![\"RachelBieber\"](\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RachelBieber-1-1024x578.jpg\")
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In today\u2019s real estate market, having the right online resource is just as important as having the right agent. The number of homes for sale has been at historic lows, which means prospective home buyers have to stay connected and well informed to be competitive. So how does the right real estate website make you more competitive, you ask? Well, being the first to tour a home and make an offer can mean the difference between buying your dream home, and watching it sell to another buyer.<\/p>\n
Redfin, a technology-powered real estate brokerage, has homes ready to search the moment they hit the market, plus an award-winning app and a site that makes it easy to search, save homes and set up tours with the click of a mouse or tap of a finger. If you\u2019re just starting your home search, here\u2019s how you can use Redfin and all of its tools to\u00a0buy a home!<\/span><\/p>\n Redfin makes searching for homes really easy. Simply visit <\/span>www.redfin.com<\/span><\/a> or download the free app for <\/span>iOS<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Android<\/span><\/a>. In the search field, enter the city or zip that you\u2019d like to search for homes in. You\u2019ll see a map pop up with all of the homes for sale. <\/span><\/p>\n To narrow your search by price range, a number of rooms, square footage, etc. click on \u201cFilters\u201d at the top of the page. If you\u2019re looking for something specific in a listing, like a pool, chicken coop, fireplace, etc. you can enter those keywords in the field that says \u201cRemarks.\u201d Click \u201cUpdate Search\u201d to see all of the listings that match your filters. <\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in homes in a very specific area, the app has a really cool tool called \u201cDraw Your Own Search\u201d that allows you to do just that. Simply tap the \u201cDraw\u201d button and then select the area on the map that you\u2019re interested in.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve narrowed your search by the things that matter to you, you can save the search to receive instant updates when a new house that meets your criteria hits the market. Just click the button in the upper right corner of the map that says \u201cSave Search.\u201d If you don\u2019t already have a Redfin account, you\u2019ll be prompted to make one. <\/span><\/p>\n Want to share your search with a friend or loved one? No problem! You can add the email address of another person so they can see what you\u2019ve searched and received updates, too. <\/span><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve found a home that you like, the next step is to schedule a tour with a <\/span>Redfin agent<\/span><\/a> so you can see the home in person. Select a date and time that works best for you in the \u201cGo Tour This Home\u201d box. A Redfin agent will call you to confirm the details. You can select up to six homes to tour in one day, and Redfin agents will tour as many homes with you as you need before you feel comfortable making an offer. <\/span><\/p>\n One big difference between Redfin real estate agents and traditional agents is that Redfin agents are paid a salary, and earn bonuses based on your satisfaction with their service. That means they\u2019ll never rush you into a home that\u2019s not a perfect fit for you, and if they can see that it\u2019s a bad deal, they\u2019ll advise you to walk away without worrying about how that will affect their paychecks.<\/span><\/p>\n As soon as you\u2019ve found \u201cthe one,\u201d a Redfin agent will help you put together a competitive offer, and they\u2019ll negotiate with the seller on terms. Redfin has an online tool called \u201cDeal Room\u201d that lets you track every step in the offer process. You\u2019ll get an online checklist of things to do and paperwork you need to fill out, and you can even sign and send documents online. Deal Room will help you stay organized and will keep you informed on what comes next<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Typically, the seller of a home pays a commission of 6 percent of the final sale price of the home, which is split between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. Traditional real estate agents keep their full 3 percent commission. But when you work with a Redfin agent to buy a home, they\u2019ll <\/span>give a portion of the commission back to you<\/span><\/a> in the form of a refund. You can use the money \u2013 which is often thousands of dollars \u2013 to pay closing costs, buy new furniture or for home improvement projects. The total refund amount for each home is listed on the page with all of the details and photos of the house; you can find it next to the photo of the agent on the right. <\/span><\/p>\n1. Search Homes for Sale on the Website or App<\/h3>\n
![\"redfin](\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/redfin-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"redfin](\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/redfin-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"redfin](\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/redfin-3.png\")
<\/p>\n2. Save and Share Your Search<\/h3>\n
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3. Book a Tour<\/h3>\n
4. Make An Offer<\/h3>\n
![\"redfin](\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/redfin-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Save Money<\/h3>\n
![\"redfin](\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/redfin-5.jpg\")
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![\"natalie-schwab\"](\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/natalie-schwab-150x150.jpg\")
Natalie Schwab\u00a0is Redfin’s Managing Editor and writes for the Fun & Fab section on everything from DIY decor to life hacks. Her dream home would have a huge art studio and a comfy living room where she and friends could catch up on episodes of \u201cThe Bachelor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"