📝 How to Write a Home Ad That Gets Showings

🧭 Know the One Job of Your Ad

Your ad has one job: earn the showing.

It is not there to sound fancy. It is not there to tell a long story. Buyers skim fast and make quick decisions. If your ad is clear and easy to trust, more of the right people will book a time to see it.

🧾 Start With a Quick Snapshot

Your first line should help a buyer decide, in seconds, if your home could fit.

Include:

• Neighbourhood or area

• Bedrooms and bathrooms

• One strong upgrade or feature

• Price (or the exact asking price)

Example:
4 bed, 3 bath in Briarwood with new shingles (2022) and double attached garage, asking $489,900

This works because it answers the first questions buyers have before they scroll.

📌 Pro Tip: Put the best facts in the first two lines. Many buyers only read that much before deciding whether to keep going.

🔑 Give Buyers the Details They Hunt For

Once you have their attention, make it easy for them to confirm the basics without messaging you.

Include these items somewhere in the ad:

• Year built

• Above-grade square footage

• Lot size, if it is a strong point

• Property taxes

• Parking details (single, double, detached, attached)

• Heating type (and if it is high-efficiency)

• Cooling (central air or not)

• What is included (fridge, stove, washer, dryer, window coverings)

• Major upgrade years (roof, furnace, water heater, windows)

You do not need to write this like a brochure. Just state it clearly.

🧱 Use Specifics That Build Trust

Many ads use phrases like “move-in ready” or “beautifully updated.” Those words are easy to ignore because they do not prove anything.

Specifics feel honest because a buyer can picture the timeline.

Instead of:

• “Updated kitchen”

Use:

• “Kitchen updated in 2019 with new cabinets and quartz counters”

Instead of:

• “New furnace”

Use:

• “High-efficiency furnace installed in 2021”

If you do not know an exact year, be straightforward. You can say “approximate” or “previous owner stated,” but avoid guessing.

🧤 Mention Climate-Related Features Clearly

In colder climates, winter readiness is not a bonus. It is a real buying factor.

If your home has weather-friendly features, call them out in simple language:

• Heated garage, or insulated garage

• Double attached garage (less scraping and easier winters)

• High-efficiency furnace

• Newer windows

• Extra insulation in attic

• Good mudroom or back entry space

• Covered deck, or sheltered front step

Keep it practical. You are not trying to hype it up. You are helping buyers understand what daily life looks like during colder months.

📱 Format It for Phone Screens

Most buyers will read your ad on a phone. If it looks like a wall of text, they will skip it.

Use:

• Short paragraphs (one to three lines)

• Bullet points for key info

• Clear spacing between sections

Avoid:

• Big blocks of text

• Long sentences packed with details

• All caps or too many exclamation points

📌 Pro Tip: Before you post, read your ad on your phone. If you feel like you need to “work” to get through it, shorten it.

✅ Address the Quiet Objections Up Front

When a listing skips important details, buyers often assume something is wrong.

You do not need to overshare, but you should remove doubt where you can.

Examples of things to be clear about:

• If the basement is finished or unfinished

• If the home has central air, or not

• If there is a sump pump

• If there have been recent repairs

• If there is something a buyer will notice right away (example: older windows in one area)

A calm, honest line can help:

“One basement bedroom window is older and priced accordingly.”
“Fence will be repaired before possession.”

If you are unsure how to word something, keep it factual and simple.

📬 Make the Next Step Easy

Finish with a clear call to action that tells buyers what to do and what to expect.

Good options:

• “Message to book a private showing. Evenings and weekends available.”

• “Showings by appointment. Please include your preferred day and time.”

• “Pre-approved buyers preferred. Flexible possession.”

Avoid lines like “serious inquiries only.” It can sound defensive, even if you do not mean it that way.

Clarity feels confident. Pressure does not.

🎉 Final Thoughts

A strong ad makes it easy for buyers to trust what they are seeing and decide if your home fits their needs. When the key facts are up front, the wording is specific, and the layout is easy to scan, you usually get better questions and better showings.

If you want a second set of eyes on your listing description, or you are not sure which details to highlight first, I’d be happy to help.

📞 Call or text me at (639) 295-4696
📧 tanner@twrealestate.ca
🌐 twrealestate.ca

If your goal is fewer tire kickers and more serious showings, clear writing and smart details are a strong place to start, and I can help you tighten it up.