Ad Writing Tips

- You've got approximately 1.5 seconds to grab the buyers attention! -

That's not much time. So, what do you do? You have to throw your listing out at them. Make it punchy and catchy. Below are some tips that will help you put together a good ad and upload the right photos that will get your home sold:

1: Start Out Your Ad So It Stands Out

Give your listing a catchy title. It conveys a loud and obnoxious tone. Instead, try capitalizing the first letter of each word for emphasis. Something like, "Two Blocks From The Beach..." is extremely catchy as it hooks us in right away by giving us an idea of the location. Beach? Sun? Sand? It gets that type of buyer interested! Titles like this stand out among other titles that aren't so creatively written. If your in a desired neighborhood or your property has special amenities, use them to start your ad - "5 Bedroom Home On 3 Acres"; "New Construction Home"; "Mountain Views From Every Room"; "Close To Hospital" (or college, court house, Microsoft... Let's professionals know they are close to work or school).

2: Write a Good Description

We all want details. We want to know what we're getting ourselves into and what we get for that dollar amount. Too much description and you've bored them to tears. Too little and they'll think you're home has nothing to offer. Be honest! The last thing that's good for your listing is for you to hype it up so much that their expectations exceed the reality of the listing. For example, if your house is really 10 minutes from the beach, don't say that it's 2 blocks; don't claim you have mountain views if you have to get on your roof to see them...

3: Price It Right

Price is the #1 reason a home doesn't sell. Your home isn't the only one on the market for sale and buyer's look at all of them. If your home is overpriced they will simply pass it up and purchase a different property. If your going to price your home at the high end of the neighborhood explain why (upgrades, amenities, new carpets, pool...). The same goes with if your pricing low because you need a quick sale (moving, divorce, pre-foreclosure, etc...). Many buyers will be skeptical of homes that are below market value. Ensure you advertise your asking price on flyers and ads so your time isn't being wasted by buyers who don't qualify for your homes value.

4: Photos ARE Worth A Thousands Words

The quickest way to get a potential buyer to skip over your ad is by not having a photo of your property or worse, ugly ones. A picture is worth a thousand words and good, descriptive photos will get your home sold quicker. Most cameras today are digital making the process of uploading easier than ever. Simply save your photo's to a separate folder on your computer and upload them onto this site when ready.

A few tips for good, quality photos:

• Clean, clean, clean! Pick up around the yard and inside your home. Buyers will see every detail in your photos.

• Remove the clutter. If your a pack rat your home will look smaller and less desirable to potential buyers. Put unneeded furniture and items that block the room into the garage or rent storage until your home sells.

• Take a picture of the front. This is the 1st thing buyers are looking at. Ensure your home isn't in the background and difficult to see. If your trying to show how spacious your yard is, take another picture. Use the best angle that shows the size and the quality of your home. Move the car, toys and garbage cans out of the way.

• Take pictures of the kitchen, living room, dining room, family room, game room, back yard, master bedroom and bath... You get 3 additional photos other than the front, so pick out your top 3 favorites. Most buyers want to see the front, kitchen, gathering rooms and the master. Remember to remove clutter before taking your pictures.

• Lighting - Not everyone is a professional picture taker but creating more light in each room ads the feeling of roominess. Open blinds and turn on the lights but don't take picture directly into light or the picture will wash out. Use your flash when needed.

• Look at other ads in this site. See what others are saying and look at their photo's.

Ad Examples:

New Construction Home In Lake Community. Wonderful 4 bedroom home with 2.5 baths. Quality throughout with hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, formal dining with butler pantry, colonial millwork, spacious family and living rooms... The kitchen has a cook in mind with cook top center island, gas stove, granite counter tops, tile flooring and maple cabinets. Oversized master features walk-in closet and 5-piece bath with jetted tub. Attached 2 car garage with storage and landscaped yard is fully fenced.

5 Bedrooms On 3.5 Acres. This home features hardwood floors, living and family rooms, fully finished basement with game room, master on main floor with private bath, large kitchen with eating space and breakfast nook, office with DSL and separate phone line. Horses welcome! Barn with 3 stalls, power and water. Property is cross fenced with several shared trails in the area.

Remodeled Downtown Rambler. Everything is new! Vinyl windows, gas furnace, plumbing, carpet, paint and even the appliances. This 3 bedroom home has a living room, family room that goes into an open kitchen with breakfast bar and garden window. Yard is fully landscaped and property located close to all your commuting and shopping needs. **Owner Financing Available**