Choosing to purchase a home is a huge step, and you should congratulate yourself for making the decision!

While house-hunting and may seem intimidating, just keep in mind that this is a common process. While it pays to take things slow and proceed with caution, you’ll find that with the right preparation and assistance, finding your new home might be easier than you think. And with The Sun Daily stating that the property market is expected to grow in 2016, now is the time to look into buying.

Browsing listings online through sites like Property Guru is one of the faster ways to go about finding a house for sale, but you’ll also need the help of an experienced real estate agent. Once you’ve made contact, here are six more tips that can help you in your search to find the home you want.

1. Write Down Exactly What it is You’re Dreaming of

Pinpointing the exact qualities that you want in a house can help you on the path to achieving realistic results. While it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find a home with absolutely everything you want, writing up a list your “must-haves” is a good way to get a big picture that your agent can use to find the best properties for your preferences. On the other hand, you should also draw up a list of dealbreakers--qualities that you absolutely do not want in a house. This will also be helpful for your agent when it comes to narrowing down homes to view.

2. Pay a Visit to The Neighbors

Once you choose a neighborhood and start viewing homes that might be a possibility, you’ll want to return to speak to the neighbors. This is a great way to get a feel for the atmosphere of the neighborhood, and to learn a bit more from current residents. A neighbor might also be able to clue you in on events which may have affected the value of your home, such as a fire or other environmental damage. They can also tell you how safe the neighborhood is. And, of course, if your neighbors are rude and unfriendly, you might want to cross that house off your list!

3. Get in Touch With Your Service Providers

This is something that’s often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of moving, but being prepared can save you a lot of grief. When it comes to your internet, television, phone, or even utilities, is it possible to easily transfer your account to a new address? Or is your new address not in the service range of your providers? Making sure that you won’t have to enroll in a whole new set of services can save you time, stress, and potentially money. It pays to make sure that you’ll be covered, regardless of where you move.

4. Take a Thorough Tour of The Neighborhood

In addition to speaking to your neighbors, you’ll want to get a feel for the neighborhood yourself. If you’ve got your eyes on a home that you really love, come back at different times of day and do some exploring. You’ll be able to tell if the area is family-friendly and get an idea of how safe and comfortable the area is. It also helps to know the whereabouts of places like grocery stores and public transportation. Also, take a look to see if there’s a Chinese school in the area-- Malay Mail Online says that the presence of a Chinese school in your neighborhood will raise the property values, which can help you out in the future if you decide to re-sell.

5. Draw up a Floor Plan, and Take Note of Measurements

When visiting homes that you like, take photos so that you can remember exactly what the interior looks like. Additionally, you should draw up a simple floor plan as you explore the house. Take measurements to make sure that your existing furniture will fit in the space, especially if you’re already beginning to imagine where you’ll put all of it. You don’t want to move in and discover that your furniture doesn’t actually fit where you planned!

6. Schedule a Professional Inspection

Scheduling an inspection is a great way to find out whether or not there are unseen damages or repairs that need to be made to the house.  You don’t want to move into a new house, only to be surprised down the line by problems caused by structural damages, water damage, or uneven construction.

These repairs could turn out to be rather costly, and really put a damper on the joy of owning your own house.

No matter what it is you’re looking for out of your future home, these tips can help to make the house hunting process a little smoother, less stressful, and perhaps more enlightening. With some work on your end, the help of your agent, and a little bit of luck, you’ll be on the right track to finding your dream home.