Don’t Rely on Trulia and Zillow During Your Home Search
Most people turn to their laptops FIRST when they are on the hunt for a new home, and the most common websites that people turn to first are Trulia and/or Zillow.
These two companies are actually both owned under the “Zillow Group” and their main function is to provide property value estimates and listing awareness to the greater online community. While many people turn to Zillow and Trulia in their home search, we feel it is extremely important not to limit your search to only these sources.
While the journey of searching for a new home can be daunting, it’s dangerous to only focus your attention on individual search portals. It may take the stress and pressure off for a short while, but limiting yourself like this can certainly cause pain points down the road.
Timing is very important when looking for a new home.
If you’re limiting your search to depending on Trulia or Zillow, there is a large possibility you’ll spend a lot of time navigating the site, only to find a home that is no longer available (or the listing price is inaccurate and it is actually out of your price range). Just think about the frustration you might encounter, especially if you are on a time crunch to find your next house.
In addition to those issues, you could also be missing out on available listings when narrowing your search.
Finding a new home is a big decision, and it is important to have a full view into any and all available listings so you have full knowledge of the market and your choices. Not having this knowledge will cause delays to your search, and worse, you could miss out on your dream home.
This is why it is important to have a well-rounded plan for your home buying journey.
In addition to using Trulia and Zillow, open the search process up to the local MLS and smaller, local listing websites. Reviewing listings on both national and local sites will help you to fill in the missing gaps that one site may present. Also, take your search offline and build a relationship with a local real estate agent. Find someone you feel confident and comfortable with. This local expert will have exact, up-to-date knowledge of the market conditions, they will know the ins and outs of available dwellings, and they will be able to explain the nuances of buying a house along the way.
Including local sites in your process and finding a real estate agent to discuss your options with will make sure you’re being provided with the most accurate and up to date information.
And will give you an advantage over those who are searching for real estate only on Trulia and Zillow.