How to Write a Property Listing Description
Listing descriptions are among the first things buyers read. Three approaches to writing them, compared step by step: doing it yourself, hiring a writer, or using a structured survey.
Decide who's writing
Before you think about what to write, decide how it's getting written. There are three approaches, and each has different trade-offs in time, cost, and consistency.
Do It Yourself
Write it yourself
You know the property best. Writing your own descriptions gives you full control over tone and emphasis, but it takes time and skill to do well consistently across every listing.
Hire a Writer
Professional copywriter
A real estate copywriter brings polished prose and an outsider's eye. The trade-off is cost ($50–$150 per listing), turnaround time (often 24–48 hours), and the back-and-forth of revisions.
Nila June
Structured survey
Answer 50 questions about the property. The system assembles two descriptions (long and short) from your answers in minutes. No prompt writing, no waiting, no revisions for accuracy.
What about ChatGPT? General-purpose AI tools can write a description in seconds, but they fabricate property features, produce Fair Housing violations, and generate the same generic phrasing for every listing. If you're going to automate, use a tool built for real estate, not a chatbot that guesses.
All three approaches can produce a good listing description. The rest of this article walks through what each one looks like at every step of the process.
Gather the facts
Every good listing description starts with the same thing: knowing the property. The difference between the three approaches is how that knowledge gets captured.
DIY
Walk and take notes
Walk the property with a mental checklist. Note the bed/bath count, architectural style, kitchen features, yard details, views, flooring, and any standout details. The risk: it's easy to forget something when you're writing later.
Writer
Walk, then brief the writer
Same walkthrough, but now you need to communicate everything to someone who hasn't seen the property. You'll send notes, photos, and answer follow-up questions. The more detail you provide up front, the fewer revision rounds later.
Nila June
Guided survey
The 50-question survey walks you through every category: location, architecture, bedrooms, kitchen, yard, views, commute, interior features, and more. Nothing gets missed because the system asks about everything.
The most common mistake in listing descriptions is omission. Agents forget to mention the hardwood floors, the new appliances, or the proximity to a popular area. A structured approach to gathering facts prevents this.
Write the first draft
This is where the three approaches diverge most sharply.
DIY
Sit down and write
Lead with the property's strongest feature. Include the bed/bath count and square footage early. Describe the flow of the home from entry to backyard. Keep it factual and specific. A good description runs 150–300 words for the long version.
Writer
Wait for delivery
The writer works from your notes and photos. Delivery is typically 24–48 hours. The quality depends on how much detail you provided in Step 2 and how well the writer understands real estate language conventions.
Nila June
Descriptions ready in minutes
After you submit the survey, two descriptions arrive by email: a multi-paragraph long version for MLS public remarks and a single-paragraph short version for social media, flyers, and marketing. Both are assembled from your answers, not generated from a prompt.
Tempted to paste your notes into ChatGPT? The output might sound deceptively polished, but it will fill gaps with guesses. Features you didn't mention may appear. Features you did mention may be rephrased inaccurately. And the language will be riddled with the same clichés your sellers see in every other AI description on Zillow. Here you go: "Welcome home" to this house that "boasts" four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms! Of course the entryway is "stunning." The house is a "perfect blend" of traditional and modern!
If you're writing it yourself, some structural tips. Start with what makes this property different from the one next door. Don't open with the address or the MLS number. Use the property's actual features rather than generic superlatives. "Quartz countertops and a six-burner range" tells the reader more than "beautiful kitchen."
Review and revise
No description should go to the MLS without a review pass. What you're checking for depends on who wrote it.
DIY
Check everything
Read it aloud. Check for Fair Housing language. Look for clichés like "boasts," "nestled," and "entertainer's dream." Verify every factual claim. Confirm bed/bath counts match the MLS entry. Check for grammar and spelling.
Writer
Accuracy review
The writing quality should be strong, but check the facts. Writers work from your notes and may misinterpret details. If the kitchen has quartz and the description says granite, that's on your review. Revision rounds may add another day.
Nila June
Verify your answers
Every sentence traces to a survey answer you provided, so factual accuracy is built in. The system screens against 150+ flagged terms and avoids clichés by design. Your review is confirming that your answers were correct, not editing the writing.
Present to your sellers
Sellers want to see the description before it goes live. Regardless of who wrote it, this step is largely the same.
DIY
Show and adjust
Present the draft and incorporate feedback. Sellers may want to emphasize certain features or correct details. Since you wrote it, edits are easy to make.
Writer
Another revision round
Same process, but seller feedback goes through you to the writer and back. Each round adds time. Some writers charge extra for revisions beyond the first.
Nila June
Review and adjust
Show the descriptions to your sellers. If they want changes, update your survey answers and resubmit for a new set. The structured format makes it clear which answers drive which parts of the description.
Use for MLS and marketing
The final description needs to work in at least two places: MLS public remarks and your broader marketing (social media, flyers, email campaigns, listing presentations). These have different length requirements.
DIY
Write two versions
Your full description goes into MLS public remarks. You'll need to write a shorter version (1–2 sentences) for social media and marketing materials. That's a second writing task.
Writer
Request both versions
Ask your writer for a long and short version up front. Some include both in their fee; others charge extra. Either way, you get two deliverables from one briefing.
Nila June
Both versions included
Every submission produces two descriptions automatically. The long version is structured for MLS public remarks. The short version is a single paragraph ready for social media, flyers, and marketing copy. One survey, two outputs.
Comparing the three approaches
| DIY | Professional Writer | Nila June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | DIY: Free (your time) | Writer: $50–$150 per listing | Nila June: First 3 free, then $19.99 |
| Turnaround | DIY: 30–60 minutes | Writer: 24–48 hours | Nila June: Minutes |
| Versions | DIY: One (write short separately) | Writer: Request both up front | Nila June: Long + short included |
| Accuracy | DIY: Depends on your notes | Writer: Depends on your briefing | Nila June: Tied to survey answers |
| Fair Housing | DIY: Manual review required | Writer: Varies by writer | Nila June: 150+ terms screened |
| Consistency | DIY: Varies listing to listing | Writer: Consistent if same writer | Nila June: Consistent every time |
None of these approaches is wrong. Agents who enjoy writing and have the time produce excellent descriptions. Professional writers bring skill and polish. Nila June delivers speed, consistency, and built-in language screening. The best choice depends on your volume, your budget, and how you want to spend your time.
50 questions. Two descriptions. Zero guesswork.
Start Free →No subscription. $19.99 per listing after your 3 free descriptions.