According to the National Association of Realtors, 52% of home buyers cited finding the right property as the most difficult part of buying a home. And there’s no denying the countless resources that the Internet can provide: in fact, a 2017 National Association of Realtors report found that 56% of buyers 36 years old and younger found their homes online. But if you’re interested in looking for custom homes online, it’s important to navigate the process properly so you don’t get overwhelmed. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind when browsing for homes for sale in Hockessin online.

KNOW WHAT TO AVOID

Before you can browse new homes in Hockessin, you need to know which online sources aren’t reliable or trustworthy. Experts suggest steering clear of national websites, which usually contain listings of homes for sale from all over the country. Though they may seem promising because they get a lot of traffic, they aren’t updated consistently and often contain completely irrelevant or unavailable listings. Take it from Elizabeth Weintraub on The Balance:

“Some websites receive listings from a feed that kicks out homes that are present on a delinquent mortgage list…Some websites do not report sold or pending sales…It can be very frustrating and upsetting to try to rely on information that appears correct but is wrong. These websites do a fairly good job of giving a first-time home buyer an overview of pricing in an area, but mostly the raw data could use refinement,” writes Weintraub.

PRIORITIZE WEBSITES WITH MLS

Instead of choosing a national website to browse custom homes, choose a site that retrieves its information directly from multiple listing services (MLS). Multiple listing services are consistently updated and licensed real estate agents have reliable access to the homes and information contained within. It’s also a good idea to talk to your local real estate agent to help you find your next dream home. But the bottom line is that if the website doesn’t use information from multiple listing services, it just isn’t reliable.

Ultimately, knowing how to search through homes efficiently can help you find your next home fast.