What Military Home Buyers Want to See in Your Home Ad

If you’re selling a home near a military installation, you may think that, in light of the continued sellers’ market, all you need to do is clean your home, get it on the market, and voilà!… you’ll be signing closing paperwork. But there’s so much more when it comes to home selling and setting your home listing apart from others! The key is to think like a home buyer and provide the information they’re looking for when home shopping. We took a poll on social media and are sharing a few features military home buyers say they want to see in a property for sale, beyond the basic info like number of bedrooms, baths, garage size, and storage space. 

First things first: if you’re renting, selling, or buying a home this year, familiarize yourself with 2022 Housing Market Trends for Military Members.

Here’s what military home buyers want to see in your home listing:

1. Great Photos

It’s a point that we at MilitaryByOwner like to hammer home and with good reason. Most military families start their home search from afar, visiting your property online multiple times before ever setting up an actual in-person tour. Give them beautiful photos so they don’t scroll right by your home listing! In fact, buyers said that if there weren’t appealing photos, they wouldn’t give a home ad another glance. 

Do: use natural light to your benefit, take horizontal (landscape) photos, label each photo and room, and showcase unique features of the home. Also declutter and remove extra items from the space before taking photos. 

Don’t: take photos at night, include people or pets (or pet items), leave messes out, take photos of trash cans or toilets, or include photos with your recently unloaded groceries on the kitchen counters (yes, it would seem we shouldn’t have to say this, but we’ve seen home listing photos like this!). 

2. Any Home Updates or Upgrades

Have you recently renovated or updated part of your home? Highlight that in your home listing. If your home has hardwood or LVP (luxury vinyl plank) flooring, an extended outdoor living space, an updated kitchen, a fenced yard, energy-efficient features, a bonus room, or a spacious pantry—mention it, as these are very popular features for home shoppers. 

3. Local School Information

Keep in mind that you cannot use terminology like “perfect for kids,” “family-friendly,” “top-rated schools,” and so on in your home listing (these violate the terms of the Fair Housing Laws). However, you can—and should—list nearby schools and the school district the home is located in so buyers can have that info for their own research. Even if you don’t have school-aged children yourself, many military families do—and schools are often on their list of top priorities. 

4. Neighborhood and Location Amenities

Did you fall in love with your neighborhood’s walking trails or community center? How about proximity to the installation, the area’s restaurants, shopping, the availability of public transportation, and other amenities? Mentioning these facts will help a potential buyer envision themselves in your home.

Here’s another tip from our poll:

“Listing the name of your subdivision, neighborhood, region, or other distinguishing name could help home buyers make sense of the overall geography. Maybe they know for sure that Jonestown Plantation is zoned for Maple Grove Elementary School and are searching for listings with this neighborhood name.”

5. Readiness for a VA Home Loan 

Most military homebuyers will be utilizing their VA home loan benefit, so be prepared ahead of time! The VA has Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs), and your home will have to meet those requirements during the required VA home appraisal. Get ready for those stipulations by arranging a pre-sale inspection and making any needed repairs before you list your home. For just a few hundred dollars, you can circumvent potential issues for VA homebuyers and hopefully smooth the path to a great home offer.

Learn more: Selling to a VA Home Loan Buyer

Need more home-selling help? Whether you’re using the services of a real estate agent or selling your home as a FSBO (For Sale By Owner), we’ve got you covered! From free ebooks to in-depth resource articles, check out our experience and expertise for your next home sale. 

By Jen McDonald for MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc.