According to the recent analysis from Zillow Digs, certain keywords in a listing can significantly help sell houses faster for a higher price. According to Zillow chief economist, Dr. Svenja Gdudell, words do matter when it comes to real estate listing descriptions. The chief also added that it is important that the listing description is elaborate enough to show what the house can offer, most especially the ones that are not visible in the pictures.
Between January 2014 and March 2016, the site looked at listings of $2.8 million home sales in the country, accounting for the property age and size. They also accounted the time of the year and the performance of the market in the region. The researchers analyzed a total of 60 specific keywords which describe certain home design features and amenities and whether they affected the sales as well as the sale price the time the homes were listed.
According to Real Simple, the analysis of the team showed that Craftsman-style keywords in listings were both popular and more profitable. Words like "barn doors" helped raise the property price by 13 percent, and it also sold 57 days faster compared with other properties. It was also revealed that having shaker cabinets and farmhouse sink increased the value of the home by at least 7 percent, and the homes were sold 58 days faster.
Although some homes may not be transformed into traditional-style homes, the team also discovered that terms like "heated floors" and "granite" were also popular, while having new carpets and hardwood floors increased the selling price of the property by 2 percent more than the expected value. The team suggested that aside from design styles, the home location must also be kept in mind in calling out certain terms. For example, for colder climates, home buyers would want to have heated floors, while for warmer climates, properties with outdoor kitchen are more popular.
