8 Home-Selling Buzzwords That Annoy Consumers
Draw buyers to your home, not away from your online listing.
Eighty-eight percent of homebuyers use the internet as part of their home search, according to a 2015 National Association of Realtors report. That's clearly a portion of buyers you can't afford to miss when selling your home. But what makes an enticing home description? Specifics and honesty are key, but with so many home listings out there, it's also important to avoid phrases and terms that have become cliche or have taken on a new meaning. Read on for real estate buzzwords to leave out of your listing.
'Quaint' or 'cozy'
Any description of a house pushing the "quaint" and "cozy" factor is likely trying to mask the fact that the house is uncomfortably small. And while the size of a home matters to most buyers, let them determine if it's the right size based on the square footage listed. "Consumers look through a lot of listings. They don't have the patience to decode all the cliches and euphemisms," says Steve Udelson, president of Owners.com, a website for self-directed homebuyers and sellers.
'Luxury'
High-end homes attract a whole new set of potential buyers, but "luxury" has been so overused it's hard to tell the difference anymore. "You'll find various listings that are by no means 'luxury' or 'luxurious,'" says Michelle Farber Ross, a broker and managing partner at MMD Realty, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "Agents use those buzzwords, and you look and think, 'Oh gosh, this would never be a luxury home.'" She notes the true luxury market begins at $1 million (and starts even higher in pricey cities such as New York and San Francisco).
'Up-and-coming'
The description of being in an "up-and-coming" neighborhood has taken on a whole new meaning -- and often not a positive one. This phrase is a veiled attempt at pointing out a high-crime neighborhood, which gets into dangerous territory, as the Fair Housing Act prohibits providing subjective information that may steer homebuyers toward or away from a neighborhood based primarily on race or any other form of discrimination. "You can't red-flag a neighborhood," says Tim Brinkman, owner and broker of The American Real Estate Co. in Keyser, West Virginia. He tells his agents that they should only share information about the neighborhood that's location-based, such as the home's proximity to a grocery store or park.
'Priced to sell'
This all-too-common phrase has zero impact on a home description. Plus, Udelson explains, "priced to sell" raises awkward questions for online house hunters: "What does that mean? That means all other listings are not priced to sell?" A home description should remain focused on the home's qualities and let the listed price speak for itself. This phrase and others -- including "motivated seller" -- diminish the property's selling points and may leave you with lowball offers from buyers looking to score a deal.
'Updated'
Every homebuyer may want an updated kitchen and master bath these days, but the word is so vague that it can lead to major letdowns when it comes time to tour the house. "Take that down a notch and be more specific," Udelson says. New quartz countertops and recently installed stainless steel appliances should be described as such to differentiate from a kitchen that only got a fresh coat of paint.
'Needs TLC' or 'Handyman Special'
Overly vague terms get obnoxious when it comes to fixer-upper properties. Phrases like "needs TLC" and "great potential" fail to note how much work the home needs, often leading buyers to assume the worst so they don't even bother to see the home in person. Brinkman's least favorite home description is "handyman special." "Just how handy do they have to be?" he asks, noting this could be minor maintenance or a complete remodel.
'Walking distance'
Close proximity to stores, restaurants and public transportation can be a huge selling point for many homes, but clarity is essential because "walking distance" varies significantly by person. While anything less than a mile might be considered walkable by one buyer, any more than a block may be too much for another. "That's not bad, but you can be more direct," Udelson says. Note the physical distance to the nearby shopping center or explain that there are no major roads to cross, which makes walking much easier for those who are inclined to pay a higher price for convenience.
'This home has it all.'
Lacking an actual description of the property, this phrase does little to draw homebuyers to a home showing. Udelson notes this and other expressions like "the possibilities are endless," for example, are "vague, overused abstractions" that do little to sell to a new owner. You don't want to leave room for a potential buyer to doubt a description. Instead, ensure the home's features speak for themselves. A home with a pool, master suite and chef's kitchen might be everything a buyer wants, but if it's simply described as having "it all," the buyer may never check it out.
Remember: No need to repeat the basics.
When a property goes into a multiple listing service, the information that breaks down key details of the home, such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and age of the house, is presented in list form. Farber Ross warns against repeating those details again in the description you write: "They can see all those statistics on their own -- you don't need to reiterate any of that." Instead, use the description as an opportunity to describe the type of hardwood floors and countertops that may pique a buyer's interest.
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