How Should My Listing Description Be Different for a Condo Versus a House?
If you're writing your condo listing like a scaled-down single-family description, you're leaving showings on the table.
Condo buyers and house buyers are not the same person with different budgets. They're often making fundamentally different lifestyle choices — and your copy should reflect that.
Here's how to write for each.
The Mindset Difference
House buyers are thinking about: space, yard, privacy, schools, long-term equity, the ability to customize, parking, storage.
Condo buyers are thinking about: lifestyle, location, lock-and-leave convenience, building amenities, low maintenance, walkability, views, finishes.
The same "3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, updated kitchen" could belong to either property type — but the reasons someone wants it are completely different. Your copy should speak to those reasons, not just the rooms.
Writing the Condo Listing Description
Lead with location and lifestyle, not space.
The condo buyer isn't choosing this unit in spite of its size — they're choosing it because of what the location enables. They're trading a yard for a roof deck and a walk to dinner. That trade should feel like an upgrade, not a compromise.
"Step outside and you're three minutes from the best coffee shop in [neighborhood], four from the farmers market, and six from the river trail. This is what living in [city] actually means — and this unit puts you at the center of it."
Compare to how a house listing might open:
"Tucked at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in [neighborhood]..."
Different vibe, different buyer. The condo buyer would not find a cul-de-sac appealing. The house buyer would not find "three minutes from the farmers market" as their top priority.
Amenities are a core feature, not an afterthought.
For condos, building amenities are often worth as much per square foot as the unit itself. Rooftop pool, concierge, gym, dog run, package room, secured parking — these are selling points. List them specifically, not just "great amenities."
"The building delivers what the unit can't — rooftop pool with city views, a fitness center you'll actually use, a dog run on the second level, and a concierge who knows your name. This isn't just an apartment. It's a full life in one building."
Interior finishes get more weight.
In a condo, every detail of the interior is visible and tangible. The buyer will walk through 900 square feet and notice every material choice. Be specific about the finishes — quartz countertops vs. granite, wide-plank hardwood vs. engineered, custom tile in the bath vs. standard.
Also address storage specifically. Condo buyers are always thinking about storage. A large walk-in closet or extra storage cage is a genuine selling point worth calling out.
Floor and view matter more than the address.
"Unit 1205 on the 12th floor" tells a story. "Ground floor corner unit" tells a different story. If the unit has an exceptional floor/view combination, lead with it. If it doesn't, lean into other strengths (quiet courtyard unit, walk-out patio, etc.) without apologizing for position.
Writing the Single-Family Home Description
Lead with the space and the life it enables.
The house buyer has chosen to take on maintenance, a yard, and a mortgage that probably doesn't include a concierge. What they're getting in return is space, autonomy, and the ability to customize. Speak to that.
"The kitchen was made for Sunday mornings that stretch until noon — custom cabinetry, an island that fits the whole family, and French doors that open directly onto the deck. This is a house designed around how people actually live."
Yard, garage, and storage are major features.
These are often afterthoughts in descriptions, but house buyers weight them heavily. "Large two-car garage with workshop space" is a real selling point for a significant portion of the market. "Private fenced yard with mature trees" deserves more than a parenthetical.
Neighborhood and schools lead the story.
For condos, the walkability score and restaurant scene matter. For houses — especially 3+ bedroom properties — schools, parks, and neighborhood character dominate buyer decision-making.
Name the school. Note the walk or drive time. Mention the park. Your condo description would never do this. Your house description almost always should.
Privacy and quiet are genuine amenities.
The house buyer is partly buying space from other people. "End of a quiet street," "private lot with mature landscaping," "no rear neighbors" — these are real selling points.
A Quick Comparison
Condo description opening:
"City life, without the tradeoffs. This corner unit on the 9th floor has the natural light of a penthouse and the location of a five-star hotel. Walk score 97. Building amenities your friends will ask to borrow."
House description opening:
"Three things brought every buyer back for a second look: the kitchen, the yard, and the school that's 4 blocks away. 4/3 on one of the better streets in [neighborhood]. This is the house you describe when someone asks what you're looking for."
Same city. Same price range. Completely different conversation.
One More Thing: HOA Language
For condos, HOA information needs to be in the description or in the very first data field — not buried. Buyers have been burned by surprise fees. Being upfront about "HOA: $450/month covers water, trash, cable, and exterior maintenance" removes a point of friction and builds trust.
Related: How to write a listing description that actually gets showings
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