Five common pitfalls agents encounter in posting a new listing, and how you can avoid them!

You’ve been approached by a new client who wants to sell their property as soon as possible. You get some basic information, snap some pictures, throw the listing up and wait for buyers. What could be simpler? Unfortunately, real estate listings are often glossed over, as they quickly become tedious and repetitive. Here are five common mistakes that real estate agents make when rushing to list a property.

1. Take time to get good pictures of the property. Too often, real estate agents simply use whatever pictures the client has lying around — or worse, they grab their iPhone and snap a few themselves. The photograph is the first thing that the buyer is going to see. Ensure that it is a professional looking photograph that clearly shows as much of the property as possible.

2. Don’t just fill in the blanks. Ask your clients about every single aspect of the property. You may be surprised to learn, for instance, that their unit just happens to be the only unit in a large complex that doesn’t come with a parking stall.

3. Avoid generic descriptions. Learn as much as you can about the property, and be as detailed as possible. This is your livelihood, and it’s a product that you ideally believe in. By asking questions you may discover some great selling points.

4. Double check everything–especially the amounts. Typos are easy to make and difficult to see. There have even been cases when real estate agents have put the wrong address in — and that false address has gotten all the way to the escrow phase!

5. Finally, check your contact information. There’s no point to any of this if the buyers can’t locate you!

Real estate listings may be tedious, but they are the first thing that a buyer sees and the most valuable tool in a seller’s arsenal. By consistently creating detailed, professional real estate listings you can set yourself apart from the pack.