What should be included in your home listing

Did you know that what you say and how you say it can have a big impact on how effective your home listing is? The results can be selling your home more quickly and for a better price.

By the same token, using the wrong words and phrases can turn a buyer off as quickly as the right one can motivate a buyer to learn more. Here are some tips to improve your listing:

Be specific

Give as many details or facts about a property as you can. Include updates such as a new roof or driveway and items that differentiate your home from competitive properties. If your kitchen is a draw, don’t be afraid to drop brand names.

Use good grammar

Bad spelling and grammar, and using abbreviations that aren’t easily understood can be a big deterrent to potential buyers.

A photo’s worth

In a buyer’s market there may be more properties available than buyers to purchase them. With that much competition, sometimes the photo can draw the attention of a buyer or agent. Make sure you’re putting your home’s best foot forward with great photos.

Mention amenities

A great view or privacy won’t be apparent in photos or property details. Use the description to talk about features that aren't obvious.

Avoid exaggeration

Be realistic in your listing. Building a buyer’s expectations with a fluff-filled description only to have it fall far short in reality can turn a buyer off.

Use the right adjectives

The words you use can make a difference. Use descriptive opinion words if they are appropriate. Also use descriptions of the property within the copy. Using property descriptors and opinion words were found to increase the sale price by just under 1% for each instance. However, there is a limit. Don’t overdo it and turn off prospective buyers.

Motivate the buyer

In advertising, sometimes saying something is enough to make a large number of people believe it. That goes for pronouncements on pricing. Telling them it’s a good deal is enough to motivate them without being dishonest, even if it priced competitively with other homes in the area.

Remember that you have a very short time to attract a buyer’s attention. Make sure to deliver the biggest selling features in the first couple of lines.