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I have a specific method of searching that I think works pretty well in finding the "right" home. 
Basically I ask my client to sit down and write out a list of the features that they would prefer to have in their new home including the areas where they would like to live. If it's a couple, I'll have them each write a separate list.
Once the lists are done, I ask them to compare and combine them. Yeah, sometimes this is where the fighting starts, but it's better to get it out of the way early in the process rather than later, wouldn't you agree?
Now that we have a basic idea of what we're looking for and we've figured out how much the buyer (s) will qualify for and how much they want to spend, we have a pretty good idea of what we're looking for.
At that point, I'll get on the MLS and call up properties that match up with what my customers are looking for. We then set appointments to view the properties, least expensive to most expensive. Why least expensive to most expensive? Because if you do it the other way the lessor expensive homes will probably pale in comparison to the more expensive properties, if that makes any sense? If we don't find anything that is acceptable in the lower price range, we start to move up to the higher limits of what the client is willing to spend.
If we don't find anything, then it's back to the drawing board. Something has to give. What features can they live without? How important is it that you live in that particular school district? Maybe it's more important that the kids go to a particular school than you having a three car garage? Maybe having that extra land is more important than which school district the property is located in?
At this point with the refined shopping list, we go back to the MLS. As we drive about I'll look for FSBO's that might meet my client's needs. I encourage my clients to search the inter-net, the newspapers and the real estate magazines (you're going to do it anyway, I might as well encourage you, right?). This is with the understanding that this is a team effort. Our buyer's agency agreement is going to bind you to me to a certain degree, but I'm going to more rely on the Golden Rule. How would you feel if you did a bunch of work for somebody and at the last minute they told you to get lost in order to save a couple of bucks? You wouldn't like it, well neither do real estate agents. It's not fair, so be prepared to be loyal to your agent.
On that note, more times than not the agent's commission can be negotiated into the transaction, so don't be afraid that you're going to lose THE house because I have a need to feed my kids. I hope that you understand.
Once we have exhausted the available properties in the areas that you desire we come to a three way fork in the road. We can either bump what you're willing to pay, expand our search area or cut the features that you're willing to settle for.
Eventually we will find the house that is right for you. It might be the 2nd house we look at, it might be the 40th. To me it doesn't matter. What's important is finding the house that will be your home. The home that is right for you!
Once we've found THE house it's time to negotiate a purchase offer, which we'll cover in a bit.
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