Special offer

The Crazy Nicknames We Give To Houses

By
Real Estate Agent with Homebuyer Representation, Inc. DRE# 5467433

Some of the most memorable homes I've shown are homes that my clients would never buy because of something really unique or bizarre. Still, the house was in some way unforgettable and my day was that much more interesting.

Often when showing homes to clients, we will see a dozen or more homes in one outing. As we discuss and compare the homes, inevitably somebody will give certain homes a name whereby they don't have to explain all the details of the house, but by which each person knows exactly which house the speaker is referencing. This isn't planned, it's just what happens. It's usually a prominent feature, feeling or aroma that becomes the key word.

Here are some of the names I've heard (and used) for houses over the years. My favorites (obviously) are the names for homes that are... let's just say, sub-par. Most are legitimately and successfully used as code-speak to clearly convey a particular house to the others involved in the discussion. See if you can guess why a particular name was used... it should be pretty easy.

 

The Smoke House

The White House

The Doll House

The Dr. Seuss House

The Pee House

The Crack House

The Pool Table House 

The Candle House

The House that's falling apart

The Hardwood Floor House 

The House with No Coat Closet 

The Tiny House

The Cabin House 

The Crooked House

The Haunted House 

The Dump House

The Incense House

The Bed & Breakfast House

The Tile House

The Swingset House 

The House with the View 

The Dog House (Bird House, Cat House, etc.)

The house where that kid was screaming in the neighborhood the whole time we were there

...and on and on.

 

If you're an agent, you probably remembered some of the houses that you've shown (or listed!) over the years.

If you have ever looked at homes as a Buyer, you probably helped invent some of these names.

 

Are there any special names for houses that I have forgotten? Remind me!

 

 

AND...

 

If you are planning on buying a home in the Salt Lake City area, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $250,000-$750,000 home in the next 30-60 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

©2008 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.  "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ™ Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Exclusive Buyer Brokerages do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  Their agents represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

 

©2008 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

real estate agents on the buyers side

David Saks
Memphis, TN
Broker / Industry Analyst
You left out the S#%$ House.... :-) Just funnin', Benjamin. Hope your having a great week so far.
Apr 28, 2008 05:06 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor
The "Cat" house; "Alice in Wonderland" house; "Swiss Family Robinson" House; "Mary Englebert House"........the Bachelor Pad.......Hmmm I think I'll have to make up a list of my own!  Great idea.
Apr 28, 2008 05:23 PM
Robert Machado
HomePointe Property Management, CRMC - Sacramento, CA
CPM MPM - Property Manager and Property Management
What about the "Out House"?  I think we all have been there before.
Apr 28, 2008 05:49 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
I sold one a couple of years ago we called the "Termite House".  Termites holding hands where keeping the roof up.
Apr 28, 2008 06:43 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Some interesting names. I have heard some of the nicknames you mentioned.
Apr 28, 2008 11:39 PM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

Benjamin, how about "The Wallpaper House" and the "Mean, Vicious, Scary Dog House" -- oh yeah, there's the "Ugly Pink & Green Paint House."

Apr 28, 2008 11:41 PM
James Angelo
Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage LLC - Jacksonville, FL

great memory jogger - Look at that Pink Home , Ho- there is a Purple House also - the Rainbow row

We had a builder who wanted zoning changes - so he built several homes and painted them pink, purple, etc - He told the planning board that he would redo the exterior if they would rezone a piece of land that he owned  adjacent to these homes.  He wanted to put up a strip mall with a convenience store.

The community passed an ordinance that solved the problem - he covered the exterior with brick - he did not get the property rezoned.

Apr 29, 2008 12:26 AM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Benjamin,

If you visited our home at a normal time you'd probably refer to it as the 'full house' or 'fool house'...either one would suffice!!! :^) Thanks,   Fran

Apr 29, 2008 01:41 AM
Benjamin Clark
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT
Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert

How could I have forgotten:

"That 70's House"

Apr 29, 2008 02:21 AM
Benjamin Clark
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT
Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert
"The World Headquarters House" (I'm not making that up...)
Apr 30, 2008 02:02 PM
Peter Wolf
Coldwell Banker - Valley Village, CA
We were just talking about this today.  When you used to watch films on improving memory they always said the best way is to associate it with something familiar.  There is the "catatonic dog house", the "Arabian Palace", etc.
Apr 30, 2008 02:23 PM
Jon Boyd
Home Buyer's Agent of Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Real Estate Buyers Agent

Ben,

The first home I bought had a dead cat laying in the bushes right next to the front porch. And it became like Liz aid, the "cat house".

Great post! 

Apr 30, 2008 03:10 PM
A S
Salt Lake City, UT
One of my favorites was "the house that smelled so bad I could taste it an hour later house"
Apr 30, 2008 03:58 PM
Benjamin Clark
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT
Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert

I showed a home last month and after we walked out the door my client said, "I think I need to go home and take a shower..." In all seriousness, I felt the same. This is a very rare occurrence, but I'm sure some of you have been there before!

Apr 30, 2008 04:28 PM
Benjamin Clark
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT
Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert

"The house that looks like a barn"

"The shag house"

"The Castle"

"The train house"

"The house with no yard"

Apr 30, 2008 06:22 PM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty
Benjamin: I too have seen a few silly house names in our area.
May 02, 2008 06:17 PM
Benjamin Clark
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT
Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert

The Pool House

The House on the Hill

The Creek House

The No Yard House

The Linoleum House

The House with no Sidewalk

The House with the Dead Lawn

May 02, 2008 06:34 PM
Anonymous
Gerald Richards

Yes, we have all heard them and I'll bet we could write a book of all the names we've heard.

May 18, 2008 03:45 AM
#18