MLS DESCRIPTIONS...WHAT DO THEY REALLY MEAN?
This morning I listened to a very amusing talk on the radio about a NABA piece released discussing the disconnect between the reality a buyer sees and MLS descriptions used to market homes.
Take the description "COZY", you may have heard the old joke the house is so small you have to go outside to change your mind!
This brought to mind the descriptions I read when house hunting and what I actually saw after crossing the threshold. A buyer's agent I worked with on a house hunt many years ago joked with me about this after going into the 4th or 5th house with mauve carpet and pink counters. Whenever we saw a description that read "custom" or "tastefully decorated" we would both roll our eyes and chuckle a bit.
FOR THE GARDENING ENTHUSIAST.....
Need a machete to get to the front door!
LOVELY TRUE TO PERIOD HOUSE.....
Really really old!
So....what's in your MLS description?
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Ana, This is so true! I have recently started doing a monthly presentation for our local Realtors CE class. This is one of the subjects that I talk about. I "know" what I'm going to see when I click on your listing that says "tastefully decorated" in the description. I'm very "light hearted" about bringing this up...but again am very serious.
Hi Donna, good for you, it is kinda funny though when you read some of them isn't it? I am sure you get your point across with lots of tact and humor :)
This is my personal take of condition descriptions:
Diamond = above average
Excellent = average
Needs some TLC = gut renovation needed
Handyman special = should be condemned.
Hi Jesse, like that handyman special one, so very right, have seen a few in my time!
Ana, I loved the pics! Also the word "charming" seems to be used for very small or somewhat dated.
Hi Cathy, you are so right! After doing this a while you can really pick up and interpret the "code" lol. thanks for commenting :)
There is one now retired agent who described EVERYTHING as 'delightful' 'light and airy' and 'charming'
ALL = POS
'Well Appointed' is my 'eyeroller'. Way overused and too subjective.
If agents would stick to facts and let the photos and amenities speak for themselves they would save themselves -- and buyer's agents -- time.
Hi Candice, I always wondered what that meant because I had seen if before. Give me the literal translation in your experience? Your time saving tip is right on.
Well appointed? Supposed to mean it's got a lot of features. But to me it's better to name the features and see if the prospective agrees. Everyone nees something different.