August 27, 2015

Online Tools To Help You Find Home

Looking for a new home can be a daunting task. Whether you are looking for a home across town or across the country, finding the perfect combination of location, size, style and affordability can be rather time consuming. With the internet often being the first place we all go for information, we decided to check out a few online tools that can help you find home more easily.

Trulia

What is it: Trulia is a real estate website the provides listings around the country along with helpful information like details about the house, the neighborhood, and the real estate buying process itself.  The site goes further by sharing details about schools, commute times, past sales history, crime mapping, and market trends for the area.  Trulia prides itself on collaboration with the consumer stating that their user community is broader, more engaged and willing to share valuable insights.

How does it work: Enter an address, town, or zip code into the search box.  The site is free for buyers, sellers and agents. The site is a ‘third party data aggregator’ so listings are updated with p
rice changes, number of days on the site, and demographics like median age, education levels, and length of ownership of the surrounding homes.  You can also register for a free account that allows you to bookmark the properties you like so you don’t lose track.  Social share buttons let you post a favorite property on Facebook or Pinterest or email a link for the listing.  

Redfin

What is it: Refin is similar to Trulia in that it lists homes for sale.  From there it differs in a number of ways because of its roots in map-based search and the agreements it holds with the Multiple Listing Service or MLS.  Their technology roots also give them the foundation to launch features such as 3D walkthrough. The agents are paid through Redfin, which is a very different model from Trulia with simply lists the properties of independent agents and brokers. The look and feel of the site is also different from its competitors.  Visually it is customer centric featuring pictures of their customers and agents instead of properties.  

How does it work: Enter a city, zip code or address into the search box. They offer many of the same features and information as their competitors.  However, they also host free classes on buying and selling a home as well as a more personalized free lunch and learn should you miss the class.  

Both offer features like a tool that calculates the value of your existing home, a find a realtor tool, mortgage calculators and offers, and rental property listings. Both sites have an active blog with helpful tips, insurance information, and guides for every step of the buying process.

Whether you are looking for a home across town or across the country, these tools will be extremely helpful.  And when you’re ready to move, we’ll get you there safely, affordably and professionally.