of the basement? When we say “all copper pipes”, do we also mean drain pipes? From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, plumbing waste was also copper.

In the vast majority of homes where the old galvanized supply pipe was replaced with modern copper, the line coming in from the street was not replaced. In the days when galvanized plumbing was installed, the line coming from the street was not galvanized steel. Instead, it was lead. Recent newspaper articles and television shows have people concerned about lead in homes. This is not to say that this is a problem, however, terms such as improved plumbing may lead buyers to believe that the supply line coming from the street has also been changed.

Totally Renovated

One person’s idea of ​​a total makeover is quite different from another’s. If a home has eight-year-old shingles on the roof at the time of renovation, there will be no need to replace the shingles unless the renovation includes changes to the roof line. The term “fully renovated” leads some buyers to believe that every part of the house that shows wear and tear has been replaced. So they wait for new shingles and are disappointed to find that the roof is “old” even though it doesn’t require replacement.

There are many more expressions that cause confusion. With expectations rising among the homebuying public, there is no room for ambiguity.