If you’ve ever planned a move you know exactly how tiring and time consuming searching for
a new home can be.
Fortunately though, whether you’re renting an apartment, looking for a roommate, selling
a house, or buying a new one, there are a number of free resources that can make the
search for your next home a little bit easier.
Sites like Zillow, Trulia, Craigslist, or Homefinder, and others like them, allow you
to search listings and look up property details.
Most sites also have apps available for iOS and Android.
But whether you’re searching from your computer or phone, in order for sites like these to
be most effective, you’ll need to start by entering some information about what you’re
looking for.
First, think about where you’d like your new home to be located.
You can search by city name, zip code, or you can get even more specific with map features.
Next, think about your “must-haves”.
Narrow down search results by entering how many bedrooms and bathrooms your new place
will need, as well as how much money you’ll be able to spend.
If you’re searching for a rental property, this is where you’ll usually be able to
apply other filters as well.
For example, whether you’ll need a washer and dryer in the unit, or if you need a place
that is pet friendly.
Most sites provide a pretty wide variety of filters to help you find your perfect home.
Just know that if you narrow things down too much, you might not actually be able to find
any listings in your area.
So take the time to really consider your needs versus your wants.
Once you submit your search criteria you’ll be able to begin browsing listings.
When you select a property, you’ll be able to read more about it, like details about
the neighborhood, or what schools or businesses are nearby.
This is also where you’ll be able to see additional pictures of the interior and exterior.
From here you’ll also find contact information for the agent or individual associated with
the property.
If you find a property you’re interested in, contacting the person associated with
the listing and finding out if the property is actually still available should be the
first thing you do.
Most sites will also allow you to save searches so you can easily check for updates, and even
set up notifications if any new properties that meet your specifications have been added
to the listings.
No matter which site you use, if you plan on renting, you’ll want to make sure you
know how to spot and avoid rental scams.
Make sure you’ve done your research so you know what red flags to looks for.
Most sites will offer advice on how to safely search for rental properties.
Overall, whether you’re buying or renting, utilizing any of the home-search websites
available should help make the process of finding your next home easier, and less stressful.