How to Create a Winning Real Estate Listing

MotoCMS Editorial 20 April, 2022

One of the most important aspects of preparing your home for sale is creating a winning real estate listing. In some cases, if you are working with a real estate agent, they may take care of writing your listing, but if you are selling your home privately, it will be up to you to create a listing that gets you noticed. Most potential buyers start their search for a new home online. This means that having an online presence for your house listing is crucial to drawing in buyers. The more information you can put in your listing, the more educated potential buyers will be, making it easier to narrow down their favorite properties. Unless you are selling your home for cash to an investor like Problem Property Pals, you will need to put out the word that you have a fine home to offer. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the ways to create a successful real estate listing for your home.

Attention-Grabbing Headline

Most private sellers struggle to find the right platform on which to post their listings. Two of the most widely viewed websites are Zillow and ForSaleByOwner.com. You will need to fill out a template for your listing and then simply post it online. The great thing about using a website template is that it will help you to organize your house details. However, without an eye-catching headline, many users may overlook your listing.

To create an eye-catching headline, you can use a larger font, keywords buyers are looking for, or just a few words in CAPS. The larger print will draw the eye of the buyer and get them to pay extra attention to your listing. Keywords that buyers are interested in seeing include words and phrases like “rare find,” “unique concept,” and “desirable location.” You can use a keyword finder to help you find the right phrasing for your listing.

Real Estate Listing – All Relative Details

The more detail you can include in your real estate listing, the more informed your potential buyers will be about what you offer. When selling your home privately, you are acting as your own agent. A short and simple listing could result in fielding dozens of inquiries for more information, taking more time and effort. Your listing should include pertinent details about your home, including:

Size of lot
Total square footage of your home
Exterior finish (e.g., brick, siding, steel)
Number of bedrooms
Recent updates
Landscaping details (e.g., pool, fencing, garden)
Age of house
Proximity to amenities
Design features
Brand name models
Appliances included
Estimates of utility costs
Annual property taxes

Highlight Features

One of the most effective ways to draw in interest from potential buyers is to shine some light on your home’s unique features. If you have arched doorways, interesting architecture, a library, hot tub, or other features, you need to include them in the listing with photos. Buyers are often looking for a home that is unique and isn’t like a cookie-cutter home. Special features in a home help buyers remember your listing and increase their interest in viewing your home.

Include All Upgrades

If you have recently had work done on your home or done a renovation project, it’s crucial that you include those details in your listing. Many buyers are looking for turn-key properties that are ready to move into without the need to do any work or excessive decorating. Kitchen or bathroom remodels, new roofing, new flooring, or landscaping projects are all desirable features that buyers want to hear about. If you have had new windows put in or added a security system, your listing should include these details.

Professional Photographer

Beyond your initial home description, your pictures will be the most viewed part of your real estate listing. The importance of a high-quality photo in your listing cannot be understated. Listings with photos that are dim, out of focus, or don’t show the details of your home will turn off many potential buyers. If you know how to work a camera or have experience in photography, you may be able to take the photos that you need to help your listing make an impression. If you only have experience taking random photos with your smartphone, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Hiring a professional real estate photographer will ensure that you can present your home and all of its features in the best light. Your photos should act as an introduction for buyers. If you are trying to save money by taking your real estate listing photos yourself, there are a few tips that you should follow:

Open curtains and turn on lights for the best room lighting
Take several photos of each room to give a better idea of the dimensions
Do not attempt to use any filters on your photos
Include photos of every room and area of your home
Focus on updated or unique features
Include photos of the exterior of your home, including landscaping features and backyard

Avoid Abbreviations

Real estate agents are fluent in the abbreviated terms used to describe properties. However, the average person may not be familiar with short-formed terms, so spelling them out is important. For example, it’s better to say you have a two-bedroom home than it is to say 2bdrm. Some short-form abbreviations can be confusing for those that are new to the real estate market and buying their first homes.

Real Estate Listing & SEO Content

If you are listing your home online, you should include SEO content in your listing. SEO means that you are filling your listing content with keywords that will be picked up on a search engine request. Think about the things that people search for when looking for a new house, and make sure to include those terms in your listing. Listings that follow SEO basics in their online postings are more than four times as likely to draw in more interest from buyers.

Social Media

You will not have the same reach and network as the average real estate agent when selling your home independently. To help get the word out about your listing, you should take advantage of your social media accounts. Copy the link from your online listing and share it on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat accounts.

Proofread

Before posting anything online, you should always double-check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. While it may not seem like a big thing, some buyers will be completely turned off by a listing that is riddled with spelling or grammatical errors. There are several free grammar and spelling checkers online that you can use. Having a third party read over your listing before posting to add some outside input doesn’t hurt.

Winning Real Estate Listing – Final Points

Selling your home can be a long and stressful process. When your home is ready for the market, creating an enticing real estate listing can mean the difference between success and sit on the market for months without any interest. Using your listing as a platform to showcase all that your home has to offer is a chance to connect with buyers. Always include an attention-grabbing headline, beautiful professional-quality photos, and SEO content in your listing. Follow these tips to help you create a winning real estate listing for your home.