Strange Words You Hear During Home Valuations

Sometimes I wonder if there’s an actual glossary somewhere we should all be handing out.

Man, I’ve thought the same thing. First time someone asked me about “weep holes,” I just stared for a second. And “spalling” - yeah, that took me a while to get right. Once had a buyer panic over “checking” in a wood beam. Had to explain it wasn’t some code violation, just normal cracking as wood dries. The lingo can definitely trip folks up, but I guess that’s part of the fun… or headache, depending on the day.

Honestly, I’ve had clients freeze up over “parapet” or “flashing” too. It’s wild how much jargon sneaks into these conversations. I started keeping a running list in my sketchbook - every time someone asks about a weird term, I jot it down and try to explain it in plain English next time. Maybe we don’t need a full-on glossary, but a cheat sheet wouldn’t hurt. Half the time, it’s just about slowing down and walking folks through what’s actually going on - like, “checking” isn’t the end of the world, just wood being wood.

Half the time, it’s just about slowing down and walking folks through what’s actually going on - like, “checking” isn’t the end of the world, just wood being wood.

That’s a good point about “checking” - I’ve seen people get really anxious over stuff like that, when it’s totally normal. I wonder, though, do you think some of these terms are actually useful for clients to know, or does it just add confusion? Like, is there a balance between transparency and overwhelming people with details? Sometimes I catch myself over-explaining and it feels like too much info for folks who just want the basics.

- Totally agree, “checking” freaks people out when it’s just wood doing its thing.
- In my experience, tossing around too much jargon just makes folks tune out or get nervous.
- I try to stick to plain language unless someone asks for the nitty-gritty. Most clients want the bottom line, not a mini wood science lesson.
- That said, a little education can help - like, “Hey, this isn’t a defect, just what happens over time.”
- Honestly, I’ve had people obsess over things like “checking” after they googled it...sometimes less is more.

STRANGE WORDS YOU HEAR DURING HOME VALUATIONS

“Checking” threw me for a loop the first time I heard it, honestly. The inspector was pointing at some cracks in my porch posts and just said, “Oh, that’s normal checking.” I immediately thought it meant something was wrong or needed fixing. Had to Google it later - ended up more confused than before.

I get what you mean about jargon making people nervous. When you’re spending a lot on a place, every unfamiliar term sounds like a red flag. I do appreciate when someone takes a minute to explain, though. Not too much detail, just enough so I don’t start spiraling about repair costs that aren’t really there.

On the flip side, sometimes I wish they’d be a bit clearer about what actually matters and what’s just cosmetic or expected aging. There’s a fine line between reassuring and glossing over stuff... Sometimes I leave those meetings with more questions than answers.