Handy Little Reference Guide to Real Estate Acronyms & Abbreviations

At times, a handy abbreviation index would be helpful. Most classified line ads are difficult to understand. Try this one: “3 br/2 ba, P&P home, quiet HPP C-D-S. Spac grt rm, grmet kit, great dk, even a/c and FP!”

Photo courtesy freedigitalphotos.net/smarnad

The purpose of any real estate advertisement is to make the phone ring. Hmmm…fat chance of that! Even if it does, research has shown that buyer motivation will be to eliminate the property, not make an appointment.

Consider the translation: “Three bedroom, 2 bath home, quiet Hawaiian Paradise Park cul-de-sac. Spacious great room, gourmet kitchen, great deck, even an air conditioner and fireplace.”

Easier, slightly more appealing, but it still doesn’t move the buyer into the home. Trouble is, the cost of effective print ads can quickly consume even the most generous marketing budget. Additionally, property ads with photos net far superior results; buyers who call about an ad with a photo do so because they see something they like.

Acronyms Are Us

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to avoid the use of abbreviations and acronyms in real estate print ads. Here’s more to add to your handy reference guide:

• FSBO (a fiss-bow) is a for-sale-by-owner
• MLS is, of course, the Multiple Listing Service
• CMA is a comparative market analysis
• VW is not a cute little car, it’s an abbreviation for view
• SF relates to square footage
• HDWD indicates a home with hardwood floors

 
Then there are required notations such as our license designations; an agent with a broker’s license who is also a member of NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) wears an “R” after their name.

• RA is a licensee who is a member of NAR but doesn’t have a broker’s license
• CRS, considered the PhD of residential real estate, indicates an agent with a Certified Residential Specialist designation
• GRI is a Graduate REALTOR® Institute
• ABR is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative

 
Agents with designations are more likely to value education that will benefit those they represent. Even without the photo, it’s easy to see how rich text can make all the difference.

For example, our sample ad could say: “You’ll yearn for rainy days to snuggle by the amazing fireplace that graces the spacious great room of this immaculate 3 bedroom, 2 bath Hawaiian Paradise Park home. The oversized deck is the perfect place to enjoy ocean breezes, sunny days, and family celebrations. Add the kind of gourmet kitchen normally reserved for prestige properties and you’ll see how easy it is to fall in love with this special property.”

It paints a very different picture, wouldn’t you say?

Do Yourself a Favor

So, to stay in tune with what’s really happening with local real estate, visit here often, but the next time you feel the need to reach for a “Pocket Guide To Real Estate Acronyms and Abbreviations”, do yourself a favor, go online to my website where odds are you will find a complete and unabridged description of the home of your dreams along with enough photos to allow a decision about making that all important call to your real estate agent! Enjoy!