8 Signs Your House Has "Good Bones"

"Good bones" might be one of the most overused phrases in real estate. Prospective home buyers and sellers, and their real estate agents, are constantly chattering on about homes' "good bones." But what do they mean?

In many of those cases, it's nothing more than a vague, catch-all phrase used to describe a house that's solidly built, but needs some work. Great copy if you're selling, but if you're in the market for a home, not that helpful.

If you are a buyer, or just a browser (like me), and in search of those "good bones," here's a list of things to look for on your quest:

1. A solid roof and foundation. These are the most important parts of the house - not least because they are some of the most expensive parts to repair or replace.

2. Decent quality materials. The lumber used to build older homes was typically higher quality than what's used in recent construction, though that's not always the case. Brick and stone in good condition are usually good bets.

3. Coherent design. On both the inside and outside, the structure of the home should be simple and have a clear hierarchy. There shouldn't be too much going on. Any additions should be consistent with the original structure, so they don't look jarring.

4. Architectural details. They're a bonus, but any nicely preserved details, such as exposed beams or plasterwork, are a great find.

5. Flexible layout with good public-private transitions. It's important to have both public and private space in homes, and the right balance between the two will differ from family to family. The best layouts will offer some flexibility, but will preserve both types of space.

6. A connection to the outside. Homes don't end at the front door. It's important that they work on their lot, and that the transitions between the inside and outside are smooth.

7. Natural light. Ideally, most rooms will have windows on at least two sides to flood the room with sunlight.

8. The golden mean. Rooms should be big, but not too big, and ceilings should be high, but not too high. Too-tiny spaces are cramped, but too big spaces feel cold and cavernous.

In your home shopping adventures, what else have you lumped into the "good bones" category? Are there things you thought would be important that weren't? Things you wish you'd paid more attention to?