What to Avoid in your Home Listing

Today’s real estate market isn’t for the seller, it’s the buyer’s market, and many things can go against you. The listing for your property should not be something that works against you. There are certain things that a buyer or their agent sees as a huge red flag with a listing, and here are a few ways to avoid these.



No Pictures



This should be common sense, but amazingly enough, many sellers choose to list their property without photos, which greatly works against them. A seller could have a valid reason for not including pictures, such as having art or valuables that they don’t want others seeing. However, rightly or wrongly, a buyer will just assume that you are hiding something. There is no hard number that is the number of pictures you should have, but a dozen or so is a good idea. You want potential buyers to get a feel for the property by being able to match up your listed features with high quality photos. For example, if one of your selling points is a "great view," then wouldn’t it make sense to show buyers this view?



Overused Hyperbole



Claiming a property is the best piece on the current market probably isn’t going to help much. You do want to maximize your listing and be creative, but certain claims will be subjective, and could be interpreted in different ways. A buyer could be turned away just by your claims, or someone may end up being disappointed in a property just because you hyped it up too much. It can be a tight line to walk, but instead of using superlatives, try using flattering words, yet leave room for people to have their own opinion.



Pricing too Low



At face value, setting the price low might seem like the perfect plan to attract multiple buyers. However, going too low can end up backfiring, and be careful if your agent suggests this strategy. The theory is that multiple buyers are attracted to a lower asking price, and the price will escalate to market value in the end. However, there are risks with this strategy as some buyers are put off by a bidding war. An even bigger issue could be that a lower price will bring less than qualified buyers who are looking to grab a quick bargain. If that ends up being the case, not only will the house not sell, but the lower listing price will have devalued the home.



Nick Muller | king-and-assoc.com