Hey there, house hunters!

We all know that the first place we go for literally any kind of research these days is the internet. House hunting is no different! Hunting for a new home online is a great way to start, but it shouldn’t be the only way. While listing agents are great at showcasing a home’s best features, keep in mind there may be more to the home than meets the eye. Of course, seeing homes online first is certainly time-saving and convenient. It proves to be a useful tool to get a preliminary sense of what’s available on the market to help you narrow down your search before seeing homes in person. So, to get a well-rounded picture of home listings online, I’ve compiled a list of my top four things you should keep in mind:

  1. First, determine your priorities. Before you start browsing listings, make sure you take some time to determine what your must-haves are in a new home. How many bedroom and bathroom do you need? Do you want a big yard or no yard at all? Will you need an office space? Once you have a list of your must-haves, think about any deal-breakers that would make a property a no-go. This might include things like a long commute, a busy street or a house that needs a lot of work. By identifying your priorities early on, you can filter out properties that don’t meet your criteria and focus your search on homes that are a good fit for you.
  2. Secondly, stay up-to-date. You’ll want to find a site that pulls up-to-date listings directly from the multiple listing service (MLS), where real estate agents actively post their most current homes for sale. Some online resources may update less often or fail to remove listings that are off the market, making it hard to sift through the noise. By utilizing an MLS- based website, you’ll have access to the most accurate information about a property’s status and advanced comprehensive search tools to help filter your search. Overall, using an up-to-date website can save you time and provide you with more  accurate information about a property.
  3. Third, be sure to take the virtual tours if they are available. Real estate photographers are experts at showing a home in the best possible light. They use tools and strategies to boost appeal, such as special lenses to make areas look larger and utilizing creative editing to make colors and textures pop. Also, keep in mind that listings may not contain photos of unappealing parts of a home like small closets or outdated bathrooms. So, if a virtual tour of a home is available, take advantage and pay close attention as they can give you a better sense of what the property is like. For example, a virtual tour can give you a more realistic sense of the property layout and flow and help you understand the size of the rooms and how they connect to each other. They can also show you details of the property that may not be captured in photos such as finishes and textures of surfaces, the quality of appliances and the overall condition of the property.
  4. Finally, connect with a local real estate agent. While it may seem convenient to conduct your search entirely online, a real estate agent can help guide you through the process and get you to the closing table. They can provide you with expert knowledge about the housing market in the area you are looking to buy, have update and accurate listing information and provide you access to see the homes you’ve found online and others that may not be listed (among so many other things). This is certainly a step you do not want to skip!

While searching for homes online is a great start, it’s important to keep these tips in mind. By using these as guidelines, you can gather a comprehensive view of house listings online and make an informed decision when it comes to choosing which homes to view in person. Don’t forget, your real estate agent is an expert and they will be able to provide you with insight, local connections and the most accurate property information.

If you have any questions or need additional guidance, don’t hesitate to contact me. I can help you every step of the way.

Happy house hunting!

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