Photos and Descriptions Can Make or Break Your Listing - And Your Business.

Many real estate listings on the Internet have poor quality photos and poor descriptions. This not only hampers a property's chances in a "buyer's market", it also reflects badly on the agent doing the listing. Avoid creating a poor impression by taking the time to do things right!

Despite the fact that the Internet is many people's first connection with a home they later buy, it is shocking how many Realtors don't bother to make sure that their writeup and photos are top-notch. Not only is it important to acquaint potential buyers with a home's sterling qualities, it is also a sign of how the agent values their clients. In order for a listing to attract buyers in a "buyer's market", it must be presented with up-to-date facts and loads of enthusiasm.

It is a well-known fact that listings with pictures get a lot more attention than those without. Despite this, there are daily listings that come up without a single picture. A description helps people to get a sense of what the home has to offer them, but many listings barely have a single line. You know what this says to the buyer? It says, "I don't care about my listing enough to make sure there are some great photos - not out of focus or grainy - and an enthusiastic description of the property's merits."

Good photos say, "I care enough about this listing to show it at its best advantage." Take the time to use a good camera and get good angles on the shots. High quality photos of the rooms and exterior of the property will attract more people. You are not only giving them important information about the home, you are saying, "This listing is important enough for me to make sure its photos portray it in the best possible way." Making sure that the home is staged and the rooms are clear enough to take a nice photo is a subtle way of telling the people who look at the listing, "This home is worth the price". If you don't have the time or inclination to get good shots of the property, hire a professional photographer.

The same goes for good copy. You don't want to wax rhapsodic, but be enthusiastic about the home's good points. Tell the viewers of the listing all about the fact that the home has a big yard and has a deck overlooking a nice view. Tell them about the large country-style kitchen. Just because your viewers will see the size of the rooms from the specs is no excuse to not write about them. Write as if you were telling a friend about a terrific house you found. Don't sink into cliches about "This won't last long!" or "Must be seen to believe" or any other such tripe. Just tell prospective buyers what this home can offer them. If spelling and grammar aren't your strong suite, have someone else write it up and make sure that it is correct. Details matter!

The more information on your listing, the better. Disclosure of information allows buyers to make a decision about whether the home has what they want before they contact you. This cuts down on "junk" contacts, who are only looking to see if the house fits their requirements. The people who get past that information to contact you are more likely to be serious about buying the property.

Writing good copy and taking (or having taken) good photos are important for your listing, as they give the prospective buyer more information about the home and save you time spent answering casual inquiries. Quality photos and information about the property are also a subtle message to prospective clients of your own. If you're not representing all your homes to the best of your ability, it will reflect badly upon you and your business. Making sure that your online listings are presented in the best possible light speaks well of your dedication to marketing your clients' homes. Take the time to get great photos and an enthusiastic description of your property for your listing; it is well worth the time and effort!

Everything you need to know about Santa Cruz real estate is right here at MySantaCruzRealEstate.com. Lauren Spencer, Coldwell Banker Realtor will be glad to answer your questions about homes in Capitola CA.