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How to Write Property Descriptions That Get Enquiries

A property description is often the deciding factor between a buyer making an enquiry or scrolling past. Good descriptions are accurate, specific, and highlight what makes a property worth viewing. Poor descriptions are vague, full of clichés, or - worse - missing material information that the buyer needs to make an informed decision. Start with the Key Facts Open your description with the essential information a buyer or tenant is looking for. Within the first two sentences, aim to cover: Property type (detached house, ground-floor flat, end-terrace, etc.) Number of bedrooms and reception rooms Tenure (freehold or leasehold) Location - the area or street, proximity to transport, schools, or amenities Condition - newly refurbished, in need of modernisation, well-maintained Many buyers scan listings quickly. If the key facts are buried at the bottom, they may never reach them. Be Specific, Not Vague Avoid generic phrases that could apply to any property. Compare these: Weak: "A lovely property in a great location with lots of space." Strong: "A three-bedroom Victorian terrace with original fireplaces and a 60-foot south-facing garden, a five-minute walk from Highbury and Islington station." Specific details help buyers picture the property and self-qualify. If the garden faces north, say so - the right buyer will not mind, and you avoid wasting time with viewings that lead nowhere. Structure Your Description Logically Walk the reader through the property as if they were viewing it in person: Opening summary (type, size, location, key selling point) Entrance and hallway Reception rooms Kitchen and dining areas Bedrooms Bathrooms Garden and outdoor space Parking and garage Local area highlights Mention Dimensions Where Possible Room dimensions add credibility and help buyers assess whether their furniture will fit. If you have measured the rooms, include the dimensions. If not, descriptors like "double bedroom" or "single bedroom" give a rough indication, but measurements are always better. Include Material Information Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 - which replaced the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 on 6 April 2025 - you must include the material information a buyer needs to make an informed decision; omitting it is an unfair commercial practice, now enforced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Always check the current gov.uk and CMA guidance, as the detail is still settling. Make sure your description covers: Tenure and lease length (if leasehold) Service charges and ground rent Council tax band EPC rating Flood risk (if applicable) Any restrictions, covenants, or issues the seller has disclosed Domovita has dedicated fields for many of these, but anything not covered by a specific field should be clearly stated in the description text. Words and Phrases to Avoid Some terms have become so overused in property listings that they have lost all meaning or actively put buyers off: "Deceptively spacious" - buyers read this as "it looks small" "Unique opportunity" - every property is unique; this says nothing "Must be seen to be appreciated" - the description's job is to make them want to see it, not to admit it cannot be described "No chain" in the description - use the dedicated sale status fields instead Block capitals or excessive exclamation marks - these look unprofessional Length Aim for 150-300 words for a standard residential property. Luxury or unusual properties may warrant more. Descriptions under 100 words look incomplete; descriptions over 500 words lose the reader. Every sentence should earn its place by telling the buyer something useful. A well-written description reduces time-wasting viewings, attracts genuinely interested buyers, and reflects well on your professionalism as an agent. Last reviewed: 13 June 2026.

3 min read 1 Mar 2026 Read more →
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Leasehold vs Freehold: What Is the Difference and Why It Matters

Leasehold vs Freehold: What Is the Difference and Why It Matters Whether a property is freehold or leasehold is one of the most fundamentally important things to understand before you buy. The two tenure types come with very different rights, responsibilities, and long-term implications - and failing to understand the distinction can lead to significant costs and complications down the line.

6 min read 22 Feb 2026 Read more →
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How to Prepare Your Home for Sale: Presentation Tips That Work

How to Prepare Your Home for Sale: Presentation Tips That Work First impressions in property sales are formed faster than most sellers realise - sometimes within seconds of a buyer pulling up outside. The good news is that most of the things that make the biggest difference cost little or nothing. This guide covers the practical steps that consistently help sellers attract more interest, achieve better offers, and sell more quickly.

5 min read 22 Feb 2026 Read more →
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Property Photography Tips for Estate Agents on a Budget

Great photography sells properties. Research consistently shows that listings with high-quality images receive significantly more online views and enquiries than those with poor or missing photos. The good news is that you do not need expensive equipment to take effective property photographs - a modern smartphone and some basic technique will get you most of the way there. Before You Shoot: Preparation The single biggest factor in good property photography is not the camera - it is the state of the property. Before you take a single photo: Ask the vendor to declutter every room, clear kitchen worktops, and tidy gardens Turn on all lights and open all curtains and blinds Close all toilet lids Remove personal items like family photos, toiletries, and children's drawings from fridges Straighten cushions, make beds, and hang towels neatly Remove wheelie bins and cars from the front of the property Equipment A smartphone from the last three to four years will have a camera capable of producing listing-quality images. If your phone has an ultra-wide lens (0.5x), use it for interior shots - it captures more of each room without the extreme distortion of a fisheye. For exterior shots, use the standard 1x lens. If you want to invest in one piece of kit, make it a smartphone tripod (around £15-£30). This eliminates camera shake, keeps your horizons level, and ensures consistent height across all shots. Shooting Technique Interiors Shoot from doorways or corners - this gives the widest view of each room and avoids making spaces look smaller than they are Hold the camera at chest height - shooting too high makes rooms look cramped; too low makes them look distorted Keep the camera level - vertical lines (door frames, walls) should be straight, not leaning. Use your phone's grid overlay Shoot in landscape orientation - always. Portrait photos of rooms look amateurish on property portals Aim for three to five photos per room - but only use the best one or two in your listing. Show enough to give a complete picture without overwhelming the viewer Exteriors Shoot the front elevation from across the road if possible, getting the full property in frame Overcast days often produce better results than bright sunshine, which creates harsh shadows Include the garden from an elevated angle if you can - it makes gardens appear larger Capture any standout features: period front doors, bay windows, a long driveway Editing Keep editing minimal and honest. Straighten any slightly crooked horizons, adjust brightness if rooms look too dark, and crop out distracting elements at the edges. Free apps like Snapseed or the built-in phone editor handle this well. Do not use heavy filters, remove structural features, or edit in blue skies. Misleading photography creates distrust and wastes viewing time when buyers arrive and the property does not match the images. Image Order and Selection The first image in your listing is by far the most important - it is what appears in search results and determines whether someone clicks through. For most properties, this should be the best exterior shot. For flats or properties with unremarkable exteriors, lead with the most impressive interior room. After the lead image, arrange photos in a logical order: exterior, hallway, reception rooms, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, garden. This mirrors how a buyer would walk through the property during a viewing. When to Use a Professional For high-value properties, new developments, or properties that need to stand out in a competitive market, a professional property photographer is worth the investment. Expect to pay £100-£250 for a standard residential shoot. Some photographers also offer drone shots, floor plans, and virtual tours as add-ons. Image Specifications for Domovita For best results on Domovita, upload images in JPEG format at a minimum resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels. Images are automatically optimised for fast loading, but starting with a high-quality original ensures the best possible presentation across all devices. Well-presented photographs are one of the simplest ways to increase enquiries on any property. A small investment of time in preparation and technique pays for itself many times over. Last reviewed: 14 June 2026.

4 min read 1 Mar 2026 Read more →
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Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know An Energy Performance Certificate - almost universally known as an EPC - is a document that rates the energy efficiency of a property on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). EPCs are a legal requirement in the UK property market and affect both buyers and sellers. Understanding what they mean, when they are required, and what the ratings imply can save you time, money, and surprises.

5 min read 22 Feb 2026 Read more →
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What to Expect When Selling Your Home: A Complete Timeline

What to Expect When Selling Your Home: A Complete Timeline Selling a property involves more steps than many people expect - and more parties, timescales, and potential complications than the straightforward transaction it can appear to be from the outside. Whether you are selling for the first time or have done it before, this timeline walks you through the entire process from the decision to sell through to completion day. Timescales below are typical ranges, not guarantees - your own sale may move faster or slower depending on the market, the chain, and your conveyancer.

6 min read 22 Feb 2026 Read more →
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Material Information: What Estate Agents Must Include in Property Listings

Estate agents across the UK have a clear obligation to include material information in property listings. Since the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC) came into force on 6 April 2025 - replacing the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 - omitting material information is automatically an unfair commercial practice. The DMCC Act extends to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so this duty is the same wherever in the UK you operate. It also wastes everyone's time when key facts only emerge after viewings. This guide explains what material information is, what must be included, and how to get it right on every listing. What Is Material Information? Material information is any fact about a property that an average consumer needs to make an informed decision about whether to enquire, view, or make an offer. Omitting or hiding material information is a misleading omission under the DMCC Act 2024 - an automatic unfair commercial practice, with no need to prove a consumer was actually misled. The NTSELAT three-part guidance was withdrawn in May 2025 when enforcement passed to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), but its Part A / B / C structure remains the practical industry framework (the Law Society's TA6 conveyancing form has since moved the other way - its 6th edition, mandatory for CQS firms from 30 March 2026, removed material-information categories such as council tax and building safety, so the listing-level duty sits with the marketing itself): Part A - On Every Listing, Without Exception Asking price (sale) or rent amount and payment frequency (lettings) Council tax band (or domestic rates in Northern Ireland); for lettings, the deposit Tenure (sales) - freehold, leasehold, commonhold or shared ownership. If leasehold, the detail matters: lease length remaining, ground rent and service charges Part B - Establish for Every Property Property type (detached, semi, terraced, flat and so on) and construction materials (non-standard construction affects mortgageability and insurance) Number and types of rooms - bedrooms, bathrooms, reception rooms Utilities - electricity, water and drainage (mains or otherwise), heating type and fuel, sewerage Broadband and mobile signal availability Parking arrangements Part C - Where It Applies to the Property Building safety issues (e.g. cladding, asbestos, structural concerns) Restrictions - listed building status, conservation area, Tree Preservation Orders, restrictive covenants Rights of way or easements, shared access Flood risk or flood history Planning permission and neighbouring applications or developments the seller is aware of Accessibility and adaptations Coalfield or mining area designation Any other fact that a reasonable buyer would consider important (for example Japanese knotweed) EPC: separately from the material-information framework, a valid EPC remains legally required when marketing under the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations - state the rating on the listing. Lettings-Specific Material Information For rental listings, additional material information includes: Deposit amount and which protection scheme will be used Whether bills are included in the rent Furnished, part-furnished, or unfurnished status Any fees permitted under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 Minimum tenancy length Whether the landlord requires a guarantor Pet policy How to Comply on Domovita When listing a property on Domovita, the submission form includes dedicated fields for tenure, EPC rating, council tax band, and other key details. Fill in every applicable field - do not leave them blank or enter "TBC" unless you genuinely do not yet have the information and are actively seeking it. If information is not yet available, you should obtain it as quickly as possible and update the listing promptly. For details that do not have a dedicated form field, include them clearly in the property description. A best practice approach is to add a "Key Information" section at the end of your description covering service charges, ground rent, lease length, flood risk, and any other Part B or Part C items relevant to that particular property. What Happens If You Get It Wrong? Enforcement sits with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) under the DMCC Act 2024, with civil penalties of up to £300,000 or 10% of global turnover (and, for serious breaches, up to two years' imprisonment). Beyond enforcement, omitting material information leads to collapsed sales, wasted viewing time, and damage to your professional reputation. (See DMCC Act 2024 (legislation.gov.uk).) Practical Checklist Before listing, collect all Part A information - do not publish without it Check Part B items against the property and include every applicable one Ask the vendor directly about Part C matters and record their responses Review every listing before publication to ensure nothing is missing Update listings promptly if new material information comes to light Keep records of what information was provided and when Last reviewed: 10 June 2026. This guide reflects the material-information duty under the DMCC Act 2024 (in force since 6 April 2025). Always refer to the latest DMCC Act 2024 (legislation.gov.uk) and seek legal advice if you are unsure about your obligations.

4 min read 1 Mar 2026 Read more →
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What Are Property Title Deeds and Why Do They Matter?

What Are Property Title Deeds and Why Do They Matter? Title deeds are the legal documents that prove ownership of a property and record its history. They are central to every property transaction, yet many buyers and sellers have only a vague understanding of what they contain and why they matter. This guide explains what title deeds are, what they include, and what you need to know when buying or selling.

5 min read 22 Feb 2026 Read more →
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First-Time Buyer Guide: Schemes, Grants and Help Available in 2026

First-Time Buyer Guide: Schemes, Grants and Help Available in 2026 Getting onto the property ladder for the first time has become significantly harder over the past decade. Rising house prices, tighter mortgage affordability rules, and reduced stamp duty relief since April 2025 have all made the first step more challenging. However, a range of government-backed schemes, savings tools, and support options remain available. This guide covers what is still on offer in 2026.

6 min read 22 Feb 2026 Read more →
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