Online Home Search

When you first think about buying a home, the average person is going to start on the internet looking at online platforms like Zillow, Realtor.com or Trulia. These sites can be very valuable tools when you first start your home search.

• Convenience: Online home search platforms are convenient and easy to use. You can search for homes from anywhere in the world, at any time of day or night.
• Flexibility: Online home search platforms allow you to search for homes based on a variety of criteria, such as location, price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and amenities. This gives you a lot of flexibility to find homes that meet your specific needs and preferences.
• Ability to preview homes: Online home search platforms allow you to preview homes before you visit them in person. This can save you time and energy, especially if you are looking at a lot of homes.
• Get Familiar: Where these sites excel is helping you determine what you like and what you don’t so when it’s time to get serious and really start looking you are ready.

But as you dig deeper into these sites you might find a few problems.

• Inaccurate listings: Online home search listings at least the Realtor listed ones generally come directly from the local MLS. But they don’t always have correct data beyond the markers pulled from the MLS. And the non-Realtor Listed properties could be scams.
• Hard to Find the Agent: Reach out to request a showing and these sites are selling your data to agents. Not that this is a bad thing, but while you think you are reaching out to the listing agent, quite often you are not.

Your Local Agent and Online Search

Once you know what you want and are ready to get serious, reach out to your local agent for assistance. This agent can set up an online search that comes directly from the local MLS service, with current, up-to-date, and accurate data. From there you can select properties and work with your local agent through the process.