Summarize the following:
You do not need to rely on your real estate agent to do all the searching for you, you can search listings on your own as well.  The upside of searching on your own is that you can take all the time you want and you can try out several different types of searches.  The downside is that you will only be able to see properties that have officially been listed for sale.  Your agent, however, may be able to tell you about properties that have not yet been listed.  There are several ways to find listings, including:  Drive around the area you’re interested in.  While this is the most time consuming method, it gives you a great understanding of the general area — what it looks like, road access, neighbouring properties, etc.  This method, however, assumes the property is officially listed and has a sign on the property.  If you do see anything you like, write down the information from the For Sale sign and use it to search the internet when you get home.  The easiest way to find the listing is to look on the realtor’s website. Look in local newspapers or real estate flyers.  Real estate is one of the few industries that still publishes a lot of their sales listings in paper format.  Some areas may even have local real estate flyers that only list properties for sale in that specific area. Go to local real estate offices.  Some realtors post the properties they have for sale on the windows of their offices.  You can view the posters for these properties without going inside.  Note that the listings posted will only be those for sale by agents from that specific office. Search online.  Using the internet to search for properties is probably the easiest and the fastest method you can use, but it can also be overwhelming.  There are dozens of real estate websites listing properties in Colorado and each of them are a little different.  You may want to start at sites like MLS at http://www.mls.com/search/colorado.mvc or Realtor.com at http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Colorado.  These sites will list properties, regardless of which agent or broker is selling the property. Your real estate agent will also search potential properties on your behalf.  You, however, need to provide your agent with specific search criteria to use.  At the very least agents will need to know which geographical area to search and what price range to include.  You can also ask them to include or exclude items like: number of bedrooms or bathrooms, types of heating, amenities on the property, lot size, etc.  Your agent will have a better understanding of the real estate market where you’re searching, so they’ll be able to tell if a property is over or under priced.  Knowing if a property is under or over priced will help you determined how much negotiating room you might potentially have.  Because of this, agents may include listings for you to review that appear out of your price range but are actually overpriced. Your agent might also be able to tell you about properties that are not yet listed on the open market.  Agents sometimes share this information amongst themselves, however not all sellers will accept offers before their property is listed (especially in an area where they’re likely to get multiple offers). Regardless of how you collect a list of potential properties, once you have that list you need to decide which properties (if any) you want to view in person.  How you select properties to view is a personal decision based on your personal opinion of each listing.  However, there are several things you can consider when making this decision:  Does the property meet all of your requirements?  If not, can you live without these requirements?  Unless you have an endless amount of time to spend searching for the perfect property, you will probably have to make a couple of compromises about the property you end up purchasing. Is the property located somewhere you like?  Even if the location is within your geographical search area, the specific location (e.g. neighbourhood, street, block, etc.) might not be somewhere you want to consider. Does the property need any upgrades in the short-term?  Can you avoid those upgrades?  You may need to limit your possibilities based on what you can afford to do after you’ve purchased the property.  For example, if you cannot afford to install a new roof within the next 5 years, don’t consider houses that need a new roof in the next 5 years. If you’re considering vacant land, does the topography and layout of the land make sense for what you’re planning to do with it? If the property has a house on it, do you like the look and layout of the house?  It’s okay to choose a property based on the look of the house, but be sure to recognize the difference between items you can change and items you cannot change (or would be very expensive to change). Once you’re ready to take a look at properties in person, you’ll need to arrange the date and time with your real estate agent.  For properties that already have buildings on them, you’ll need the agent to accompany you so you can gain access to the buildings.  For vacant land you might be able to look around on your own time, without your real estate agent, if you want.  Don’t rush through any of the properties — unless you’re absolutely certain upon first glance that it is not an option.  Take you time and look around at everything. Feel free to open cupboards, run water, flush toilets, etc., while viewing the property. If you’re viewing a property with a house, keep in mind that many of the aesthetics of the house can be easily changed (e.g. paint, light fixtures, outlet covers, door knobs, etc.).  While it can be difficult, try to ignore these factors when looking around and making a decision.  Along the same lines, try to avoid choosing a property because you like minor elements like paint colour or window coverings. If the sellers are home while you’re visiting, feel free to ask them questions about the property, but avoid revealing your overall feelings or thoughts about the property.  You may need to negotiate with them in the future, so keep your emotions neutral. Some buyers need to find a property within a specified period of time and therefore need to select a property to make an offer on within that timeframe.  Other buyers may be able to spend more time searching for a property, in which case they may decide not to make an offer until they’re absolutely certain they’ve found a property they love.  Regardless of which situation you’re in, you may need to rank and compare properties in order to make a final decision.  You cannot make an offer on more than one property at one time, unless you can purchase both properties.  Therefore, you have to narrow down potential properties until you have one ranked highest enough to make an offer. Rank properties based on your original criteria and on your feelings.  If you’re buying a property to live on, you really need to like it as you’ll probably be there for awhile.  Don’t be afraid to use some emotions and gut feelings as part (but not all) of your decision.
Search for potential properties yourself. Review potential properties from your real estate agent. Decide which potential properties you want to see in person. Visit selected properties in person. Rank or compare properties you like.