The website is a powerful tool in the home search. It allows you to focus on properties with the closest match to your criteria and helps you prioritize properties. It also minimizes time wasted on properties that are not real contenders.

The first step in harnessing the power of the site is to set your criteria for the home search. The best way to find out what's available in an area is to start with a broad search and then narrow in. You may be looking for a home in a specific area in a certain price range. You should resist getting too specific in this first phase of setting your criteria, so you don't prematurely eliminate any properties.

If the basic search (area and price) returns an excess number of properties, then it is time to limit the search. You can do this by changing either the price or limiting the area. This then should return a more manageable number of homes to consider. If the search returns too few properties, then broaden the area, price range, or change your optional criteria.

By starting broad and then narrowing, you minimize the risk of missing a home that might be perfect. The properties on the site are downloaded directly from the local Multiple Listing Service(s) (MLS). Many different sales professionals input data into the MLS(s). Thus there can be a lot of interpretation about how to input amenities. For example, one sales professional might consider a home to have four bedrooms while another might consider it to have three bedrooms plus a study. Perhaps for your family either interpretation could work. By starting broad you would not risk ruling out one over another.

Learn more about fine tuning your criteria or begin searching now.