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damper
A movable plate in a fireplace that allows smoke
and fumes to travel up the chimney's flue. |
days on the market
The period of time a property
is listed for sale prior to being sold or taken
off the market. |
deadbolt lock
A lock that requires a key to open from the outside
and a turn button from the inside. |
debt
Any amount one person owes to another. |
debt assumption letter
The formal transfer of debt
from one party to another, backed by a contract
of assumption signed by both parties. Also known
as assignment of debt. |
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deck
A roofless, floored area that adjoins a house. |
decorating allowance
An amount of money supplied
by the seller and held in escrow for the buyer,
to be applied toward negotiated decorating changes. |
deed
The legal document that transfers ownership of
a piece of property. |
deed of trust
A document that gives a lender the right to foreclose
on a piece of property if the borrower defaults
on the loan. |
deep-seal floor drain
A drain used to dispose of
water from the basement floor to a sewer line. |
default
The failure to fulfill a duty or discharge an
obligation, such as making monthly mortgage payments. |
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deferred maintenance
Any repair or maintenance of
a piece of property that has been postponed, resulting
in a decline in property value. |
delinquent mortgage
A mortgage that involves a
borrower who is behind on payments. If the borrower
cannot bring the payments up to date within a
specified number of days, the lender may begin
foreclosure proceedings. |
density test
An analysis of soil to determine if the surface
can support the foundation of a house. |
dentils
Small rectangular blocks that project from a building,
usually under cornices or along rooflines. |
deposit
Money given by the buyer with an offer to purchase
property. Also called earnest money. |
depreciation
The decline in value of a piece of property. |
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design/build
A project in which the owner contracts directly
with an individual or company to perform design
and construction. |
designer
Unlike architects, designers are limited to drawing
blueprints. |
digital images
Images that are incorporated into house listings
to give potential buyers a view of the property. |
dimension plans
Plans which show the layout of a house but are
less detailed than full blueprints. |
dimensional lumber
Single pieces of lumber sawed
to standard dimensions. |
dimmer
A light switch that controls the brightness of
one or more lights. Most allow a full range of
control from full off to full on. |
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dimple
To create a slight dent with a light blow of a
hammer when driving a nail. This technique is
typically used when hanging drywall to provide
a tiny pocket for receiving drywall compound. |
dip tube
An extension of the water supply line into a storage
tank. This delivers water close to the heat source
on the bottom of a water heater. |
disability insurance
An insurance policy that covers
an individual's ability to produce income. |
disclosure
A statement to a potential buyer listing information
relevant to a piece of property, such as the presence
of radon or lead paint. |
discount points
Fees that a borrower pays when the lender makes
the loan, to get a lower interest rate. Lenders
offer various rate/point combinations, and borrowers
pay points to adjust the interest rate to the
market rate. One point equals one percent of the
loan amount. |
distressed property
Property that is in poor physical
or financial condition. |
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document needs list
A list of documents a lender
requires from a potential borrower submitting
a loan application. The required documents range
from paycheck stubs to credit card statements. |
documentation preparation
A fee charged by the settlement
agent (escrow company or attorney) to ready the
necessary paperwork for closing. |
domed ceiling
A hemispherical ceiling that projects upward without
support. |
domicile
A person's primary or permanent home. |
dormer
A window set upright in a sloping roof. |
double-hung window
A window that consists of two
sashes that slide up and down. |
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dovetail joints
Joints that lock two pieces
of wood together with meshed teeth. |
dowel
A length of wood that is round in profile and
made of hardwood (round lengths of softwood are
called rounds). |
dowel plug
A short piece of a wooden dowel typically fitted
into a counterbored hole to hide the head of a
screw. |
down payment
The difference between purchase price and the
portion of the purchase price financed by a lender.
Most lenders require that the down payment come
from the buyer's own funds, but may also allow
gifts from relatives. |
downspout
A vertical gutter that empties water from the
roof to the ground. |
drain auger
Also called a snake. A long, coiled-wire tool
that you can unwind and push into a drain line
to free a clog. |
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drain flange
The round metal trim that fits into the hole at
the bottom of a sink or bathtub. The stopper or
pop-up fits into this flange to retain water in
the sink or tub. |
drain valve
A valve used to drain a water storage tank in
order to perform maintenance or replacement. |
drainage
A system of gutters and drainpipes that carry
water away from the foundation of a house. |
drainpipe
Part of a home's plumbing system that carries
waste to the sewer or septic system. Most residential
drainpipes are from 1½ to 4 inches in diameter. |
draw
A payment made to subcontractors or suppliers
from a construction loan. |
drip caps
Angled strips of metal flashing that are designed
to protect the eaves from water damage. With an
L-shaped profile, they tuck under the first course
of shingles and extend down over the fascia. |
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drip loop
A loop in the service conductor that minimizes
the chance of water penetration. |
dropped ceiling
A flat ceiling built lower than the original ceiling. |
dry rot
A fungal decay that causes wood to become brittle
and crumble. |
drywall
A construction material composed of gypsum or
plaster wrapped in paper and produced in large
sheets that can be nailed to wall studs. |
dual agency
A relationship in which a real estate agent or
broker represents both parties in a transaction. |
dual agent
An agent who represents both the buyer and the
seller in a transaction. Some states require strict
disclosure of this arrangement to consumers. |
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duct
A rigid metal or flexible insulated tube, designed
to deliver air to and from a furnace or other
air-handling unit. |
duct
Any kind of pipe or channel that carries water,
wiring, or conditioned air through a house. |
ductwork
A system of large tubes, pipes, or channels (ducts)
designed to deliver air to and from a furnace
or other air-handling unit. |
due-on-sale clause
Standard language in a mortgage
which states that the loan must be paid when a
house is sold. |
duplex
A structure that consists of two separate family
units. |
duplex receptacle
An electrical outlet that accepts
two lighting or appliance plugs. |
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Dutch colonial style
A design that features a barn-like
gambrel roof, a ground-level front porch, and
dormers.
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