Viewing an Apartment

A potential tenant is viewing an apartment with a real estate agent or landlord, asking questions about the property, rent, and terms.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

Lisa (Female)

Thanks for showing me around, John. This apartment looks really nice from what I've seen so far.

John (Male)

You're welcome, Lisa. It's a popular unit. As you can see, it's quite spacious, and the natural light is fantastic.

Lisa (Female)

It definitely is. What about the utilities? Are they included in the rent, or are they separate?

John (Male)

Good question. Water and trash are included. Electricity and internet are separate, and those would be in your name.

Lisa (Female)

Okay, that's clear. Is there a washer and dryer in the unit, or is it a shared laundry facility?

John (Male)

There's a shared laundry room on the first floor. It's usually not very busy, especially during weekdays. We also have a small gym down there.

Lisa (Female)

That's good to know. And what's the lease term usually like? Is it a standard 12-month lease?

John (Male)

Yes, we typically offer a 12-month lease. We can discuss other options if you're interested, but the best rate is usually with the annual lease.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

spacious

Means having a lot of space inside, like a roomy apartment that's not cramped.

utilities

Basic services like water, electricity, and gas that you pay for in a home.

included

Means part of the total cost or package, so you don't pay extra.

separate

Means handled or paid for independently, not as part of the main deal.

washer

A machine for cleaning clothes, short for washing machine.

dryer

A machine that dries wet clothes after washing.

lease

A written agreement to rent a place for a set time, like a year.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Thanks for showing me around.

This is a polite way to thank someone for giving you a tour of a place. Use it at the start of a viewing to show appreciation. It's simple present tense for ongoing action.

As you can see, it's quite spacious.

This points out something obvious to the listener. 'As you can see' introduces a fact, and 'quite' softens 'spacious' to mean very roomy. Useful when describing features during a tour.

Are they included in the rent, or are they separate?

This is a yes/no question with 'or' for alternatives, asking if costs are part of the rent. Great for clarifying expenses in rental talks. Note the parallel structure in the question.

Water and trash are included. Electricity and internet are separate.

This explains what's covered and what's not using simple present tense. It's clear and direct, helpful for responding to questions about bills. Use it to list items separately.

Is there a washer and dryer in the unit, or is it a shared laundry facility?

A question using 'or' to ask about options for laundry. 'In the unit' means inside the apartment. Useful for checking amenities; it's an either/or structure.

We typically offer a 12-month lease.

This states a usual practice with 'typically' meaning generally. 'Lease' refers to the rental contract. Say this when explaining standard terms in housing.