Guilty of squeezing as many abbreviations as you can into your property listings? Having trouble keeping to the tight word/character counts imposed by popular Multiple Listing Services (MLS)?
Read on for some valuable tips and to access a free list of over 180 realty acronyms and abbreviations to add to your arsenal.
HANDY GUIDE TO DECIPHERING REAL ESTATE ABBREVIATIONS
When crafting real estate copy, there is an endless list of abbreviations and acronyms to choose from to maximise property information when you have limited advertising space. As a real estate professional, you will be familiar with most of them, but they are not always easy to decipher by those outside the industry, and they can bamboozle many potential home buyers.
For example, “3B/2B HSE, A/C, HWF T’OUT, BALC, LR with CFAN & FP. MBA, DLUG, OSP & PL/A”* provides a lot of information about your listing, but it is likely to result in your potential clients resorting to Google for a translation (*see translation at bottom).
Used sparingly and appropriately, however, widely known abbreviations can be an effective way to get important information communicated to a buyer.
You can use this glossary of commonly used real estate abbreviations and acronyms as a convenient reference, or why not make it available to your clients as a handy cheat sheet by downloading the PDF provided here.
Lastly, if you find this post helpful, or if you’d like to share some alternative/additional real estate acronyms and abbreviations, please comment at the bottom of this page.
180 Real Estate Abbreviations & Acronyms:
| 3B/2B | 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms |
| AC, A/C | Air conditioning |
| ADJ | Adjacent |
| AEK | All electric kitchen |
| A/G PL, PL/A | Above-ground pool |
| AGMT | Agreement |
| AMEN | Amenities |
| APPL | Appliances |
| APPT, APT | Apartment |
| ASRV | Assigned Parking |
| ATT | Attached garage |
| AVAIL | Available |
| BALC | Balcony |
| BCH | Beach |
| BCHFRNT | Beachfront |
| BDS | Bedsitter |
| BIR | Built-in robes (wardrobes) |
| BLDG | Building |
| BOM | Back on the market |
| BR | Bedroom |
| BRK | Brick |
| BSMT | Basement |
| BTH | Bathroom or bath |
| C/VAC, CVAC | Central vacuum |
| CA, CAC, CEN | Central air conditioning |
| CATH CEIL | Cathedral ceiling |
| CBL | Cable |
| C-D-S | Cul de sac |
| CEIL | Ceiling |
| CFAN | Ceiling fan |
| CH | Central heating |
| CL | Close |
| CLSD | Closed listing (sold) |
| CNR | Corner |
| COMP | Comprises |
| CONC | Concierge |
| COND | Condition |
| CONT | contemporary |
| COV | Coverings |
| CP | Carport |
| CPBDS | Cupboards |
| CRPT | Carpet |
| CTY | City |
| CVAC | Central vacuum |
| DBL | Double |
| DBL GAR | Double garage |
| DBR | Double bedroom |
| D/D | Dishwasher and a garbage disposal |
| DCK, DK | Deck |
| DEC | Decorative |
| DEP | Deposit |
| DET | Detached garage |
| D/H | Ducted heating |
| DLUG | Double lock-up garage |
| DOM | Days on market |
| DPLX | Duplex |
| DR, DIN RM | Dining room |
| DRY | Dryer |
| DSP | Garbage disposal |
| DW, D/W | Dishwasher |
| EGDO | Electric Garage Door Opener |
| EIK | Eat in kitchen |
| ELEV | Elevator |
| ELHWS | Electric hot water service |
| ENS | Ensuite bathroom |
| ESTAB | Established |
| EXT | External |
| FAG | Forced air gas |
| FAM | Family |
| FEAT | Features |
| FDR | Formal dining room |
| F/FIN BSMT | Fully finished basement |
| FF, F/FURN | Fully furnished |
| FIX | Fixtures |
| FOYR | Foyer |
| FP, FPLC, FRPLC | Fireplace |
| FSBO | For sale by owner |
| FT CTR | Fitness Centre |
| FURN | Furnished |
| GAR | Garage |
| GARD, GDN, GRDN | Garden |
| GRMET KIT | Gourmet kitchen |
| GRNT | Granite |
| GRT RM | Great room |
| HB | Half bath |
| HDW, HWF, HDWD | Hardwood (floors) |
| HI CEILS | High ceilings |
| HP | Heat pump |
| HSE | House |
| HTG | heating |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning |
| HW | Hot water |
| INCL | Included |
| INLW | In-law unit/in-law suite |
| INSP | Inspect |
| INT | Internal |
| KIT | Kitchen |
| LA | Living area |
| LDR | lounge/dining room |
| LFT | Loft |
| LDRY, LNDRY | Laundry |
| LOC | Location |
| LR, LIV | Living room |
| LRG | Large |
| LSE | Lease |
| LUG | Lock-up garage |
| LUX | Luxury |
| MAR, MRBL | Marble |
| MBA | Master bedroom with bath |
| MICRO | Microwave |
| MIN | Minimum |
| MINT | Mint condition |
| MOD | Modern |
| MSTR, MBR | Master/main (bedroom) |
| NBHD | Neighborhood |
| NEG | Negotiable |
| NGS | Natural gas |
| NR | Near |
| OFC | Office |
| OSP | Off Street Parking available |
| PAN | Pantry |
| PAT | Patio |
| PKG | Parking |
| PL, SP OR S/P | Swimming pool |
| PL/I | Inground pool |
| PRIV, PVT | Private |
| PRTL | Partial |
| PWDR RM | Powder room or half bath |
| Q POS | Available for quick possession |
| REC | Recreation room |
| REFRG | Refrigerator |
| RENO | Renovated |
| REQ | Required |
| RF | Roof |
| RM | Room |
| RNGE | Range |
| ROW | Right of way (laneway) |
| RTO | Rent to own |
| SAT | Satellite |
| SC | Self-contained |
| SEC SYS | Security system |
| SF, SQFT | Square feet |
| SHWR | Shower |
| SHWR RCS | Shower recess |
| SKY | Skylight |
| SMART | Computer controlled devices |
| S’OUT | Sleep out |
| SPAC | Spacious |
| SPLT | Split level |
| S/S | Stainless steel |
| STRY, STY | storey/story |
| STU | Studio |
| TCE | Terrace |
| TERR | Terrace |
| TMBR | Timber |
| T’OUT | Throughout |
| TOWN | Townhouse |
| TRAD | Traditional |
| TRPLX | Triplex |
| UC, U/C | Undercover |
| UCP | Undercover parking |
| UNO | Unit Number |
| UPR | Upper floor |
| UPSTRS | Upstairs |
| UTILS | Utilities |
| UTRM | Utility room |
| VU, VW | View |
| WAT | Water |
| W/D, WD | Washer/dryer |
| WC, W.C | Toilet (water closet) |
| W/I | Walk-in |
| WIC | Walk-in closet |
| WIR | Walk-in robe |
| WIN, WIND | Window |
| WLKP | Walkup |
| YD | Yard |
| YO | Years old |
*Three bedroom, two bathroom air conditioned house with hardwood flooring throughout, balcony, lounge room with ceiling fan and fireplace, master bedroom with bath, a double lock-up garage, off street parking and an above ground pool.
