F. Real bargain

Mr. Palmer is looking for a new house. He’s tired of living in the city and he wants to live in a quiet village. He’s with the estate agent now.

Estate Agent: Well, Mr. Palmer. This is the semi-detached house that I told you about… Number 26, Richmond Road. The owners are away, but I’ve got a key.

Mr. Palmer: Hmm… when was it built?

A.: It was built in 1928.

P.: Who built it?

A.: I’m not really sure. Is it important?

No, not really. Is that a new roof? It looks new.

A.: It’s really new. It was put on last year. You can see that it’s in very good condition. The previous owner was a builder.

P.: It’s quite an old house. I’m worried about the electrical wiring. Has it been rewired?

A.: Yes, it has.

P.: Oh, when was it done?

A.: Five years ago. Also, it’s been redecorated. Central heating has been put in, and a new garage has been built.

P.: Oh, when was it done?

A: Last year… I think. It’s a very solid house. It’s built with a tiled roof…

P.: It’s a long way from a big town. What are the services like?

A.: Hold on… I’ve got the details here. Yes…let me see…the dustbins are emptied every Thursday.

P: It’s important for me to see the post befo9re I go to work. When is it delivered?

A: It’s usually delivered at about 7.30. The milk is delivered about six o’clock…so you’ll have fresh milk for breakfast.

P: It’s certainly very cheap. I’ve seen a lot of similar houses… and there’re more expensive.

A: Ah, yes…it’s a real bargain.

P.: Are there any plans for the area?

A.: Pardon? Plans…well, a new school is going to be built in the village next year…

P.: Anything else?

A.: …and a new road, a motorway actually, will be built next year, too. You’ll be able to get to London easily.

P.: Where exactly will the motorway be built?

A.: Well, actually, it’ll be built behind the house. A bridge will be constructed over the house. It’ll be very interesting. You’ll be able to watch the traffic…

G.

Marylin: Where should we look for a house, Mrs. Martinelli?

Virginia: Well, we have an office in Mount Kisko. It’s a lovely area, and it’s only about an hour’s drive from here. (She takes out a book of photos). Here I have a book with photos of some homes in that area. Now, let’s see here. This is a lovely two-bedroom house in your price range.

M.: It’s pretty, but I prefer a two-storey home.

Richard.: I do, too. I don’t care for a ranch type.

V.: OK. (She turns the pages of the real-estate book.) Oh, this is a wonderful house. I know it well. I sold it to the present owners.

R.: It looks wonderful.

V.: This is a two-bedroom, two-bath house. It has a full basement, and it is in a half-acre lot. You can probably afford this one.

M.: I like this house.

R.: So do I.

V.: And the price is right. Would you like to go to see it?

R.: Yes. We’re planning to talk to someone at the bank next week. Perhaps we could see the house this weekend.

V.: If someone doesn’t buy it before then. But let’s keep looking just to get an idea of some other possibilities.

R.: This is very helpful, Mrs. Martinelli.

V.: Here. This is a wonderful example of Spanish-style architecture.

R.: Oh, I love the roof tiles on a Spanish-style house.

Ellen: It looks like the houses in Hollywood.

V.: It’s interesting. A house like this in Riverdale costs double the price. (She turns the pages of the book.) Oh, my! Here’s a real buy. It’s a bargain. This house just came on the market.

M.: It’s quite lovely. Is it a two-bedroom house?

V.: No, it has three bedrooms and three baths. I know the house. It has a brand new kitchen. And a living room has a 12-foot ceiling. And there’s a two-car garage.

R.: Then why don’t we go to look at the house, too?

V.: It’s a good investment.

R.: Thank you, Mrs. Martinelli.

M.: Thanks so much.

V.: My pleasure. Give me my best to your parents.

Ex. 30. Imagine you’ve moved to a new apartment. Speak with your friend on the topic. Make use of the following dialogue.

- I hear you have moved to a new flat, Steve. Is it true?

- Yes, it is. One of these days we’ll arrange a housewarming party. And I want you and your wife Carol to be present.

• Thank you for the invitation. How do you like your new apartment?

• It is very comfortable. It is a three bedroom apartment with modern conveniences: electric stove and a lot of built-in cupboards.

• On what floor is it?

• Our apartment is on the tenth floor of a high-rise dwelling house. We’ve got two elevators which work round o’clock.

• Is it far from the centre of the city?

• Rather. It takes me about an hour to get to the centre by bus and by metro. If I drive a car, it takes me thirty minutes.

• I see. Have you got new furniture?

• We’ve bought wall units, two armchairs and a new ice-box. We are planning to buy two carpets and a dining-set.

• Good luck!

• Thanks. Are you going to move to a new apartment?

• No, I’m not. We have been living in our two-room apartment for about eight years and we don’t want to move anymore.

• Your apartment is comfortable, isn’t it?

• Yes, very. My wife arranged everything nicely and I like it very much. We don’t have much furniture but we have got everything we need.

• I’m glad to hear it.

Ex. 31. Think of your favourite room. You are going to tell your partner about it. Choose from the list the things you want to talk about. Think about what you will say.

• Which is your favourite room?

• What do you use it for?

• How is it decorated?

• What sort of furniture does it contain?

• What kind of floor covering does it have?

• What do the windows look out on to?

• What’s the best thing in the room?

• Is it usually tidy?

• Who cleans it?

• Is there anything you’d like to change about it?

• How much time a day do you spend in it?

• In what ways do you think your favourite room reflects your personality?

Ex. 32. Work in pairs. You want to rent out your house/ flat. Your partner is a potential tenant. Use the vocabulary below, as well as ideas of your own, to answer his/ her questions.

• Location: in a fashionable district, isolated, in the city centre, easily accessible, in the countryside

• Size: spacious, average, small, family-sized, 1/2 bedroomed

• Cost: affordable, cheap, economical, expensive

• Style: traditional, modern décor, stylish, (semi-) detached, terraced house, cottage, bungalow, villa

• General description: fully-equipped, fully-furnished, cosy, peaceful, easy to maintain, airy, noisy, secure

Ex. 33. Make the conversation. In pairs talk about Circle 1. Ask at least one more question. Get as much information as you can. Then talk about Circle 2, etc.

F.ex.

A Where do you live?

B I live in a flat quite near the centre, near the main square.

A How many bedrooms are there?...

Circle 1

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

House or flat? Where?

What’s like?

How long have you been living there?

Who do you live with?

Do you get on well?

Circle 2

WHAT HOUSEWORK DO YOU HAVE TO DO?

The cooking?

The cleaning?

Tidying the room?

The ironing?

The washing-up?

The shopping?

Anything else?

Circle 3

WHAT CAUSES PROBLEMS AT HOME?

Watching TV?

Housework?

Studying?

Going out?

Playing music?

Money?

Anything else?

Who do you argue with most?

What about?

Ex. 34. Which houses would you like to live in? Why? Give arguments. Use the following criteria.

comfortable

expensive

easy to look after

quiet

uncomfortable

cheap

difficult to look after

noisy

cottage block of flats detached house semi-detached house terraced house palace castle country mansion caravan houseboat bungalow