Talking Sense – The Estate Agency Jargon Buster

The world of estate agency can be full of mysterious and confusing jargon at times.  The dictionary definition of it is below:

Jargon: Special words and ​phrases which are used by ​particular ​groups of ​people, ​especially in ​their ​work and industry. Often not understood by ‘outsiders.’

At Carnabys we don’t like jargon. We like to talk with our clients in a language they understand and appreciate.

So we’ve come up with this jargon buster for the estate agency industry.

Vendor – The person selling a place.

The ‘applicant’ – The person buying the place.

Sole agent – Not to be confused with soul agent which would refer to a fan of Luther Vandross and James Brown who sells and lets properties. Basically this means the only agency selling the place.

Chain free – This should be an easier place to buy due to the lack of people, solicitors, agents, surveyors etc involved.

Mortgage Offer – The lender’s letter proving you have a loan for the money to buy the place.

Conveyancing – The legal stuff that needs doing when you are buying a place.

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) – The piece of paper which shows how energy efficient (drafty or insulated) the place is.

Subject to contract – You’ve agreed to buy the place, they’ve accepted your offer but everything is still in the lap of the gods until exchange of contracts (or if you are really unlucky completion) happens.

Stamp duty – The Government tax which makes buying your place a lot more expensive especially if it’s a second home in Cornwall or a buy to let in Burgess Hill.

Exchange – When everything is legally agreed by everyone involved and you can swap contracts making buying the place a whole lot more likely. At this point you can have a drink.

Completion – The moment the place becomes yours. Keys in your hand, kiss the agent, order a take away and have another, larger drink.

We like to keep things clear, honest and friendly and that’s why we avoid jargon like a forest full of angry bears!

Thanks for reading,

Terry

Terry’s Top Tip: Any agent who relies on jargon probably doesn’t know their stuff half as much as they think they do.