9 Words and Phrases That Will Make Your Real Estate Listing Pop

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.

9 Words and Phrases You Should Be Using

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?

1. Luxurious

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.

2. Captivating

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.

3. Impeccable

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.

4. Remodeled

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.

5. Spacious

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.

6. Open Concept

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.)

7. Natural Light

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.

8. Fenced Backyard

 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!

9. Kid-Friendly Neighborhood

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.

Other Listing Tips and Tricks

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.

• Declutter before taking pictures. Listing pictures are a big deal. We discuss them in more detail in this blog post, but here’s one quick tip: declutter your house before taking listing photos. It’ll make your living spaces look cleaner and more sophisticated.
• Leverage video. In today’s competitive real estate marketplace, anything you can do to set your listing apart will be helpful. Video – particularly aerial footage – can show your property from a unique vantage point and add value.
• Implement sound SEO tactics. With the rise of Zillow and other major listing sites, your ability to conquer SEO within listings is a key success factor in driving external links to your page. Make sure you have an understanding of the basics.
• Use two sets of eyes. In case we haven’t already driven this point home, you should know that the listing is one of the most important elements of your entire property marketing. Don’t risk making a major mistake by letting your realtor publish your listing without first running it by you. Two sets of eyes will prevent obvious errors from hurting your home’s value.

Let Green Residential Sell Your House

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.