What's the secret to selling a property or house with a bang-up classified ad? It's simply telling the home buyer what they want to hear. Your want them to know enough about the property and home to get them curious enough to want to learn more. Most home buyers will immediately want to know three things: the price, the home's location, and the number of bedrooms in the house. Many times, prospective home buyers will end up purchasing a property quite different from what they originally had in mind. Therefore, your house's selling ad needs to draw them in enough to take a look at what you have to offer!

A good classified selling ad is direct and to-the-point.

The first line should include the home’s location, size of home and lot. The next phase of your ad is the descriptive qualities of the house itself. First, you should state how many bedrooms the house has and the number of bathrooms. Next, make note of any garages, a backyard, a fence, or a quiet street. Also be sure to include anything that has been newly renovated or remodeled. This always appeals to potential home buyers who like the idea of getting a new kitchen or bathroom, for example. Other nice features to mention are a patio or a fireplace. These amenities will further increase buyer interest in your property.

The most effective ads are those that are simple, and non-threatening. They fulfill the most important job of all-telling the buyer what they want to hear. Here are examples of strong classified ads:

"Your Location" affordable financing available, beautiful 3 bedroom home, plus den, 2 ½ baths, family room off kitchen, fireplace, possible in-law suite, garage and storage shed, separate area with fenced yard for pet. $220,000 Call 250-555-5555

Tell the buyer the necessary information they need, without giving reason to eliminate the house from consideration. The idea is to appeal to serious buyers who will be interested in finding out more about your house. Classified ads are effective, and if you include the appropriate information in your ad, your phone will be ringing off the hook.

Make sure your home is ready for sale before you advertise. You want to be able to show your home immediately to a prospective buyer! Do not wait, not even for a few days. Show your home immediately and get them interested. You home must be clutter free and have Curb-appeal. It must look great from the outside as one of the first things people will do is get the address and drive by. Make sure that the home looks good from the back or lane ( they will check it out ) Have your Garage Sale before you put your home on the market as a clean, junk free home – sells fast! (Just copy & Paste)

You have to get the reader interested in your ad.  You can do this by reaffirming what your headline has already said. Add information to clarify to the reader exactly what it is they will get. Leaving out details may cause the reader to question the motives behind the classified and leave doubt in their mind. If your item is in poor or reasonable shape – state it. If it needs some TLC let them know. Don’t avoid details on age and condition of your item. If it's brand new - still in the box, with instructions or manuals also let your buyer know. (Just Copy & Paste Examples)

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1. Make your ad stand out - Classified ads that stand out above the other ads get more attention. Upgrade your ad whenever possible. A picture is worth a thousand words. Bold Text and a box around your ad will make it stand out. Use the available upgrades ( Hot classified section etc ) Use an opening line like Buy it Now! For $$$$. Or Will sell this week for the Best Offer.
2. Use a prominent benefit headline - Choose the main benefit of your merchandise and feature it in a compelling headline. Amplify this message in your subheads and copy. Avoid generalized quality claims. Instead of putting, great shape use the words, clean, dependable, of good quality, needs nothing, no repairs needed etc.
3. Make your copy complete - Use as many descriptive words as you can, colour, condition, use of the product ( what it is good for ), age, etc . Use complete thoughts or phrases do not go overboard with abbreviations that cant be understood. Time is money – why take weeks and weeks to sell your item, make your ad effective immediately by using the appropriate words to describe it. Usually an additional few words in an ad cost very little extra.
4. State a price or a range - Quote a price, even if it’s high or low. If you’re high, explain why it’s worth it, and if you’re low-balling it, support it with facts that make it believable (for example: moving, quick sale, special purchase) Ads that do not have a price or price description get less calls! If you are unsure about your price, state either best offer takes, reasonably priced, open to offers etc
5. Specify brand names - If you are selling name brand merchandise, be sure to name the brand (and model if pertinent) in the ad - the more specific the better.
6. Include related items - Make two sales instead of one by offering related items along with a featured one. If you are selling a variety of items, Select the appropriate category for your feature ads but then add in an additional item at the end of the ad. This will let the buyers know that you have more than one things for sale. They may ask you for a list of everything you have for sale
7. Use a simple layout - Classified listings should not be crossword puzzles. A good ad layout is planned logically and intuitively - it carries the reader’s eye through headline, the ad copy, price, and phone number. And area the product is located.
8. Use a dominant element - A large  boarder around the ad will give your ad special attention,  Photographs draw attention and nothing draws the eye like pictures of "real people." You holding your cute puppy, or next to your car etc.
9. Let white space work for you - This is an important layout element in classified advertising because the average classified page is heavy with small type. The more "empty" space in your ad, the more it will naturally be noticed. Boxing an ad (adding a simple border around it) automatically creates white space around it, which in turn automatically draws the eye.
10. Urge the reader to act now - By ending your ad with a call now –“ wont last long”-  "this week only," or "moving must sell now"," you add extra incentive for the interested buyer to call you first.