[Shana F]

Okay, please help me out with a few terms I'm not familiar with in perusing the rental ads on trademe:

1) "whiteware" = refrigerator, stove, sometimes dishwasher, and what else?

2) what is a "sleepout"? Is that like a mother-in-law suite?

3) double bedroom v. single bedroom -- I take it that means a single room is just a small room that only fits a twin bed?

4) townhouse -- In the States that means it's attached to another dwelling, but it looks like that is not the case in NZ?

[mgbridges]

Okay, please help me out with a few terms I'm not familiar with in perusing the rental ads on trademe:

1) "whiteware" = refrigerator, stove, sometimes dishwasher, and what else?
the following items are generally referred to as items of whiteware - refridgerator, fridge-freezer, washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher, cooker

2) what is a "sleepout"? Is that like a mother-in-law suite?
Seperate building to the main house, likely to be pretty basic. The one at our rental was big enough for a double bed but you wouldn't have wanted to sleep in it - too cold and very damp. However it did have power.

3) double bedroom v. single bedroom -- I take it that means a single room is just a small room that only fits a twin bed?
Correct. It should be noted though that a double bedroom might only be big enough for a queen sized bed and it shouldn't be assumed that a King size bed will fit.

4) townhouse -- In the States that means it's attached to another dwelling, but it looks like that is not the case in NZ?
Townhouses in the majority as far as I could tell we when we looking were attached to another dwelling but the big thing was they had very little, if any, outside space. They also tended to be over at least two floors if not three.



Hope this helps.
Anneliese

[immortal167]

Ok, in NZ whiteware is normally as you said plus washing machine, but often won't include dishwasher. Most houses will come with a washing machine.

A sleepout is like a shed, but lined so can serve as a bedroom. Most often just one room, about the size of single bedroom. Often look like a small garage or was built by aspiring handyman in family. OFten used by teenagers!

Double bedroom, well, depends. Means technically it will fit a double or queen sized bed, which doesn't mean it is very big at all! Single means minute.

Townhouse, well, tends to mean (at least where I live) no garden and close to neighbours. Might mean semidetached but they are quite rare in NZ.


Okay, please help me out with a few terms I'm not familiar with in perusing the rental ads on trademe:

1) "whiteware" = refrigerator, stove, sometimes dishwasher, and what else?

2) what is a "sleepout"? Is that like a mother-in-law suite?

3) double bedroom v. single bedroom -- I take it that means a single room is just a small room that only fits a twin bed?

4) townhouse -- In the States that means it's attached to another dwelling, but it looks like that is not the case in NZ?

[Familyofmonkeys]

Ok, in NZ whiteware is normally as you said plus washing machine, but often won't include dishwasher. Most houses will come with a washing machine.



Intersting, because most of the rental i've been looking at had dishwashers, but no washing machines. I think, only one had a washing machine and a pre-historic looking one too!

[Shana F]

That helps! Thank you!

[willowshouse]

Whiteware doesn't include cooker/stove ... all rentals in NZ must provide a cooker so even if whiteware isn't included there will be a stove.

Townhouses around here (Eastern suburbs, Auckland) can mean they are attached to other dwellings (terraced) but can also mean two or three standalone houses which are located off a single driveway, and although lots of them have very little outside space I have seen some with very decent gardens. In short, I'd say if it says 'Townhouse' you need to ask a few questions:

Is is attached to another dwelling? (I would be more inclined to call this a unit)
How many houses are there on the land?
Does it have a shared driveway?
Does it have a garden and if so how big? (I used to ask if it had enough room for a trampoline).

[Shana F]

Okay, one more term I keep seeing: "character home" -- is that just flowery real estate language for an older house, or does it mean something more?

[IanW99]

Okay, one more term I keep seeing: "character home" -- is that just flowery real estate language for an older house, or does it mean something more?

From the ones that we saw, it's a way to say 'unusual' e.g. one we viewed had a turret? Generally speaking, would say that they are not a 'standard' property for some reason. It certainly doesn't mean older, although I am sure that there are many older "character homes".

I should say that I mean unusual/different from a NZ perspective, but as usual for estate agents, this could mean anything.

Ian