The process of choosing a new home can be a pleasant experience -- or a huge pain. If you are prepared and have the right plan, it can be actually very simple.

When you scan the newspaper listings for homes for sale in your area, you see so many that you hardly know where to start. Worse, the sketchy information in the ads makes it feel as if you will have to make hundreds of phone calls and talk with dozens of pushy real estate agents before you can even start to choose which homes to see..

MLS listings and property search websites give you more information and pictures - but really don't give you the whole picture and many times are written just to get you to call and become a lead for a real estate agent to work. Homes magazines and newspaper ads offer even less information and are usually out of date by the time they are printed. That means what you need to do is on the experience and familiarity on an experienced and professional real estate agent to pick through the homes avialable and guide you to properties that will meet your needs and desires.

Before you even start looking at homes, make a list first! Sit down with everyone involved and write down what you want in your next home. Make it a group effort!

Think of everything that is really important about your new home. Write down all your wants and needs, and those of the people who share your home. Include the number of bedrooms and baths, of course, but there's much more to consider.

Begin with the location. What neighborhoods or areas do you want to live in? Do you need to be close to the city center, or can you live in the suburbs? What about highways and trasit, are they important?

Do you need your new home to be near schools, or shopping, or work, or places of worship? Do you want privacy or will you be happier having fast access to a major highway? What about neighbors? Do you prefer the security of people nearby, or would you rather they were out of sight? Does it matter if you have a view, and if so, what kind of view do you love?

Then there's the lot. Do you want a large space for gardening and landscaping, or would a small yard suit you better? Maybe you prefer a condo, with no yard care at all.

Now consider the house itself. Think about your lifestyle and the people who will share your home. Are special rooms necessary? Do you need an office, an exercise room, a separate TV room for the kids, a crafts room, a sewing room, or maybe an attached greenhouse?

Do you have oversized furniture that calls for spacious rooms? Do you need large spaces for entertaining, or are you more comfortable with a small and cozy living area?

Do you prefer everything on one level or do you long for a basement or a second story? Do you need an attic for storage? If a garage is a must, should it have room for a work bench or separate shop area?

Because finding a home for sale that meets every want and need with no alterations may not be possible, you need to be able to make decisions. Go over your list and consider everything. When you're finished you should be able to hand your agent two lists. The first will show what you absolutely must have in your new home. The second is the "wish list" of amenities that would please you but aren't set in stone.

You'll save yourself hours - perhaps days - in your search for a home merely by eliminating homes for sale that don't meet the criteria on the "must have" list. With both of your lists in hand, your agent will be able to narrow down your new home search, and help you find a home that can fall in love with!

Jacquie Cliff is a professional real estate agent based in Lynnwood, Washington. She has several years of experience in all phases of residential real estate sales and marketing as well as loans and the lending industry. She has helped many people fulfill their real estate goal in areas ranging from Seattle itself to Marysville and out to Snohomish.

Voted one of the Seattle areas best real estate agents, Jacquie Cliff strives to make every real estate transaction as fluid and profitable as possible for her clients. As a loan officer and a real estate agent she is better able to co-ordinate the entire home buying process for her clients and in most cases even save them money on their loans!

Free consultations are always available if you are in the market to buy, sell or refinance a home in Western Washington. Referrals to other top agents are also available for other areas as well. Visit http://www.jacquiecliff.com/ to find out more information and to get your appointment to work with this astounding agent!