Mistakes to Avoid in Your Property Listings

The mistakes to avoid in your real estate listings are often the ones the real estate agents think least about. When it comes to something as important as the perfect real estate listing, there are almost always things that real estate agents can improve. The ways that we communicate and share information are forever changing.

First, start with the basics of a perfect real estate listing here. Even the most experienced real estate buyer’s agent can make mistakes with common oversights and easy improvements that can make all the difference. First, start with the basics of a perfect real estate listing here. Once your listing is drafted, make sure you’re publishing-ready and mistake-free with the following tips. Let’s dive into the most important mistakes to every real estate agent should avoid in your real estate listings.

Not Sharing the Right Information

Consider what will make your listing stand out amongst several listings within the same category, all displayed on the same page. After you’ve covered the basics such as listing price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, outdoor space etc., take your listing to the next level by considering what its unique selling points are. What type of potential buyers would gravitate to your listing and what would they be looking for specifically? What qualities would this buyer be looking for in the next home upgrade that your current listing has? It’s these simple questions that can steer prospects away from comparable sales and to your property.

Using Misleading Language

Real estate is the most expensive purchase your potential clients or buyers will ever make in their entire lives. It’s a common mistake among real estate agents to use “Fancy” words to make their listing appear more luxe. Here’s a better idea: keep it simple.

Misleading language can cause them to not only waste time researching and viewing a listing but also make the wrong decisions about this life-changing purchase. It is your ethical responsibility as a real estate professional to be truthful and as clear as possible as you describe the property’s ups and downs. Here

Of course, you’ll want to use flattering language that lends itself to the positive features of the property. However, you must be aware of how different expressions and phrases are interpreted differently by your readers. For example, “a dog park nearby” may mean that it’s within a 20-minute walk for some or one block away for others. It’s best to provide an approximate estimate of the distance.

Using Low-Quality Photography

Photography is one of the most important parts of your listing. In this day and age, real estate audiences are so accustomed to high-quality images online that they expect nothing less from your listing. Many prospects may not even come to a viewing if the images aren’t promising or worse – the most important images are non-existent. While great photos, on the other hand, can attract multiple offers.

If it’s in the budget, we suggest hiring a professional photographer to do the job during the day when the lighting is the brightest, clearest, and most flattering in the space. Depending on the area and landscape, the home may look a lot more lush on a warm sunny day or cozier on a winter afternoon.

Plan your photos and video in a way that mimics how you would guide a viewer through an open house. Walk them through all the main areas most buyers want to see and organize the photos in an order that reflects that experience.

For challenging listings such as fixer-uppers or homes that have been on the market long after the original owners have moved out, don’t try to downplay the situation by providing too few or unclear photos. Do your best to clean the space and take accurate photos that reflect the potential of what the space could be – even mentioning these opportunities in your description.

Too Many Photos

On the other hand, too many poorly organized photos can work against you. While real estate agents youshould show off all of the beautiful details of their listing, it becomes tedious for audiences to skim through dozens of up-close photos during an already draining home search.

Not Using Drone Photos

Drone photos have changed the way that we understand real estate photography and the type of images that your prospective buyers expect to see. The views that only drones can capture can show your home in a distinctive way that stands out from different property listings in the nearby market.

On top of that, drone technology makes it more affordable than ever to get cinematic shots that naturally draw eyes in.

Skipping Necessary Renovations

Review the property and take note of the most glaring issues, particularly those that are most likely to pop up during a home inspection. Most buyers require an inspection before closing the deal. Don’t wait until they spot flaws to take care of them, speak to sellers about being proactive and increasing the value by making major repairs (and possible asking price) to the property before being confronted by appraisers.

If home sellers are too lazy to fix minor issues such as a loose door knob or chipped paint, buyers may assume that you’re hiding larger, more expensive issues as well.

Ignoring the Importance of Staging

Staging isn’t only important for your open house, it’s crucial to create an attractive online listing. According to a 2021 report from the National Association of Realtors, nearly half of buyers said that great staging affects their opinion of a home.

A well-staged home just looks better in photos and if not- many buyers will not take the leap to view the house in person, never mind seeing it. However, staging is not only about luxury decor. Clutter is a huge barrier to allowing buyers to see the home features and it makes the overall space look smaller and more dated.

Professional stagers know exactly how to prepare a space to be sold. The space should be depersonalized so that prospective buyers can envision their lives in the home. This means, removing all of the personal details such as family photos, refrigerator art, and stylized items.

Too Much Text in Listings

Real estate agents aren’t experienced authors. Basic writing principles such as focusing on clarity and concise writing, can often go over an agent’s head. Avoid crowing your listing with too much filler text. While it’s great to share as many details as possible, it’s best to only share as many details as is relevant.

Huge chunks of text are also infamously deterring and intimidating to readers. Short, focused listing descriptions that focus on the main highlights are what get the attention of an audience.

Start by brainstorming the most important details about your listings. Ask yourself about what you need to communicate through your text (and the layout of that text) to get that buyer through the door of the open house. What would work for you?

It’s all about writing with intent and honing in on the story you want to tell prospective buyers before clicking submit.

Overusing Industry-Specific Words or Acronyms

As a real estate professional, you’re accustomed to using abbreviations for even the most minuscule industry terms. It’s easy to forget that your clients, on the other hand, are not familiar with many of the abbreviations that you use in your day-to-day work life. Even the difference between real estate broker, real estate agent, and realtor can stump them.

Avoid using too many abbreviations and be aware of which abbreviations will confuse your reader or make your text messy. To make things simple: if you have the room, spell it out.

Messy Copy

Some of the simplest lessons are the most important. That high school rule of editing your work the day after you write and before you submit it still applies. Before completing your property listing and submitting it, closely review your work for spelling and grammar errors, typos and unclear phases.

A listing description that has mistakes throughout look sloppy and leaves an unprofessional image in client’s minds. Something as simple as text errors can cost you your chance to make a great impression with clients and lose potential clients.

Wrapping Up…

Property listings are one of the first and most important avenues to attract buyers and the first step in the selling process. Many real estate agents underestimate the power of the small details to pull in a potential buyer, even in a competitive market. However, the smallest details are often the most costly mistakes down the line.