One of the most common questions first-time homebuyers ask is about the division of labor when it comes to finding properties when you're looking to by a home. In today's digital age, where homes are just a tap away, the lines can seem blurred. Should you be spending all of your evenings scrolling through listings, or is that what your agent is for? The truth is, the best home buying experiences happen when both you and your agent are actively involved in the search. This is true especially if you're working in complementary ways.
The Modern Reality: You'll Probably Find Some Listings
Let's start with the honest truth: yes, you'll likely find some listings on your own. You know what you want specifically and who better to search for that than yourself? With home searching on your phone now, and property alerts hitting your inbox, it's nearly impossible not to stumble across homes that catch your eye. And that's perfectly fine. Your agent isn't expecting you to sit back passively while they do all the work. It is you who is looking for the home after all.
In fact, most buyers today discover at least a few properties through their own browsing. You might be scrolling Instagram and see a gorgeous open concept kitchen that makes you wonder what's available in your price range. Or a friend might text you a REMAX link saying, "Isn't this your dream home?" These organic discoveries are part of the modern home buying journey, and any good agent will welcome your finds with enthusiasm.
What Your Agent Brings to the Table
While you can certainly access the same listing databases as your agent, what you can't replicate is their expertise, market knowledge, and professional network. This is where your real estate agent truly shines.
Your agent has intimate knowledge of neighborhoods you might never have considered. They know which areas are up-and-coming, which school districts are most desirable, and which streets tend to flood during heavy rain or weather events. They can identify red flags in listings that you'd never even notice. For example that "charming fixer-upper" you discovered would actually require $80,000 in foundation work. Still want it? Your agent's relationships with other agents in the area can open doors that no amount of online searching ever could.
The Partnership Approach
The most successful home searches happen when buyers and agents work as a team. Here's how that typically plays out:
Your agent should set you up with an automated search through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) based on your criteria—location, price range, number of bedrooms, must-have features, and deal-breakers. These alerts will come to your email, often before the listings appear on popular consumer websites. This gives you a head start on hot properties in competitive markets.
Meanwhile, you should absolutely browse listings on your own. You're the one who will be living in this home, so your eyes and instincts matter. When you find something interesting, send it to your agent. They can pull additional information, schedule a showing, research the property history, and provide professional context that helps you make an informed decision.
Your agent should also be proactively sending you listings they think match your needs, especially properties that fit your criteria but that you might have overlooked. Maybe the photos don't do it justice, or it's in a neighborhood you hadn't considered but that actually checks all your boxes. A good agent acts as a curator, using their experience to surface options you might have missed.
Communication Is Key
For this partnership to work, you need to communicate openly with your agent about what you're finding. If you're sending them 47 listings a day, you probably need to refine your search criteria together. If they're sending you properties that completely miss the mark, you need to speak up and clarify what you're actually looking for.
The feedback loop is crucial. After each showing, let your agent know what you liked and didn't like. "The kitchen was too small" or "I loved the neighborhood but need more yard space" gives them valuable data to fine-tune their recommendations. Over time, they'll develop an almost intuitive sense of what will work for you.
Red Flags to Watch For
If your agent seems annoyed or dismissive when you send them listings, that's a problem. A professional agent understands that you're invested in the search and should welcome your participation. On the flip side, if your agent isn't proactively sending you anything and seems to be waiting for you to do all the work, they're not holding up their end of the bargain.
You should feel like you're working together toward a common goal, not like you're bothering them or being managed.
Working Together is the Answer
So, who finds the listings? Both of you. You bring the 24/7 motivation, the intimate knowledge of what you want in a home, and the ability to browse listings at 11 PM in your pajamas. Your agent brings market expertise, professional access, negotiating skills, and the ability to separate the diamonds from the coal.
The best approach is to use the technology available to you while leveraging your agent's professional knowledge and network. Browse away, send your agent anything that catches your eye, and trust them to fill in the gaps with properties and insights you wouldn't find on your own.
House hunting isn't about dividing the labor into your tasks and their tasks—it's about combining your efforts to find a home that's perfect for you. When both you and your agent are fully engaged in the search, you're far more likely to find that dream property before someone else snatches it up.
After all, buying a home is probably the biggest financial decision you'll ever make. It deserves a team effort.
