House Hunting

Once you've made the agent decision, you are ready to start house hunting. The agent will search the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and give you a printout of houses that meet the criteria for your ideal home. If you are using a buyer's agent, you may also get a list of For-Sale-by-Owner (FSBO) homes to look at in addition to the MLS list. Don't forget to do some looking around of your own just in case the agent misses something. This is where your communication with the agent is critical. The agent needs to have a really good idea of what you want in order to make your search as efficient as possible.

After you comb through the MLS printouts and FSBO lists, appointments are made to see the homes that you think may best meet your needs. When you visit homes with your agent, the homeowners are typically absent. This gives you and your agent the opportunity to discuss the home freely (if you're using a buyer's agent) and inspect things a little more thoroughly than you would if the proud homeowner is right there the entire time.