Do you ever visit an online search engine and immediately become flustered by all the homes for sale? It can be overwhelming, especially now, with so many homes available and few sales. In order to help your search become calmer and organized, you need a search engine that is easy to browse and quick to give you what you want.

That is what BuyOwner.com strives to provide you with. By clicking “Homes For Sale” from the tabs across the top of the homepage, you can search for specifics that will eliminate any type of house that doesn’t interest you. Your price range is obviously key, so you must type in the minimum and maximum amount you’re willing to pay. If you’re looking for a single-family home or an apartment, you can choose exactly that type of house. If you want a garage or a swimming pool, check the box next to that feature. If you just want a broad search of homes within a 30-mile radius of a certain town, you can do that too!

Once you finish marking your criteria and you click “Submit Search Criteria” at the bottom of the page, you can then sort the results by price, placement, list date and number of bedrooms. If you’re looking for a budget buy, one tip that others might not consider is to search the oldest listing dates first. By doing so, you can view the houses that have been advertised with Buy Owner the longest. These home sellers are most likely exhausted of the home-selling business, and you might be able to score a stellar price from a homeowner eager to sell. On the other hand, if you search the newest listings, you might find sellers who just found out they need to move as soon as possible and are eager as ever to sell. Play around with the listing dates and see what you can find.

You can always go back and alter your search criteria until you find exactly what you’re looking for. If you have any questions, leave us a comment, and we’ll help you out! With the multitude of houses for sale right now, there’s nothing more pleasing than a search engine that provides you with the exact search tools you need.

Are you hunting for your first or next home? Be sure to check out the extensive listings at Buyowner.com, which offers professional advertising of current “For Sale by Owner” properties. When you’ve found a few you like, you’ll be able to contact the sellers directly, cutting out the middlemen (and their commissions!).

The next step is touring homes. When you visit properties in person, what should you be looking for, and how will you know what to ask?

1. Know What You Need.
The most important thing you can do, before visiting any properties, is to determine what must-haves are necessary for your home purchase. Do some serious thinking about size, location, amount of yard space—so much of what you need to be looking for depends upon what your individual needs are. Once you have a set mental list, you’re ready to shop.

2. Bring Questions.
Buy Owner home sellers should be more than happy to answer your questions and give you whatever additional information you need. So, armed with the list of things you need, be ready to ask the sellers specifics.

3. Try to See If the Home is a Good Fit.
In addition to the predetermined questions you’ll ask–about room size or age of appliances or whatever’s important to you, here are a few more questions you may want to consider. Remember, the most important thing is to get all the information you need to make a decision.

Potential questions (some for sellers, some for you):

• Will my present furniture work in this house?
• Is there enough space for my belongings?
• How close will I be to work or school?
• Is there any damage to the home or are there repairs that will need to be done?
• Will I need to replace appliances, carpeting, wall paint or anything else?
• If the current appliances stay, do they come with warranties?
• When were the plumbing, the wiring and the roof last updated?
• What are the neighbors like (try meeting them yourself, as well as asking the sellers)?

A home purchase is too big of a decision to rush into or to make without a lot of information. Take your time, arm yourself with knowledge and get prepared to find the right place for you!

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