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Some listing agents apparently just want to sell family homes

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas 398351

One of my pet peeves is when an agent specifically refers to their listing as a family home, or a home perfect for raising children, in the MLS description.

What if buyers don't have kids (or grandkids)? Wouldn't that description turn them off from some homes and neighborhoods?

It is appropriate to use the space in the Remarks to describe the property you're marketing, not the kind of buyers you want to attract. If you even put in the word "family," except when referring to a "family room," you are sending the message that your listing would not appeal to, or the neighborhood might not welcome, the following types of buyers:

- Single peo379 Donella Drive, Hollywood Park, San Antonio, TXple

- Couples who don't have children

- Seniors or retirees

- Childless gays or lesbians

- Roommates buying a home to share

- Students or interns

That is a pretty large section of your market that you might be running off, to the disadvantage of your seller.

Let's be more sensitive—and inclusive!

 

This home for sale is perfect for qualified buyers

Posted by

 

Robin Rogers, REALTOR, Broker-owner, TRC, MRP, CRS

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Stella Barbour
NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA
Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

Our MLS would have sent the agent a note because that would not be allowed in the description.

Nov 06, 2010 04:55 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Robin and I have to agree with you because Las Vegas has hundreds of Condos, Homes, etc. that are for Seniors and single people.

VB ;~)

Nov 06, 2010 04:59 AM
Kay Horacefield
UTR-Texas Realtors - Clear Lake City, TX
Houston-Clear Lake City-League City, TX

Wording in the MLS has to be considered very carefully.  Words are powerful...make them send the message that you really want to be heard.

Nov 06, 2010 05:01 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Stella's right.  Our MLS would not let you publish those remarks.  There are some things that it kicks back as Fair Housing hot buttons that I have to scratch my head over.  One was the phrase, "walking distance to....."   Evidently, that would have been offensive to handicapped people.

Nov 06, 2010 05:21 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Our MLS would have kicked that back, as well.  Of course, our MLS kicks back some interesting things as Chris Ann alluded to above, one being "walking distance" as that is considered offensive to those who cannot walk. 

Nov 06, 2010 06:29 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

I never advertise a home to one segment of the buying population over another. I've been hired to sell the home, not to determine who should buy it.

Nov 06, 2010 09:33 AM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

If I were in the market to purchase a home, I would read carefully the description and take that into consideration.

Nov 06, 2010 11:58 AM
Matt Stigliano
Kimberly Howell Properties (210) 646-HOME - San Antonio, TX

Robin - Not to mention the potential Fair Housing Law violation in a statement like that.  Seems Fair Housing has been coming up a lot lately.

Nov 08, 2010 03:54 AM