Real Estate Marketing -- The Importance of Listing Language

Mr. and Mrs. Buyer have just seen a listing photoThe family room features a large brick
of a house that's right up their alley. It seems tofireplace.After:
have the features they want, and it's within theirThe family room's grand fireplace will keep you
price range. Now, continuing in the process, theycozy during Colorado winters.Don't underestimate
read the details. They read what you've writtenthe small stuff.
to describe the house.This is when the quality ofIf you're creating a short, bulleted "laundry list" of
your listing language either moves them forward,features, be as specific and all-inclusive as possible.
or drops them off.The first parts of the listing areThe house might have a feature that makes you
easy to write, and they're often enough to get ayawn but makes a buyer perk up:Extra outlets in
buyer to come out for a visit. Number ofthe media room. Low-maintenance deck material.
bedrooms. Square feet. The basics.But your goalWrought-iron gate. Picket fence. Sometimes the
is to get as many interested buyers as possiblesmallest things make the biggest difference to
to come out, which obviously increases thepeople.Use brand names.
likelihood of a sale. So you have to go beyond theCertain brands can add value to a house through
basics. Here are some tips to help you do justname alone. First, you must identify these brand
that:Do the necessary research.names and make a list of them. This comes from
When I'm hired to write about the benefits /the research we mentioned above.Then it's simply
qualities of a product or service, I almost alwaysa matter of weaving them into your property
spend more time researching than writing. I neverdescription.Note the difference in the example
write a single word until I know, with certainty,below:Before:
what's worth writing about and what's not.TheRear deckAfter:
point is, you can't write everything about a houseRear deck built with low-maintenance Trex(R)
in a listing - there's no room for that. So you havematerial (with transferable lifetime warranty).I've
to examine the property inside and out to findexaggerated the contrast between these
those things that make it truly unique. You haveexamples for demonstration purposes. But you
to dig up the unique selling points.Put the reader inget the idea.Conclusion
the house.Buyers are looking for more than a house. They
Whenever possible, try to describe thealso want a home. A house is walls and ceilings. A
enjoyment that results from a particular featurehome is where memories are made. It's up to
(as opposed to describing the feature byyou to bring this across with your listing
itself).Note the difference in the exampleslanguage.Brandon Cornett has worked as a writer
below.Before:and advertising manager within the direct mail
This house has a rear deck with a lakeindustry. He now dedicates his time to helping
view.After:agents and brokers improve their real estate
Enjoy watching sunsets over Jefferson Lakemarketing programs.
from your screened-in rear deck.Before: