There are many reasons a Buyer of a new  home would be smart to engage the services of a Realtor in the beginning of their search.  I would like to just hit one this morning.

Internet Search, OK, we all know this is how 80% of all buyers start to look for a new home, but did you know that IF you contact a Realtor, and you both agree to representation you can do a more refined search of all the suitable and available homes in your area?

Its an IDX search thru a Realtors website generally.  You can put in your exact criteria and get results of just the homes you are looking for.  Pool? no Pool? Sprinkler System? Fireplace? and of course the minimum and maximum price, bedrooms, bath rooms, square footage and so on.

 Realtors in our area, Austin, Texas, can enter your exact details including school district and high school, intermediary school, HOA yes or no... then you can receive in your email all the new listings and price changes as they become available.

Now, I think thats a really good way to search, you can see all the photos online, surf and browse when you are available, even if its midnight, and not waste your time looking at listings that are not accurate, have poor photos, and just wrong data. 

I know there are more real estate websites than Carter has liver pills but many many of them are just not correct, yes thats right, THEY ARE WRONG.   I have received calls from buyers on a house that was off the market for more than a month because the buyer found it on XYZP Real Estate website.  The amount of inaccurate information is tremendous.  Call a Realtor, get set up on a real search, one that is accurate, and timely.