6.  RECEIVE CONTACT AS SOON AS A NEW LISTING HITS THE MARKET

    Once you are at the place where you are ready to buy, it helps to be the first to make an offer.  Why let having someone else buy the house make the decision for you that you can't have it?  The MLS service is set up so I receive e-mails throughout the day for houses that meet one of my buyers criteria.  If they are just in the looking stage I wait and update them as they wish.  If they are ready to buy, I either e-mail them right away, sending them the complete listing or call them.