The Top 10 Words You Should Use to Sell Your House

Listing your home can be stressful, especially in today’s housing market. Whether you’re looking for a renter or to sell your home place outright, you want to ensure your listing stands out. This means high-quality photos and a competitive price. 

But did you also know that specific words might attract more attention and help you make extra money on your sale?

Real estate trends and news site Point2 analyzed more than 52 million keywords in the description of more than 730,000 active listings on its site in August 2022. 

Here are some of the most popular words used for homes priced within the $250,000 to $500,000 range and how you can use them to make the most when selling your house.

“Basement” was a recurring keyword in listings, which means you should draw attention to it if you have one in your home. 

A basement gives potential buyers extra space that is usable beyond just storage. For instance, you can advertise it as a possible game room, home gym, or even an extra bedroom.

While having granite countertops might seem like a minor detail, it’s a detail sought after by many homebuyers. One reason the phrase might be popular in listings is that it can signal to buyers the home might feature some recent upgrades.

According to Zillow, more than 70% of sellers complete some sort of renovation before selling their homes. If your home could use an upgrade, consider where you might be able to add granite countertops.

Another popular phrase is “stainless steel appliances.” If you’re including appliances as part of the final purchase price, make sure to highlight them in your listing. 

You’ll also want to note the finish and potentially how old they are if they were recently added.

If your home has one or more fireplaces, including them in your home’s listing can attract more buyers. If you live in a state with harsh winters, buyers could view a fireplace as an extra heating source.

Fireplaces aren’t only a sought-after item in colder areas, though. They can appeal to buyers in warm climates, as well, as a cozy feature they can use a few days a year.

Most modern homes feature an open floor plan, and homebuyers might consider this a must — especially if they're looking for a home that's move-in ready.

Your listing should also feature some of the benefits of an open floor plan. If an interested buyer has children, for instance, an open floor plan lets you see little ones more easily. 

An open floor plan also tends to make a space feel larger and fills the home with more natural light.

Most homes have at least one full bath, but if your home has more you definitely want to highlight it in your listing. To qualify as a full bath, the space must have a bathtub, shower, sink, and toilet.

If you can afford it, it might also be worth upgrading a smaller bathroom to a full bath. According to the 2022 Cost vs. Value Report, people tend to see around a 50% return on a bathroom remodel once they sell their home.

Many buyers are looking for a home to have ample storage. Not only is an off-site storage unit inconvenient to get to, but it can also become quite costly to maintain.

Your listing can highlight traditional storage options like closets and pantries, but if you really want to impress buyers, you should feature some areas that might be unique to your home. If you have an attic or other hidden space, you should mention it.

This is a big one constantly mentioned as a feature buyers are looking for on home renovation shows. A walk-in closet is appealing to buyers because not only is it another storage option, but it also allows homeowners to look at everything in the space all at once.

Walk-in closets tend to be seen as a luxury item, so be sure to include the number of walk-in closets in your home on your listing. The more you have, the more you can ask for your home.

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Having a decent size yard is a must-have for a lot of buyers. Some want space for their children or pets to run around. Others like the green space to garden or entertain. If you have any yard whatsoever, don’t exclude it from your listing.

To enhance the value of the yard even more, it might be worth noting its condition. If sod was recently laid or the property features any special trees, highlighting these features in the listing could attract more offers.

Perhaps as a surprise to some, “patio/porch” is the top phrase included in listings within this price range. Aside from mentioning the phrase, you should also be sure to include pictures of the feature. 

To really impress buyers, these photos should have the patio staged to mimic a night of outdoor entertaining.

Attracting buyers is key to selling your home for the highest amount possible. You want to avoid having your home remain on the market for too long to help you prepare for the next recession — and one way to do this is through an attractive listing. 

Your house could have many of these highly sought features, but if they’re not highlighted in your listing, people might keep scrolling.

While having every feature on this list isn’t necessary, consider whether some renovations are worth the investment. 

And don’t forget the other things you can do to get the best offers on your home. Working with an experienced agent, for instance, can make all the difference.