Words to Sell Houses Changed During Pandemic

As reported in Florida REALTORS®.

Most Listing Descriptions Once Started With Things Like “Granite Countertops” and “Wood Floors” – but Words Like “Large” and “Spacious” Became Common This Past Year.

NEW YORK – “Large,” “great,” “full” and “spacious” were among the most commonly used words to draw homebuyers to real estate listings over the past year, as room to spread out became more important in the pandemic, according to a new study from Point2 Homes.

Point2 Homes pinpointed the most popular home description words and phrases in listing ads. The research team examined 43 million words from more than 640,000 listings nationwide. They identified trends and compared findings to a 2019 analysis to see how the most popular keywords have changed since the pandemic.

“Granite countertops,” “hardwood floors” and “stainless steel appliances” have long reigned as the most common words in listing ads, but fell from the top three spots this year. Instead, many of the most popular adjectives refer to the spaciousness of a home, such as “large” and “great.”

Other most common words, in listings for both single-family homes and condos, were “garage” and “parking,” the study found.

“The popularity of these home description keywords points to the fact that, during a year when planes were grounded and social distancing wreaked havoc, it was the car that helped people escape the confines of their homes and find comfort elsewhere,” the study said.

Beyond specific words, the following were the most popular home features and amenities from Point2 Homes listings’ review:

Single-family Homes Top 20

1. Garage
   
   
2. Walk-in closet
   
   
3. Full bath
   
   
4. Open floor plan
   
   
5. Hardwood floors
   
   
6. Granite countertops
   
   
7. Stainless-steel appliances
   
   
8. Laundry room
   
   
9. Additional bedrooms
   
   
10. Fenced backyard
    
    
11. Double vanity
    
    
12. Covered patio
    
    
13. Formal Dining room
    
    
14. Parking
    
    
15. Natural light
    
    
16. Large/spacious living room
    
    
17. Bonus room
    
    
18. Plenty of room
    
    
19. Water heater
    
    
20. Eat-in kitchen
    
    

Condos Top 20

1. Parking
   
   
2. Garage
   
   
3. Hardwood floors
   
   
4. Walk-in closet
   
   
5. Washer/dryer
   
   
6. Stainless-steel appliances
   
   
7. Granite countertops
   
   
8. Full bath
   
   
9. Open floor plan
   
   
10. Shopping/restaurants
    
    
11. Fitness center
    
    
12. Laundry room
    
    
13. Within walking distance
    
    
14. Natural light
    
    
15. Large/spacious bedrooms
    
    
16. Tennis courts
    
    
17. Easy access
    
    
18. Quartz countertops
    
    
19. Move-in ready
    
    
20. Conveniently located

Source: “Real Estate Keywords: What 2021’s Most Popular Home Description Words Reveal About Post-Pandemic Buyers,” Point2 Homes (July 7, 2021)