Anonymous wrote:I think of it as an older house (think 90-100 year old DC row houses)>>they are solid brick on four sides, I think they could withstand any natural disaster...so very good bones. But don't get started on the plumbing!

Just some verbiage to make folks think older homes are built better. Nonesense, just used home salesman putting lipstick on a pig

Laughed at you 4 brick walls and natural disaster. You know masonry is quite brittle and terrible in an earthquake?

http://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/EQTips/EQTip12.pdf

Any ways, old homes had much more lax codes, etc, lead paint, asbestos, drafty. Oh, but they used solid timber rather than fire resistant engineers lumber, so good bones.

This should go under the MRIS ridiculousness thread.

I think of it as an older house (think 90-100 year old DC row houses)>>they are solid brick on four sides, I think they could withstand any natural disaster...so very good bones. But don't get started on the plumbing!

Anonymous wrote:When you can't say anything good about the home

+1

No updates but hey, pretty sure the foundation isn't cracked and frame isn't rotting (any more...)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think of it largely as floor plan-- would you want to live there a long time, and would it worth spending money on renovations.

I think of it quite differently. Good bones means the quality of the construction is at a very high level. Good layout is another thing entirely.

+1 with a little bit of an upnod to the layout http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/9971/list/8-Signs-Your-House-Has--Good-Bones-

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2009-01-15/article/32005?headline=About-the-House-What-It-Means-to-Say-a-House-Has-Good-Bones--By-Matt-Cantor

Great bones to me means layout and solidly built construction. It means you don't have to add a bathroom or bump out a kitchen. Maybe remove a wall or two but no major renos needed.

We saw a house with four bedrooms upstairs and all had attached bathrooms. Sure they were dated but this says "good bones" to me.

When you can't say anything good about the home

Anonymous wrote:Quality construction and well maintained. Very dated decor and kitchens/bathrooms.

Handyman's special.

Isn't a handyman's special a house that has not necessarily been maintained?

We live in a 1930s home - some rooms have been renovated while others are original fixtures. Many similar homes in our neighborhood. Homes are solid, well-built. Even homes with dated decor sell in a few weeks or less. Buyers like the location and the quality of 1930s' handiwork.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think of "good bones" as the basic construction and layout being fine, but that you need imagination to fix cosmetic issues and probably renovate baths and kitchen.

My house has good bones - it's an expanded cape with an open, airy floor plan, a decent finished basement and reasonably-sized bedrooms that could use some bathroom renovations.

+1. I like 1930s bathrooms and kitchens though, as long as one has modern kitchen appliances. Not quite sure what renovations would bring.

I don't know, I think of "good bones" as the basic construction and layout being fine, but that you need imagination to fix cosmetic issues and probably renovate baths and kitchen.

My house has good bones - it's an expanded cape with an open, airy floor plan, a decent finished basement and reasonably-sized bedrooms that could use some bathroom renovations.

Quality construction and well maintained. Very dated decor and kitchens/bathrooms.

Handyman's special.

Anonymous wrote:I think of it largely as floor plan-- would you want to live there a long time, and would it worth spending money on renovations.

I think of it quite differently. Good bones means the quality of the construction is at a very high level. Good layout is another thing entirely.

I think of it largely as floor plan-- would you want to live there a long time, and would it worth spending money on renovations.

Great floorplan, solid construction. I would assume it means better than "builder basic".

solid construction, needs renovation

What does this mean?