Your MLS Listing: What Not To Do

In the buyer’s market of 2009, it is a shame that many MLS listings continue to fall flat. These weak listings do not capture a buyer’s attention and actually detract from a home’s appeal.

Here are some of the most common practices of what not to do with your MLS listing:

One Photo Listings with one photo are an inconvenience to a buyer and they will easily lose any potential interest they may have in a showing.

Poor Quality Photos Listings with blurry or dark photos, and photos of furniture (not the actual room) are a hassle to a buyer and they will easily lose any potential interest they may have in a showing.

Missing Features Listings may have special features that are not readily known to a buyer such as “nature view” or “mature landscaping”. These kinds of features are desirable and should be disclosed.

Blank Listings with no descriptions are quickly bypassed without a second thought. No buyer will guess at what a home has to offer.

Too Much To List Listings with the phrase “too many upgrades to list” serve no purpose. This is the equivalent of a listing with no information – you’re not telling a buyer anything.

Subjective Adjectives Listings with so many subjective adjectives (lovely, gorgeous, perfect) that the objective facts are left off (three bedrooms, pool, square footage) don’t serve the home well. Let a buyer determine what’s “perfect” for them - a buyer may view your “perfect” master bath as their first remodeling project.

ALL CAPS Listings with descriptions in all capitalized letters are hard to read. After a few seconds of attempting to read, an average buyer will move on to the next listing.