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MLS Descriptions...what do they really mean?

By Ana Hitzel

Home Stager with AccentPositives Home Staging 658279

September 22, 2009 06:45 AM

This morning I listened to a very amusing talk on the radio about a NABA piece released discussing the disconnect between the reality a buyer sees and MLS descriptions used to market homes.

Take the description "COZY", you may have heard the old joke the house is so small you have to go outside to change your mind!

This brought to mind the descriptions I read when house hunting and what I actually saw after crossing the threshold. A buyer's agent I worked with on a house hunt many years ago joked with me about this after going into the 4th or 5th house with mauve carpet and pink counters. Whenever we saw a description that read "custom" or "tastefully decorated" we would both roll our eyes and chuckle a bit.

FOR THE GARDENING ENTHUSIAST.....

Need a machete to get to the front door!

LOVELY TRUE TO PERIOD HOUSE.....

Really really old!

So....what's in your MLS description? And by the way (BTW) that room with no door and no closet is not another bedroom!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging Consultations on site and online. We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529. www.accentpositives.com and www.accentingspaces.com.

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Donna Schoby

Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR

Ana, This is so true! I have recently started doing a monthly presentation for our local Realtors CE class. This is one of the subjects that I talk about. I "know" what I'm going to see when I click on your listing that says "tastefully decorated" in the description. I'm very "light hearted" about bringing this up...but again am very serious.

Sep 22, 2009 03:10 PM

Ana Hitzel

AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA

Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

Hi Donna, good for you, it is kinda funny though when you read some of them isn't it? I am sure you get your point across with lots of tact and humor :)

Sep 23, 2009 07:45 AM

Jesse Skolkin

Independent New York State Certified Real Estate Appraiser - Fresh Meadows, NY

This is my personal take of condition descriptions:

Diamond = above average

Excellent = average

Needs some TLC = gut renovation needed

Handyman special = should be condemned.

Sep 25, 2009 01:34 AM

Hi Jesse, like that handyman special one, so very right, have seen a few in my time!

Sep 26, 2009 12:08 PM

Cathy Brosius

Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO

Home Staging St. Louis region

Ana, I loved the pics! Also the word "charming" seems to be used for very small or somewhat dated.

Sep 27, 2009 05:12 AM

Hi Cathy, you are so right! After doing this a while you can really pick up and interpret the "code" lol. thanks for commenting :)

Sep 27, 2009 03:55 PM

Candice A. Donofrio

Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ

928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

There is one now retired agent who described EVERYTHING as 'delightful' 'light and airy' and 'charming'

ALL = POS

'Well Appointed' is my 'eyeroller'. Way overused and too subjective.

If agents would stick to facts and let the photos and amenities speak for themselves they would save themselves -- and buyer's agents -- time.

Oct 11, 2009 05:06 AM

Hi Candice, I always wondered what that meant because I had seen if before. Give me the literal translation in your experience? Your time saving tip is right on.

Oct 11, 2009 01:12 PM

Well appointed? Supposed to mean it's got a lot of features. But to me it's better to name the features and see if the prospective agrees. Everyone nees something different.

Oct 11, 2009 03:08 PM

MLS Descriptions...what do they really mean?

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