Today we will talk about finding the perfect home and what you should consider before you rent or buy a house.
In the second part of this show, you will improve your fluency with a mini-story.
I will ask you many questions that you need to answer as quickly as possible.
It's like having a conversation with another person in English.
Looking for a new house is an important decision and many people are unprepared for the occasion.
But today I will help you find the perfect home in English.
When you want to buy or rent a house, make sure you try everything.
Open and shut the cupboards, flush the toilets and use a measuring tape.
Here are a few things to look for on each home tour.
First of all, you will need to consider the location and the number of floors of the property.
Also, the size of the bedrooms, bathrooms, closets and storage space.
If the house is furnished and includes all electrical appliances, make sure you check out the age and condition of the appliances.
Pay attention to the light switches and the number of sockets in each room.
And check the plumbing and water pressure in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Another thing that many people don't take into account is the house's orientation.
This will determine the amount of natural light your house gets.
For example, facing east, a house is heated in the morning and cold during the rest of the day, so make sure you pay attention to this important factor.
Although there are so many things you need to take into account, don't overlook any other vital aspects like noise levels inside or outside the home.
Living in a noisy neighborhood can drastically deteriorate your lifestyle.
Another suggestion would be that you walk around the entire home and property and pay attention to the age and condition of the roof and siding.
Siding is the protective material placed on the exterior side of a house or other building wall.
You may want to take a few minutes after the home visit to look around the neighborhood.
Pay attention to the details.
Are there any stores or restaurants nearby?
If the property has a garage or parking capacity, make sure you scrutinize it as well.
And during the home tour, make sure to take notes and photos.
Why do I say this?
It is mainly because we can get overexcited during the home visit and it's hard to think clearly.
That's why it is essential to review the notes and photos taken.
Okay, so you have already visited the place and collected a great deal of housing information.
Now it's time to give the agent a call.
Here are some basic questions you can ask the real estate agent.
Is the price right?
How old is the home?
Why is it for sale?
Are any repairs needed?
When were the floors last refurnished?
What types of heating and cooling systems are available?
How old is the electrical and plumbing?
After you have collected as much information as possible, take some time to relax before making the decision, especially if you're buying.
The bottom line is that buying a home requires a great deal of commitment and patience.
My advice is to avoid falling in love with a house at first sight and do your research.
Okay, so you have learned plenty of new vocabulary today.
By the way, If you want to know how to speak English using the right techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcastcom and subscribe to my mailing list.
I will send you my five golden rules to speak English fluently.
Now let's continue with a mini-story.
What's a mini-story?
A mini-story is very simple.
I give you information using phrases, and then I ask you questions.
After each question, there will be some seconds of silence.
It's your turn to answer the question.
Just try to give an easy and a short answer, not a complex one.
After your answer, I'll give you the correct answer.
And just like that, I'll tell you a story with questions and answers.
Jack had a strong desire to buy a certain house in Texas.
Did Jack have a strong desire to buy an apartment or a house?
Not an apartment.
Jack had a strong desire to buy a house.
Did Jack want to buy any house or a certain house?
Not any house.
Jack wanted to buy a certain house.
He had one in mind in particular.
What did Jack want to buy?
A house Jack wanted to buy a house.
In what state did Jack desire to buy the house?
Jack desired to buy the house in Texas.
The real estate agent gave Jack a free tour of the house so that Jack could examine it.
Did the real estate agent give Jack a house for free?
No, no.
He didn't give Jack a house for free What did the agent give Jack?
A free tour of the house The agent gave Jack a free tour Why did the agent give Jack a house tour?
So that Jack could examine the house.
What could Jack examine?
The house.
The agent gave Jack a free house tour to examine the house.
The house had two floors and eight rooms.
On each floor, there were two bathrooms.
How many floors did the house have?
2.
The house had two floors.
How many rooms did the house have?
Eight.
The house had eight rooms.
Were there eight bathrooms on each floor?
No, no.
There were only two bathrooms on each floor.
But there were eight rooms in the house.
The house was unfurnished and there were no appliances.
Did the house have furniture like cupboards, tables and beds?
No, no.
The house didn't have any furniture.
There were no cupboards, tables or beds in the house.
Were there any appliances?
No, no.
There were no appliances either.
What was unfurnished?
The house.
The house was unfurnished.
The electrical system was inoperative and the plumbing didn't work either.
Was the electrical system operative?
No, no.
The electrical system was inoperative.
What was inoperative?
The electrical system or the elevator?
The electrical system was inoperative.
This house didn't even have an elevator.
How about the plumbing?
Did it work?
No, no.
The plumbing didn't work either.
It wasn't functioning.
The house was 200 years old.
And it was practically in ruins.
Was the house brand new?
No, no.
The house wasn't brand new.
Was the house in good condition?
No, no.
The house wasn't in good condition.
What was in ruins?
The house.
How old was the house?
200 years old.
The house was 200 years old.
To the agent's surprise, Jack agreed to buy the house without asking any questions.
Was the agent surprised?
Yes, the agent was surprised.
Did the agent expect Jack to agree to buy the house?
No, no.
The agent didn't expect Jack to agree to buy the house.
Did Jack ask many questions before buying the house?
No, no.
Jack didn't ask many questions.
He didn't ask any questions about the house.
Hmm.
How strange.
Even though the house was practically in ruins, Jack bought it anyway.
I honestly believe that Jack knows something we don't know.
But I suspect he knew there was oil in the backyard.
Perfect!
It's the end of this mini-story.
As you can see through questions and answers, you can practice and improve your speech, just like in a real conversation.
It is one of the techniques that I use in my premium courses.
I recommend you to take a look at speakenglishpodcast.com slash courses.
Okay, we have reached the end of this episode.
Remember to listen to it several times.
It will help you with your English.
See you soon.
Bye-bye.
