Virtually all home searches begin online these days. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors®, 97% of home buyers used the internet in their home search. Of course, all of these searches begin with looking at photos of the property. Therefore, the importance of having professional photos that accurately showcase the property can not be overlooked. With this said, including the wrong words in your property description can also cause you time and money. As with every step of the home selling process, attention to detail can have significant impact on not only the time it takes to sell a property, but also the amount it sells for.
Popular descriptive words
Over the past several years, we have seen more buyers seeking additional space in the home. With more people working virtually from home and even children attending school remotely, additional space was a consistent theme for many home searches. Needless to say, words such as “large” and “spacious” have become incredibly important for homes listed for sale in recent years. Interestingly, some words have actually been associated with higher sales prices as well. Words such as “impeccable”, “luxurious”, and “landscaped” have all been associated with higher sales prices.
As for the top 20 most popular home features and amenities in listings over the past few years, they were as follows:
| Garage | Walk-in closet | Full bath | Open floor plan |
| Hardwood floors | Granite countertops | Stainless-steel appliances | Laundry room |
| Additional bedrooms | Fenced backyard | Double vanity | Covered patio |
| Formal dining room | Parking | Natural light | Large/spacious living room |
| Bonus room | Plenty of room | Water heater | Eat-in kitchen |
Summary
In any housing market, it is important to pay close attention to every detail when marketing a property for sale. In addition to being honest and truthful in any advertising, it is critical that you choose the right descriptive words that will capture the attention and interest of prospective buyers. Much like interior design, trends for various amenities change over time as well. It is important that you discuss these latest trends in your local market with your real estate agent. As a helpful tip, you may want to ask your real estate agent to look up the old listing of your home, if it was previously sold in the past. Reading an old description of the property may be able to give you an idea of how the home was described before. Of course, you will not want to plagiarize this description.
Are you looking to buy or sell property in the South Florida market? We can help! Contact Natasha at Live South Florida Realty, Inc. for a free consultation. In addition, add the power of the MLS right on your mobile device by downloading the free Florida Home Search App today!
