How do I read real estate ads?

Are you looking for a house, a room or even an apartment? Or maybe you just like to read various real estate ads to find out about prices and other things? Whatever your case, the question to ask yourself is the following: are you sure you know how to read a real estate ad? Not really? In this case, discover our various tips.

Real estate ads: a very specific vocabulary

“Property services”, “high potential”, “equipped kitchen”, “equipped kitchen”, “furnished kitchen”, “future neighborhood”... Real estate ads contain a particular vocabulary that can sometimes seem abstract for those who are not experts. Likewise, various abbreviations are commonly used. This is the case of “Sdb” for “bathroom”, “tbe” for “very good condition”, “beg” for “good general condition”, “Sde” for “shower room”, “F1” for “Function — one main room” or even “T2" for “Type — two main rooms” (excluding bathroom and kitchen).

Other abbreviations are worth knowing:

• Asc.: the building is equipped with an elevator;
• Balc.: the property is equipped with a balcony (its surface is not included in that of the property);
• CC: charges (rental) included;
• Equipped kitchen: there is at least one refrigerator and stovetop;
• Fitted kitchen: the furniture is present, but there are no appliances;
• Dig: the building is equipped with a digicode;
• And.: floor;
• Fees: do you go through an agency? You will have to pay expenses (equal to one month's rent in general);
• M²: square meter (s);
• Furnished: the property is simply furnished;
• Ground floor: ground floor;
• AL/AV: for rent/for sale;
• apd: starting from;
• cft: comfort;
• FO: open fire;
• pqt: parquet;
• cfdb: wood-fired fireplace;
• chcmaz: oil central heating;
• doc s/dem: documentation on request;
• fn: notary fees;
• Id pr pr lib: ideal for liberal professions;
• sh: living area;
• RC: cadastral income;
• By appointment: visit (s) by appointment...

Beware of pitfalls in real estate ads

To attract buyers and renters, you have to know how to play with words and ad creators understand that! This is why it is necessary to know how to read between the lines of real estate ads. A “property with high potential” or with a “good general condition” for example, is not a nice property, but an apartment or a house that could become one after some more or less important work. If you don't want to have any work to do in your future home, these mentions should catch your attention and move you to the next ads. If the agency or the seller mentions a property “in need of renovation”, it is better to be prepared to spend a few thousand euros... The expression “charming apartment”, on the other hand, is often used to describe small areas while a “quiet neighborhood” often means that transport and others are relatively remote.Does an announcement contain the mention “favorite”? One watchword: go for it! It is a property with multiple assets and sold at an affordable price.If the expression “neighborhood in the making” frightens you somewhat, know that it can simply describe a sector where a high added value is to be expected in the years to come.But in addition to the vocabulary used, the areas indicated and the energy diagnoses are also to be taken into account.

Pay attention to indicated surfaces and energy diagnostics

Note that there are two types of surfaces: living space (Boutin law) and private space (Carrez law). The first concerns all cases while the second is only calculated for condominiums. To calculate the living area, only the constructed floor area is taken into account. This means that we have deduced the areas occupied by the ducts, doors/window embrasures, walls, partitions and others. Private area, for its part, also refers to the floor area built after deduction of the various elements mentioned above, but does not take into account the area of undeveloped attics, that of basements and cellars or that of balconies, sheds and terraces.Finally, note that you must be attentive to the energy performances indicated in real estate ads. The DPE (energy performance diagnosis) is rated from A (best grade) to G (lowest grade). As for the greenhouse gas emission index, its score can also range from A to G. When reading “DPE not reported”, be careful.

Example of a DPE in an announcement:

You now know what elements to pay attention to in real estate ads: specific expressions, abbreviations, DPE, indicated areas... If you are looking for a property, read the ads carefully and above all, ask to visit the apartments/houses that interest you. There is nothing better than a visit (ideally at the end of the day) to find out if this or that property corresponds to your wishes, your needs and your budget.