Definition, Please Realtors use the term “Chef Kitchen” all the time (sometimes further embellished with the adjective, “Gourmet” — as in, “Gourmet Chef Kitchen”). But, after almost 17 years selling homes, I’m still not sure that I have a good definition, except that: a) it’s big; and b) it’s full of high-end features and appliances....Read More
Everything You Wanted to Know About Ceiling Finishes As best I can tell, the reason it’s called a “knockdown ceiling” is because calling it a “knock-off ceiling” would have been too confusing. What gets knocked off ” er, knocked down ” is the joint compound that’s first applied to the ceiling, and allowed to partially...Read More
1 Picture = 1,000 Words 2 Pictures = 2,000 Words If you ever wondered what “millwork” is, these pictures answer it. Specifically, it’s all the visible wood in the house except the hardwood floors. That includes: built-in’s (buffets, storage, etc.); crown and cove moldings; doors; arches and columns; the beams in a box-beam ceiling; and window...Read More
Negotiating is a crucial part of any deal, and lays the foundation for a clear, enforceable contract. Haggling is . . . an annoying waste of time. What’s the difference? Exactly two decimals. $10,000 vs. $100 So, a $10,000 item on a $250,000 house is the stuff of negotiation. A $100 item (or less) is haggling. (Note: accountants’...Read More
Fast Friends at Lake Calhoun About a zillion years ago at The Punchline nightclub in San Francisco, I heard a hilarious bit by (a then unknown) Rob Schneider recounting the various usages of the word “Dude.” As in . . . #1. Greeting (“Dude!”); #2. Approval (“Du-u-u-de!”, upbeat); #3. Disapproval (“d-u-d-e,” in a low tone); #4. Warily,...Read More
Not Measuring Up? There’s no harm in touting that a home has an especially nice backyard, sits on a large or impressive piece of land, etc. However, the term “double lot” ” at least to me ” has a specific, defined meaning. Namely, it’s a least twice the size of a standard city lot. In...Read More
