HUD Articles

It would be nice if the MLS description could tell us everything we could possibly know about the home…but it can’t. There is simply not enough room in those limited number of characters you are allowed to tell everything.  So how then can agents really make there MLS comments stand out?  Here are a few tips to help out.

BE TRUTHFUL

While agents certainly do have some leeway in promoting the positive features of their listings, they must avoid saying things that give the wrong impression about a property. For example, if a home has two bedrooms and an additional room with no closet, rather than say ‘3rd bedroom’ it’s better to say ‘potential for 3rd bedroom’.  This is a very basic example but the goal is to help the potential buyer envision the possibilities, not cloud the realities.

BE CONCISE

We’ve all seen those listings where the description just goes on and on about one outstanding feature.  While that feature may be great, very likely it’s not the only feature.  Focus on more of the positive aspects of the home than just one or two. It might have a humongous primary bedroom with all the amenities, but that can’t be all.  Use a few well-chosen words to highlight these features and move on to other things.

BE ADAPTABLE

If after some time you find the property is not selling or getting much attention, perhaps it’s time to take another look at all aspects of your marketing, including your MLS comments. Can adjustments be made to better highlight key features of the property?  Has the owner made some improvements?  Are we sure that the potential buyers and their agents are actually seeing what we’re saying?  It may be necessary to take another trip to the listing to make sure we’re most current on the actual condition and description of the home.

While there is no guarantee that our MLS comments will ensure that we sell the home, remembering why the MLS comments are important will help us to be truthful, be concise and be adaptable in advertising our client’s home.