When it comes to selling a property privately, the thought of creating a listing can be quite intimidating. Photos are key to creating a good first impression but even if you have a good eye and a nice camera, words are what make the difference between someone scrolling down the page and actually making an enquiry.
How do you write a good property listing description? Follow these six easy steps:
1. Tell the truth
It may sound obvious, but the truth is vital if you want to sell your home: nobody will buy a studio apartment if they have been told it is a two-bedroom house. Inaccurate or, worse, misleading information will lead to disappointed buyers, if not lawsuits. Both cost you time as well as work, not to mention a potentially high legal fee.
2. Think positive
Thinking positively is an important trait when it comes to your property, especially if you want other people to be positive enough about it to buy. Do not be afraid to praise your property’s strengths. If the location is great, make sure you mention it. If it has recently been renovated, do not shy away from it.
3. Be brief
In the past, print advertising required sellers to restrict themselves to a set number of words. Online marketing means you can write as much as you wish about your property, but that does not mean you should. Even broken up with pictures. a listing is a listing, not an academic paper: when faced with lots of homes to choose between, house hunters do not want to read an essay.
4. Think outside the box
Property descriptions have a set of typical features that buyers will expect to see, but that does not mean you cannot think outside the box. Your property needs to stand out and so does your listing: the information about your home may be the same as the listing next to it, but the way you present the information can make all the difference.
5. Bullet points
Bullet points are easy to read and quick to write so make sure you use them to detail your property’s key features. Here is why:
- They stand out from the other paragraphs
- They are simple to understand
- They are short
- They can highlight yields for investment property
6. Proofread!
Are you selling a house or a huose? Is it in France or Farcne? Errors will make your listing look unprofessional: by proofreading to check for any mistakes, you will ensure your home comes across as well as possible.
Is my property description complete?
Location Number of beds Information on the individual rooms Remove clutter from the living room What the outside of the home is like (e.g. Is there a garden?) Other interesting/unique information (e.g. Historical facts. Is it a church conversion?)
Photos: AJC1 / Diana Parkhouse
