Top 4 Search Tools for the DIY Home Buyer

While by no means necessary, a savvy buyer will be hands on with their home search process. As your Realtors, we are on the pulse of new listings that match your search criteria and will be certain to alert you to any new homes for sale that may pique your interest. With that said, our buyer clients have had success in doing some searching of their own, particularly for property styles, locations, or price ranges that differ from what they've asked us to search for. For others, conducting their own search is part of the fun of finding a new home. The shopaholics among us will understand. 

Whether you want to broaden your search, enjoy shopping, or just want to see what else is out there, these four tools will be invaluable to your search.

1. Collaborate

Collaborate boasts a welcoming 'social' style which will be familiar to facebook users. It allows Realtors and their clients to like, comment, and share listings with each other in a very user-friendly interface without sacrificing advanced features. Of the tools listed it has the most customizable search features, the most up-to-date listings, and the tightest integration with your Realtor's search process. Let us know when you're ready to start searching for access to this powerful search tool.

Features include:

• Watch lists
• Notification emails for new listings matching your search terms
• Map search
• Live listing data (Realtor.ca and other sites are delayed by 24-48 hours)
• Social media style interface

2. Realtor.ca

Realtor.ca is the public-facing site for accessing MLS listings across the country. While not all listings will appear here, it is a great place to start when you're moving to a new neighborhood to get a sense of the types and prices of homes in the area. Realtor.ca Listings are often delayed 1-2 days compared to Collaborate or your Realtor's internal search tools. What Realtor.ca lacks in functionality, it makes up for in simplicity. The site is very easy to use and the information is highly accessible. It is also the only search tool which has the ability to search the whole country.

3. Realtor Websites

Every Realtor has a website like this one which they use to showcase their services and help their clients. Most include some listings, and others still allow users to search. Thebakergroup.ca goes a step further by enablling clients to access ALL TREB listings, even those not found on Realtor.ca. As a requirement of the Toronto Real Estate Board, users who wish to have full access must create an account. After signing in, you will have immediate access to search all listings on the Toronto MLS board. Our site's search tool is similar to the functionality of Collaborate but is not as fully featured. Very soon, select users will also have access to sold data which will help with comparison shopping.

4. Social Media

When working with Seller Clients, The Baker Group Advertises homes for sale on our social media channels including Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram. If you're in the early stages of your search but aren't quite ready to dive in, following a few local realtors on your social platform of choice can help you passively stay informed of what is for sale in the area as well as which realtors are doing the best job of promoting their clients' properties.