10 tips to help you create a good home listing

Online home sales aren’t just the way of the future, they’re the way of the present. When shopping for their next home, most buyers prefer to view a house online before they view it in person (if they view it in person). The quality of your online listing can determine whether you get two offers or twenty, so it’s important to make it shine. Use these tips to generate as much interest as possible in your next KSL Homes listing. 

1. Clean like the sale depends on it

It does! Or at the very least, you’re much more likely to get potential buyers to schedule a viewing if your house is as clean as possible in your listing photos. We’re talking the full Poppins treatment — surfaces, floors, light fixtures, chimneys … 

2. Declutter and depersonalize

So everything’s clean, but you still have your college beanbag chair and a cutout of Joe Montana in the living room? Decluttering and removing personal items allows potential buyers to view the house as their future home, not your previous home, so strip everything down to the basics. 

3. Shoot photos in natural light

Not only does the softer glow of natural light create better photographs, but natural light is also a huge selling point for home buyers. Shoot your photos during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest and consider removing window screens to let as much light in as possible. 

4. Show the most important rooms

Too many photos can give viewers fatigue and don’t actually add much value after a certain point. That point? 22-27 photos, according to a 2015 study by Zillow. Focus your photos on the most important rooms in the house — the master bedroom, the kitchen, the living room and all bathrooms. Try to also give the viewer a sense of the house’s space by providing a few photos of the rooms in relation to each other. 

5. Show the exterior (front and back)

The front of your house should be the first picture in the listing, so show your home at its best — think sunny day, green grass, golden retriever catching a frisbee, etc. Include the whole house, as well as any additional selling points (mountain views, trees). If you’ve got a yard, tidy it up and include that too. 

6. Describe benefits from your perspective

Do you love the neighborhood? Is the backyard great for barbecues? Is the reading nook to die for? Then say so! Homebuyers are looking for just that — a home. They’ll be reassured knowing that that’s what the previous owners found there. Don’t get too specific, though. You want them to imagine their own lives there, not relive yours.

7. Use colorful words

Do home shoppers want a “luxurious” jacuzzi or a “nice” jacuzzi? A “beautiful” outdoor space or a “nice” outdoor space? A “friendly” neighborhood or ... you get the picture. Always use colorful wording when describing the features of your home. Be careful not to use too many words, though — a luxurious, beautiful, friendly jacuzzi is either an oversell or a Disney character. 

8. Include search-friendly keywords 

Adding keywords to your listing will help it show up in searches. It’s not complicated, either — if you have a chance to call out a feature of your house, do it! This can be as simple as describing the 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom space, or as detailed as mentioning your home office, walk-in closet and outdoor patio. It goes without saying, but only call out features your house actually has. “I don’t have a 2-car garage” is not a good use of keywords. 

9. Use proper grammar

Even if your house is the bestest on the block, your listing won’t be successful if people can’t understand it. It’s (its?) not just that readers might be frustrated — poor grammar is often associated with online scams, so bad writing can erode trust. When writing your listing description, double-check your writing and consider using free grammar checking software.  

10. Highlight improvements 

Call out any improvements that you’ve made to your home since you bought it. Buyers will feel comfortable knowing that parts of the house are as modern and up to date as possible. Be specific about them too — buyers loved to see buzzwords like “stainless steel,” “granite” and “tile.” Be sure to call out any premium or well-known brands used too. 

A good listing is the best way to get your online home sale started on the right foot. List your home on KSL Homes today, and maybe find your next home while you’re at it.