Buying a house is a big deal in life, and it can be exciting and overwhelming all at once. If you want to make your home-buying experience easier and less frustrating, there are several things you should do before you start shopping for a home. Here are three of the most important steps you should take before you call a real estate agent to help you locate a home that is right for you.

Work through your finances

The very first step you must take is going through your finances to see if you are ready to take this big step in life. The goal of this is to see where you stand financially. Do you have a lot of debt right now? Do you have money in the bank to use for a down payment? Would you be able to afford owning a home today? These are all good questions to answer as you evaluate your current financial state.

Find out loan information

If you feel you are ready to buy a house, your second step should be to go to a bank to fill out a loan application. This is done to get preapproved to buy a house, and it will let you know if you can even get a loan. It will also tell you how much money you can borrow based on your income and financial situation. It is pointless to shop for a home to buy without completing this step first.

Determine what you want in a house

Finally, you should spend some time over the next few days or weeks making a list of everything that is important to you in a home. This list should contain all the qualities you hope to find in a home, and you can give this list to your agent when you hire one. The agent will search carefully for homes that match the qualities you are looking for, and he or she will present these homes to you. Some may be perfect for your needs, while others might not be; however, you can take your time looking at as many homes as you would like before you make the decision as to which one you should buy.

If you complete these three steps, you will be ready to meet with a real estate agent. Once you are ready to do this, call an agent of your choice.