If you are buying or selling a home, the
chances are good you struggle with the meaning of descriptive real
estate terms. Here are explanations and definitions for more
terms.
“Living Room” & “Family Room”
When a home has both a living room and a family
room, we know which is which. It used to be that when an ad
mentioned a family room, we could assume it also had a living
room. Now some builders are building houses with something akin to
the first use of “Great Room” above and calling it the “Family
Room” on the floor plan. Thus houses and their terminology seem to
be evolving. I suppose in the new builder speak we should just
think of the room as an informal family living room.
“Patio” & “Terrace”
Both are outdoor living areas paved with
something like slate or brick. A patio is level with the ground
around it. A terrace has adjoining areas of ground which are
higher, or lower, or perhaps both.
“Solarium,” “Sun Room,” “Florida Room”
These terms are used to describe rooms with
lots of windows (often on three sides). Many times these areas
also have skylights. The choice of what to call them seems purely
personal. They tend to be charming, bright, sunny places in which
to over winter plants and sit in the garden in chilly or downright
cold weather.
“Jack and Jill Bath”
A bathroom with two doors into it. It is
frequently situated between two bedrooms with doors to each.
Sometimes the doors are into a bedroom and into a hallway.
Descriptive
Terms in Real Estate Ads – Even More Definitions