There are numerous factors involved in the sale of any piece of property, but certain elements have more influence than others. And while a lot of attention deservedly goes to design, features, pricing, and listing photography, it would be unwise to ignore the importance of words.
Believe it or not, the words you use in the copy of your listing can have a significant impact on the value and marketability of your house. Don’t believe us? Read on, and we’ll provide some specific insight on this topic.
Crafting a real estate listing for your property might be one of the final steps in the process of putting your home on the market, but it’s one of the most important. A well-developed listing with crisp language, purposeful imagery, and compelling words can be a powerful asset that earns you visibility, foot traffic, and offers.
You’ll have to work with your listing team to come up with some language that articulates the essence of your home, but what follows is a list of words and phrases that have proven to be effective over the years.
Can you incorporate some of them into your listing?
According to a study published in the book Zillow Talk, using the word “luxurious” in a listing is enough to boost the value of your home – even if it technically isn’t luxurious. The study shows that even lower-priced listings with the word sell for an average of 8.2 percent more than similar listings without the word.
While we don’t advocate misleading your audience, the word luxurious certainly leaves some room for interpretation. Strategically using it to frame your listing in a positive light is never a bad idea.
The second-best word in the Zillow Talk study is “captivating.” When used appropriately, it’s been shown to help homeowners get 6.5 percent more for their listings.
Captivating is a word that you should use in place of other generic terms like “nice” or “interesting.” Much like the word’s definition, it grabs a buyer’s attention and pulls them in.
Finally, the third-best word to use is “impeccable.” Go ahead and say it out loud a few times. It has a way of leaping off the back of your tongue and creating a crisp, clean word that instantly makes you sound educated. Use it in the right context and you could see your home’s listing price soar by 5.9 percent.
While you will encounter buyers who are looking for a value purchase or investment that can be fixed up, the average homebuyer wants something that’s turnkey and ready to be lived in. If you’ve recently renovated or remodeled, let buyers know. Simply using these words is enough to signal added value to prospective buyers who’d rather not deal with the challenges of making a bunch of upgrades after purchase.
People want room to breathe. Homes are bigger than ever before – nearly 1,000-square-feet larger on average than they were just a couple of decades ago – and buyers have an expectation of space and privacy. Using the word “spacious” can signal that your home meets this criteria.
On a related note, people no longer want segmented floor plans that are closed-off and reserved. They’d much rather have a floor plan with common areas that freely flow into one another. Using the phrase “open concept” can put some language around this idea. (Just make sure you actually have the floor plan and architecture to back it up.)
Along with the rise of open concept floor plans comes the desire for natural light, big windows, and airy living spaces. Simply using the phrase “natural light” in a listing is enough to paint some powerful imagery for a prospective buyer.
An astonishing 43.4 million American families own a dog. That accounts for 36.5 percent of all American households. Roughly 36.1 million families – or 30 percent of all households – own a cat. It should come as no surprise, then, that a fenced-in backyard is attractive to buyers. If you’ve got it, don’t be afraid to flaunt it!
Buyers with children are generally looking for safe neighborhoods where they can meet other families and develop friendships with likeminded people. Using the phrase “kid-friendly neighborhood” may help attract more eyeballs to your listing.
Words alone won’t sell your property. In addition to using the appropriate language, you can also utilize the following tips and tricks to give your listing a discernable edge in the marketplace.
Selling a home requires experience, finesse, and strategy. Whether it’s a hot or cold market, there are certain things you can do to increase the marketability of your property and garner full-price offers that maximize your value. At Green Residential, we’d love to lend a helping hand. Contact us today to learn more about our flat fee commission structure that could potentially save you thousands of dollars.
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