Whether you are working with traditional real estate, short sale, or a bank own property, you have a duty to your sellers to help them sell their property. When I visit the websites of many agents, I see the hyped up verbiage regarding what the agent will do for the seller, how the property is marketed, the location of the marketing, etc. Then, when you review many of the listings, the marketing that goes into the remark section of the MLS and REALTOR.com website is often a one sentence line that doesn't even begin to describe the property.
Buyers want to know more about the property and will often migrate to those listings that offer more detail about the property and more pictures.
Examples
REO Property
A typical REO property will have the verbiage either no verbiage or it will have, "bank-owned property, do disclosure, no repairs, sold AS-IS." When explaining the features of the property, many valuable features are missing such as insulated windows, crown moldings, deck, patio, covered porch, energy effient appliances, hardwood flooring, garage, pool, exterior type, fenced yard, any upgrades added to the property (interior and exterior), or NO Verbiage At All.
Traditional Real Estate
Unfortunately, traditional real estate seems to be following the same pattern. No description and very little description of the property features, the remark section is used to discuss the buying terms and the seller's loan requirements. Then there are those that are saturated with abbreviations. A buyer contacted an agent for a clear description of the property since she could not determine the features of the property based on the comments made on REALTOR.com
"Prop cond may res FHA/VA op, du/pn, res ltg, fp, gran tp, gr, ms, rmdld kit, rfgrtr, wsher/dr, spcius lvroom, lrg bdrms w/walkin mbr clst, brbr cpt. OH 4/25."
"Property conditions may restrict FHA/VA financing options, dual pane windows, rescessed lighting, fireplace, granite top counters, gas range, master suite, remodeled kitchen, refrigerator, washer/dryer, spacious livingroom, large bedrooms with walk-in master bedroom closets, berber carpet. Open House 4/24/10."
At what point will the buyer understand the remarks above that were found on the MLS and REALTOR.com.
Yes, it does take more than the verbiage to sell a house and there are many factors in addition to Location, Location , Location. But, itsn't it your duty to represent the seller so he/she/they will get the best price, best terms, and sell the property in the least amount of time?
Carolyn Nelson, carolyn@onlinerepa.com
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