Nothing deters a house-hunter like the terms "must-see" or "motivated seller," suggests a new Canadian study on language and real estate.

Paul Anglin, an economy professor at the University of Guelph, analyzed home sales in Windsor, Ont., over a four-year period.

"There is a basic question about how house prices are determined," Anglin said. "I was building on earlier research that was looking into that question."

Anglin found that when realtors described houses as "beautiful" or "gorgeous" they sold 15 per cent faster and for as much as five per cent more than a comparable house. A house that was described as in "move-in condition" sold in 12 per cent less time, on average.

"I guess it makes sense that every house is beautiful to somebody," Anglin said. "I'm surprised that that just attaching the label would make a difference."

'If you say it the wrong way, you can actually turn people right off.' -Realtor Ian Shaw

Toronto realtor Ian Shaw said it's important to accentuate the positive aspects of a house but said the adjectives must be accurate. 

"If you say it the wrong way, you can actually turn people right off," he said. "I think language is quite important."

Anglin found that when houses used descriptors including "as is" or "must see" or promised a "motivated seller," the houses took longer to sell and often sold for less.