How Home Sellers Can Write a Description that Sells
For most home sellers, selling a house is part art, part science. Not only must the house be in tip-top condition but the description of the house should be just as attractive. A bad description is as bad as no description.
With this in mind, there are certain words home sellers will want to consider adding into a description in order bring potential buyers in droves.
Words Buyers Love (and Don’t)
Buyers want to see certain characteristics in a house. Most buyers are looking for a large yard that is fenced in. They want an open floor plan with the more natural light the better. Plus an updated kitchen or bathroom is always a bonus.
Home sellers able to include any of the phrases will help to bring in buyers that are excited to make an offer.
However, there are also words that will make buyers nervous about the home. For example, advertising the kitchen as “gourmet” or referencing ceramic tile or custom built items can make buyers shy away. These phrases make most buyers think the home is too expensive for them to afford.
Do Not Be Too Obvious
Some home sellers are very motivated to sell. They like to be very clear that they would like to sell the home quickly. Words that help convey this message are often “must-sell,” “motivated buyer” or even “great value.” But including these in the home desricptioncan actually be detrimental to the process.
These phrases will draw in buyers that want a great deal. They are going to offer very low amounts on the house because they assume the seller will take anything.
However, if home sellers want to get rid of the house regardless of the price, this could be beneficial.
Never Lie
Many home sellers like to put fancy words into a description that are not necessarily true. Never lie about the renovations or quality of the home.
Using words like “renovated,” “well-maintained,” or even “great condition” can be a game changer. However, if buyers discover that the description does not fit the property they are going to walk away without making an offer.
Renovations imply that a room has been almost completely redone, not just the addition of a simple coat of paint. Home sellers will want to use the word “updated” for most instances as few actually complete true renovations before they sell.
Because renovations are too costly, and few homeowners see a return on their investment, they tend to opt for easy upgrades. The bottom line is if there is something being advertised in the description make sure it is represented in the house.
Problems in the Home
No one wants to advertise that their home has problems. They often think that by telling buyers what the problems in the house are they will not be able to sell.
But letting buyers know what the issues with the home are in advance can actually help the home sell. It creates a sense of trust in the buyer and they will be prepared for the problems.
Think about it: walking into a house that is advertised as great condition to find one that needs a lot of work is disappointing. Yet, walking into a home that is advertised as needing work in certain areas gives the buyer realistic expectations of the home. They can decide if they want to view a home with certain problems before stepping foot in the house.
Too Many Words
When creating your description, home sellers will want to write about the home from the vantage point of an impartial pro versus an emotional owner. Try to keep your description to the point and accurate. By cutting down on the number of extra words an owner typically puts into a description, you are able to capitalize on the short attention span of most potential buyers. Sometimes less is more.
Selling a house is a process that requires doing all of the “little things” right. An important piece of this is describing the house accurately yet attractively. A good description is the difference between selling a home and letting it sit on the market.