Home buying works best when you and your agent work together. Here’s how searches, alerts, and buyer feedback help you find the right home faster.

One of the most common questions I hear from buyers is simple: “If I hire you, what exactly are you doing for me?” It’s a fair question, and the answer is important.

Buying a home is not a one-person job. It works best as a partnership.

My role as your buyer’s agent is to understand what matters to you. That means getting clear on things like bedroom count, layout, location, lot size, and anything else that affects how you live day to day. Once we have that, I set up a customized MLS search that watches the market around the clock.

That part matters more than most people realize. The MLS is open 24 hours a day. Homes can appear early in the morning, late at night, or while you’re busy with work. Automated alerts make sure we don’t miss something just because it showed up at an odd time. This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about speed and accuracy.

“Home buying works best when the agent and buyer are both involved.”

After the search is set up, you take an active role in reviewing the results. Your preferences and reactions help shape the search, so it becomes more accurate over time. This includes:

  • Reviewing photos, layouts, and styles, and sharing what stands out to you.
  • Working together to narrow the list of homes instead of browsing endless online listings.
  • Exploring neighborhoods with tools like maps, street views, and walkability data to better understand the area and lifestyle.

While you’re doing that, I’m working behind the scenes. I’m networking with other agents, watching off-market opportunities, and gathering context you won’t see in a listing. I can tell you what’s happening with a property, how competitive it might be, and what to expect if you decide to move forward.

When buyers stay involved and informed, the process feels smoother, expectations stay clear, and when the right home shows up, we’re both ready to act.

If you have questions about how this works or want to start searching for homes, feel free to reach out at (503) 522-0090 or sarita@asksarita.com. You can also visit me at asksarita.com. I’m always happy to help.