3 Ways to Sell a Lifestyle, Not Just a House

It’s easy for homebuyers to get overwhelmed by the sea of “3 bedrooms, two bathrooms, 2-car garage” listing descriptions. If a buyer only cared about stats, they would offer on the first house that popped up in their home search. The truth is, buyers are looking to you to sell a lifestyle, not just a place.

They want to picture themselves taking evening strolls around the reservoir that’s a few blocks away or sipping morning coffee in the warm sunshine provided by their east-facing back patio. As a listing agent, your goal should be to paint the picture of what it will be like for a buyer to live in the four walls you’re trying to sell. Let’s talk about three different ways you can do that. 

1. Create a “Top 10” list

The purpose of a “Top 10” list is to showcase the ten best things about living in the home that a buyer wouldn’t otherwise know or think about unless it was pointed out to them. Ask the seller to jot down the ten best things about living in their home.

Examples could include the best spot to enjoy an evening glass of wine, their favorite local coffee shop, scenic hiking trails within walking distance, the best local events, or anything else that paints the picture of what kind of lifestyle that home provides. 

Make your list visually appealing

Once your seller provides the list, all you have to do is format it nicely (Canva is great for this!), print it out, and frame it. The best places to display the Top 10 list are on a table by the entryway or the kitchen counter. When potential buyers read through the list during a showing, they will make an emotional connection to the home, which will hopefully entice them to make an offer!

2. Showcase the season

Another way to sell a lifestyle is to help buyers picture themselves living in a home is to showcase the current season. The most obvious way to do this is with home decor. For instance, cozy blankets and pillows for winter, pool floaties in the pool (if there is one, of course) for summer, pumpkins and mums on the porch for fall, freshly planted flowers for spring, and so on.

If you want to catch attention as people drive by the home or first approach it for a showing, consider using a seasonal sign rider on the for sale sign. For instance, one that says “New Year, New Home” for a listing in December. It’s the little things like this that will make a house stand out in a potential buyer’s mind. 

Create a seasonal experience that appeals to a buyer’s senses

To make showings an experience that appeals to all of the senses, you could ask the seller to diffuse essential oils or play some background music that evokes the feeling of the current season. The possibilities are endless; just make sure you don’t go too crazy! Understated is better than overwhelming.

3. Write an appealing listing description

Potential buyers are likely going to see a home online before they ever see it in person—meaning you need to sell a lifestyle before they see it in person. Once they scroll through pictures, they’re going to want to know more about the house and what makes it unique. This is where you need to capture their attention with a listing description that details the lifestyle of the home, not just the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. 

Like the Top 10 list discussed above, the listing description should highlight the best reasons somebody would buy the home. For instance, a newly-poured stamped concrete back patio, proximity to shopping and entertainment, etc.

Paint the picture for the buyer

Once you list the best features, take it one step further and explain those features’ lifestyles for a potential buyer. Rather than simply stating there is a newly-poured concrete back patio, say something like, “invite your friends over for a glass of wine on the newly-poured stamped concrete patio.” Instead of saying there is a shopping center nearby, say, “check off your holiday shopping list at the nearby shopping center.” The goal is that your entire listing has good bones and is working towards selling a lifestyle to the buyer.

Beyond bedrooms and baths: Your action plan to sell a lifestyle

Ultimately, moving beyond a simple list of features is what separates a standard listing from an irresistible one. “Top 10” lists, seasonal showcases, and evocative descriptions appeal directly to a buyer’s imagination. These strategies work together to forge an emotional connection, helping people envision their future life within the home. Putting these ideas into practice helps any property stand out and turn interest into offers.

Show, don’t just tell: Visually capture the lifestyle

To bring the lifestyle to life, go beyond the four walls and showcase the surrounding area. Virtuance’s aerial and community images visually immerse buyers in the neighborhood, highlighting parks, shopping, and local charm. Schedule your shoot today to capture the complete story and help buyers envision their future home.

About the Authors

This is a guest post written by The Thompson Yochim Team. We’re Randi and Jenna, REALTORS® with Lumino Real Estate, serving Northern Colorado and the suburbs north of Denver. We use our twin superpowers to make the home buying and selling process fun and stress-free!

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