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I'll be the first to say I don't like writing these descriptions and I don't feel like I'm good at it. Mine always sound more like specs than marketing pieces... I'm too matter of fact about these things!
That said.... No... I wouldn't steal the last guy's work, even if it was better than mine.
There is only so much you can say.
Captivating view, no, stunning view, wait, panoramic view
I found myself repeating myself not copying others descriptions.
I'll be the first to say I don't like writing these descriptions and I don't feel like I'm good at it. Mine always sound more like specs than marketing pieces... I'm too matter of fact about these things!
Quote:
Originally Posted by adjusterjack
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The rest of it is just realtor euphemistic hype so there is bound to be duplication there, too. LOL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by oh come on!
No one reads those anyway.
The one thing I hate is pretentious essays describing the home, especially when it's a crapshack.
This home "boasts" this and that. Jesus F.
I can see the photos.
It would be enough to just write-
"Come and see this house. NOW. Just do it. Oh my god, if I had the money, I'd buy it myself."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slytrix
There is only so much you can say.
Captivating view, no, stunning view, wait, panoramic view
I found myself repeating myself not copying others descriptions.
I don't really understand this kind of thinking. If an agent has done the homework to understand the home and its unique/positive selling points then writing a good description should be very easy. Frankly, if an agent can't string together a few good sentences about why my home is great or why someone should want to live there, or buy it, etc. then I don't want them selling my house.
The written descripition is the same 'narrative' that should be used when talking directly to buyer's agents, buyers, etc. If the agent can't clearly articulate a compelling narrative for the house, you have bigger problems than just the MLS description.
I don't mean to pick on anyone but saying that you aren't good at writing descriptions for your houses means that you aren't good at articulating the selling points of the products you sell. Isn't that a basic requirement for someone in sales and marketing related professions? And if you truly don't understand why the home might be unique, what the potential is for it, the value proposition for the buyer, etc, how do you price it in the best way or define the best sales strategy for it? The ingredients to the description feed just about everything in the sale. List out the ingredients and the description is easy to write.
Coca-cola is just brown sugar water and professionals come up with all kinds of ways to articulate why someone should want it. Surely it can't be THAT hard for something like a house which can have a huge emotional impact. The general public might be at a loss for this but isn't that one of the reasons why you hire a professional?
The one thing I hate is pretentious essays describing the home, especially when it's a crapshack.
This home "boasts" this and that. Jesus F.
I can see the photos.
It would be enough to just write-
"Come and see this house. NOW. Just do it. Oh my god, if I had the money, I'd buy it myself."
I LOVE the description but they're also not usually the same in my area. Seeing the pictures is not enough because I don't know what I'm looking at, half the time. If I can't see a good flow through the pictures, the description helps so much... like there being TWO staircases, that door is the pantry door, those three oddly-placed rooms are a kind of in-law/nanny suite. And shockingly, there are great features that aren't evident or sometimes even shown in pictures. Like a pool... or that there's a parcel attached that is zoned for something else.
The descriptions sound fun, but when you get right down do them they're harder than you think to write really well.
And there are so many rules now about what we can say and what we can't.... that's why I stick to physical features and keywords they might use in a search and often think my descriptions are a little boring.
The written descripition is the same 'narrative' that should be used when talking directly to buyer's agents, buyers, etc. If the agent can't clearly articulate a compelling narrative for the house, you have bigger problems than just the MLS description.
I have sold some Very nice homes with plenty of special features which makes writing the MLS description easy.
I have also sold some real turds and have struggled with what to say. With these it's all about pricing.
I have sold some Very nice homes with plenty of special features which makes writing the MLS description easy.
I have also sold some real turds and have struggled with what to say. With these it's all about pricing.
Frankly this is sales and marketing 101. Not every house has luxury features and amazing views. Your description should tell the story that you've created for the house. Maybe you're aiming it at investment buyers and although it's not pretty, all the hard stuff has been updated already. Maybe it's a crappy house in a great neighborhood so priced much less than the surrounding houses. Whatever. Could be anything There is always something. And it's your job to make there be something. That IS the job.
There are always sales and marketing people who wish they had the other guy's house or car brand or software or airplanes to sell rather than his own. The other guys are faster more luxurious, etc. Or the luxury goods guy wishes he had cheaper things to sell because there are more buyers and it's not so binary. Good sales and marketing people find or create the USPs and articulate them properly.
What do people want to read in a description? My preference is just the facts, facts that are not obvious from the pictures or the floor plan (a floor plan adds a lot!) or the details section. Things like "room to add an elevator", "heated sunporch", "separate water heater for garden tub". Large shade trees to the west, completely fenced for children and dogs, thin stream at back of property.
What I hate to read are fluff words showing the vapid conclusions of the agent. Stunning living room, awesome granite counters, you will love the <blank>, huge lot (compared to what?), "walking distance to all the town has to offer" (if only you are under the age of twelve), and my favorite "Highly sought after/desirable".
So Diana Holbrook, for "boring" substitute "useful" and I'll bet real people like your descriptions just the way they are.
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