When it comes to real estate property listings, agents are usually not as concerned as they should be about making mistakes. Good real estate agents are always looking for ways to improve something as important and as valuable as a perfect real estate listing. Communication and sharing information is constantly changing.
Start with the basics for a perfect listing. Even the most experienced buyer’s agents can make mistakes due to common oversights. Simple improvements can sometimes make a big difference. After your listing has been drafted, follow these tips to ensure it is error-free and ready for publication. Let’s look at the top mistakes that every real estate agent must avoid when creating their real estate listings.
The right information is not being shared
Think about what makes your listing unique amongst other listings in the same category that are displayed on the same web page. Take your listing one step further by considering its unique selling point. After covering the basics, such as the listing price, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and outdoor space, you can then move on to more advanced features. What kind of buyer would be attracted to your listing? And what would they look for specifically in a home like that? What would a buyer look for in an upgrade to your listing? These simple questions can help you attract buyers away from similar sales to your home.
The use of misleading language
Real estate will likely be the most expensive investment your clients or potential buyers ever make. Real estate agents often make the mistake of using “Fancy” industry terms to make their listings appear more luxurious. Keep it simple.
Incorrect language can lead to them not only wasting time viewing and researching a listing, but also making the wrong decision about this life-changing acquisition. As a real-estate professional, it is your ethical duty to be as honest and clear as possible when you describe a property’s positives and negatives.
You’ll naturally want to use language that highlights the positive aspects of the property. You must also be aware that different phrases and expressions are interpreted by readers differently. A dog park near you may be interpreted by some as a 20 minute walk away, while for others it could mean just a block away. The best thing to do is give an approximate distance.
Low-quality photography
Your listing is incomplete without good photographs. These days real estate audiences expect high-quality photos online. If the photos don’t look promising, or worse yet, if they are missing altogether, many prospects will not attend a viewing. Great photos, on the other hand, can bring in multiple offers.
We suggest that if you have the budget to hire a professional, they should do it during the daytime when the light is brightest and clearest. This will make the room look the best. The home can look lusher on a sunny warm day, or more cozy on a cold winter afternoon depending on the landscape and the location.
Plan your video and photos in a similar way to how you’d guide an open-house viewer. Take them to all the areas that most buyers will want to see, and arrange the photos so that they reflect that experience.
Some properties are more challenging, such as a fixer-upper or when the home has been on the market for ages after the previous owners moved out. Take accurate photos and clean the area to show the potential. Mention these possibilities in your listing.
Too many pictures
A lot of poorly organized pictures can also work against you. It is important for real estate agents to show off the listing’s beautiful details, but it can be tedious for viewers to scroll through dozens and dozens of photos.
Not using drone photos
Drone photos are changing the way we view real estate photography. They have also changed what prospective buyers expect. Drone photos can give your home a unique look that makes it stand out among other listings.
Drone technology also makes it easier than ever to capture cinematic images that will naturally attract the eye.
Too much text in the listing
Being a writer is not on the daily schedule for real estate agents. That’s not their expertise. Agents can easily miss basic writing principles, such as the importance of clarity and conciseness. Avoid filler text that crows your listing. It’s good to include as many details in your listing as you can, but it’s better to only include the relevant ones.
Massive blocks of text can also intimidate and discourage readers. The attention of an audience is captured by short, focused list descriptions that highlight the most important highlights.
Begin by brainstorming all the important details of your listing. What do you want to convey through your text and the layout to the buyer to make them come to the open house?
Before you click submit your mistake-free property listing, it’s important to write with intention and focus on the story that you want your prospective buyers to hear.
Too much industry jargon
You’re used to abbreviating even the smallest industry terms. You may forget that many of your clients are unfamiliar with the abbreviations you use every day. They may not know the difference between real estate agent, realtor, and real estate broker.
Avoid abbreviations. Know which ones will confuse readers or cause your text to be messy. If you want to keep things simple, spell out the words if there is room.
Messy copy
The simplest lessons can be the most valuable. The old rule from high school, that you should edit your work the next day after writing and before submitting it, still holds true. Check your work carefully before submitting your property listing. Look for typos, spelling errors and unclear phases.
Listing descriptions with errors throughout are unprofessional and give the impression of being sloppy. Even simple text mistakes can ruin your chances of making a good impression on clients.
Ignoring staging
It’s not just important to stage your home for an open house. You also need to make sure that you have a visually appealing online listing. A 2021 report by the National Association of Realtors found that nearly half of buyers believe good staging can influence their opinion of a house.
If a home is not well staged, it won’t look as good in pictures and some buyers may not even bother to visit the property in person. But staging isn’t just about luxurious decor. Clutter can be a barrier for buyers who want to view the features of the home. It also makes the space appear smaller and older.
Professional stagers are experts at preparing a room to sell. It is important to remove all personal items such as photos of family members, fridge art and stylized objects. Depersonalizing the space will allow prospective buyers to imagine their own lives in the house.
Skipping renovations
Take note of any obvious issues, especially those most likely to be found during an inspection. Before closing the deal, most buyers will require an inspection. Do not wait for the appraisers to find flaws before you fix them. Instead, talk to the seller about making repairs and possibly increasing the price of the property.
Buyers may think that if you are not willing to fix small issues, such as a chipped or loose doorknob, then there could be larger problems.
Final words
Listings are the most effective way to get buyers interested and start the process of selling the property. In a highly competitive market, many real estate agents undervalue the importance of small details in attracting a buyer. The smallest of details can be the most costly in the long run.