Step 5: Create an Eye-Catching Ad

Take great pics

Online house shopping is a lot like online dating. Everyone will tell you they loved your bio, but really, they’re  just looking at the photos. To show your home in the best light, consider hiring a pro.

Write a winning description

After the photos, buyers will read your listing details. At the top of your listing should be the basics: number of bedrooms and bathrooms and the square footage. Next, come the stand-out features. “That includes things like interior exposed brick, a fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, or any upgrades,” says McGlone.

While your Realtor will usually write your listing, you can (and should) have final approval. And it turns out, certain words reel in buyers better than others. Here are five words correlated with a higher sales price:

• Granite
• State-of-the-art
• Corian
• Maple
• Gourmet

The reason these work: They’re specific. Granite countertops give you a good idea what that kitchen is like, as do maple floors. Terms that are vague or appear to be trying too hard will backfire. Below are five terms correlated to a lower sales price:

• Fantastic
• Spacious
• !
• Charming
• Great neighborhood

So keep an eye out for eye-roll-inducing adjectives that might very well turn off buyers.

Build buzz on social media

To get the word out, your Realtor will post your listing in the local multiple listing services and their own brokerage business website. To add to the potential buyer pool yourself, get to sharing. Social media isn’t only for pictures of cats and political opinions; you can find a buyer for your house, too.

Make sure to market offline, too

Even in today’s Internet-obsessed world, you and your Realtor need to do some offline marketing as well. Remember those yard signs from seemingly bygone days? They may not be the reigning house marketing tactics anymore, but it’s still a good idea to let your Realtor pop one in the yard. A study by the National Association of Realtors® found that 48% of buyers still relied on yard signs to help their search.

Bottom line: You never know which avenue will reach the right home buyer who will lay eyes on your home and fall in love. And all you need is love—however you find it.