Many people start by looking for homes in the newspaper and this is fine but people are in the market to sell something so obviously they will only publish good things about the home but later to find out there are drawbacks such as possible floodplains on or nearby the property, power lines, highway traffic, foundation issues, etc..

How about riding through neighborhoods on a Sunday afternoon calling on every sign you see? I don't know about you but in my area gas is outrageous and to ride down every street, would definitely be a waste of gas and $$.  This can also be time consuming because you may be looking at homes that do not fit what you are looking for or are out of your price range.  It is also ineffective to contact every agent on each property because then you may have several agents later following up with you which can be bothersome.  I'm not sure if you are aware but there are some sellers who request not having a sign in their front yard because they want to avoid the public from driving by and gawking at their home and in extreme cases some buyers will walk the property and look into windows and doors.

The Real Estate Book is one of the best advertisement agents have and I too advertise in it every month but what happens is that many times the homes are already sold before the book hits the stands.  We have to put our ads in a month before the book comes out. 

Let me tell you the best way to find a new home.  Contact a Realtor in your area or Call me (804-943-2531) to discuss your criteria for a new home, your financing, your time line to move and your price.

If you wish, you may visit my website www.ForSaleByStory.com  for FREE MLS search and do not worry you do not have to register your life away to have access - just click (Promise).  You will also be able to access FREE Reports for buyers and a lot of other great information.  By using the MLS you will begin to eliminate homes that do not fit what you are looking for and you can then narrow down.  My suggestion at this point would be to ride by and view the neighborhood and call your Realtor to schedule an appointment if you like the area.  Please do not approach the home, just call your Realtor or me for an appointment to view the home inside

When buying a home, it should be a pleasant experience.  Please allow your Realtor to do their job for a smooth transaction.