Initial Property Discussion
Meeting the real estate agent for the first time to discuss preferences, budget, and types of properties the client is looking for before viewing any homes.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
property
A property refers to a building or land that someone can buy, sell, or rent. In real estate, it's often used to talk about homes or apartments, like 'I'm searching for a new property.'
budget
Budget means the amount of money you plan to spend. In this context, it's your price range for buying a home, such as 'My budget is between 500,000 and 600,000.' It's useful for financial discussions.
apartment
An apartment is a self-contained living space in a larger building, usually with its own kitchen and bathroom. It's common in cities, like 'a two-bedroom apartment' for a small family.
balcony
A balcony is an outdoor platform attached to a building, often used for relaxing or enjoying views. It's a desirable feature in apartments, as in 'I'd love a balcony if possible.'
amenities
Amenities are extra facilities or services that make a place more convenient or enjoyable, like a gym or pool in a building. Use it when discussing what features you want in a home.
proximity
Proximity means being near or close to something. In real estate, it's about location, like 'proximity to public transport' meaning easy access to buses or trains.
criteria
Criteria are the standards or requirements you use to judge something. Here, it means the specific features you're looking for in a property, like 'properties that match your criteria.'
viewings
Viewings are appointments to visit and inspect a property before buying or renting. It's similar to 'house tours,' as in 'schedule some viewings' to see homes in person.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Thanks for coming in today.
This is a polite greeting when welcoming someone to a meeting or office. It's useful for starting conversations professionally. The phrase 'coming in' means arriving at a place, and it's common in service industries like real estate.
Could you tell me a bit about what you're looking for?
This is a polite way to ask for information or preferences. Use 'could you' for requests to sound courteous. It's practical for interviews or consultations, helping to gather details without being direct.
I'm looking for something in the city center, preferably a two-bedroom apartment.
This sentence expresses preferences clearly. 'Preferably' means 'if possible' or 'ideally,' softening the request. It's useful when describing needs in shopping or real estate, using simple structure: subject + be + looking for + details.
What's your budget range?
A direct question to ask about financial limits. 'Budget range' specifies the low and high amounts. This is essential in business talks; use it to narrow options. Note the contraction 'What's' for natural spoken English.
I could stretch a little for the perfect place, but not much.
This means being flexible with money for something ideal. 'Stretch' here is an idiom for going beyond limits. It's useful for negotiations, showing willingness but setting boundaries. The structure uses 'could' for possibility and 'but' for contrast.
Parking is crucial, and easy access to the subway would be a huge plus.
This highlights important features. 'Crucial' means very important, and 'a huge plus' means a big advantage. Use it to prioritize wants in discussions. The sentence connects ideas with 'and' and uses conditional 'would be' for hypotheticals.
I'll put together a list of properties that match your criteria.
This promises action, like preparing options. 'Put together' means assemble or create. It's useful for confirming next steps in services. The relative clause 'that match your criteria' describes the list, a common grammar pattern for specifics.
I look forward to hearing from you.
A polite way to end a conversation, expressing anticipation for future contact. It's formal yet friendly, common in emails or meetings. 'Look forward to' is a fixed expression followed by a gerund like 'hearing.'