Keep your opinion to yourself when writing listing descriptions!

Keep your opinion to yourself when writing listing descriptions!  

Congratulations on your new listing!

Now it's time to write up that description and put it in the MLS.  You have seen the house, and you have good and bad feelings about it.  You have your opinions about the "amazing"  kitchen and materials used.  You may love the small "cozy" living room.  You may think the views are "fabulous!"   But when writing up your description... keep your opinions to yourself! 

Sweeping adjectives like “fantastic”, “spacious”, and “charming” are subjective and buyers aren’t looking for opinions, they’re looking for facts.

Don’t tell them the home is fabulous, show them that it’s fabulous by revealing it’s best features. Showcasing specifics using descriptive, straightforward terms like "Stone Fireplace",  Inlaid Marble,” “Granite,” “Spiral Staircase,” “Gourmet Kitchen with New Viking Appliances,  “Solid Bamboo Flooring” , "Fairway View",  will get you the most bang for your buck.

Vague terms may also be misinterpreted as a cover up. In a recent article about the secret language of listings, Real Estate and Lifestyle expert, Michael Corbett, offered the following reality check translation guide:

• Charming = Small

• Cozy = Even smaller

• Needs TLC = Needs a remodel

• Steps from pool = Can be seen as "discriminatory against handicapped "
  

• Partial view = If you are standing on the roof, or you lean out the second-floor window

• Handyman’s special = That’s a three-to-four-hammer job. You’ll be hunting down contractors for help with this one.

• Up-and-coming neighborhood = Paint your fence with antigraffiti spray.

• As is = There is something very wrong that the seller doesn’t want to fix.

• Diamond in the rough = No jewel here—way too much work.

Don't take a chance that your description will be misinterpreted. 

Stick with the facts and you’ll generate legitimate interest and prevent wasted showings on buyers who don’t share your idea of an “amazing” kitchen.