It's such a good time to be out looking at homes. The Roanoke Valley real estate market is busy, and potential buyers have a lot of choices.

There are dozens of steps to buying a home, but finding the right property is the best part of the whole process. Sometimes it takes time and persistence to get there, but every house we look at helps you figure out what you want (and what you don't) and gets you a little closer to your next new home.

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or a house-hunting pro, these are my do's and don'ts for getting the most out of a trip to look at homes:

DO tell me what you're looking for.

The first thing we need to do is talk about what you want in a home -- your must-haves and your nice-to-haves. This is everything from number of bedrooms and bathrooms to location to price range. If you've seen a listing you like, even on someone else's website, bring that with you. The more I know, the better we'll use your time when we start looking.

DO get comfortable.

We'll be in and out of the car and possibly up and down steps and walking through yards. Especially if we're seeing multiple homes in a day, you'll want to wear something comfortable.

DO share feedback.

Tell me what you think of each home as we look around. Hearing your feedback -- positive or negative -- helps me figure out whether we're on the right track. And even if a house isn't the right one, if we have particular concerns about a property, I can pass that on to the seller's agent, which might help them, too.

DO take notes and pictures.

Again, especially if we're seeing a lot of houses, make a few notes. You'll have the photos that were with the listing to refer to later, so don't stress about getting a lot of pictures. But if something strikes you that you want to remember later or you want to show to someone who couldn't come for the showing, take a quick photo. As a courtesy to the seller, take only the photos you need and be careful about posting the photos online.

DO visit multiple times and at different times of day.

If you want to see a house again, we'll go. Bring along someone whose opinion you trust, if you like. Bring kids along for the second visit, too, if they're too young to be up for a long day of first looks. Get a sense of the neighborhood's pace and the light levels around the house by visiting at different times of day.

DO respect the seller's personal property.

Feel free to look around and get to know the place. Check out closets and cupboards, attics and basements. The seller is happy you're there and wants you to see everything. Simply respect the home as you'd want a potential buyer to respect yours. (For more on home-viewing etiquette, see HouseLogic's post: Open house etiquette - Viewing a house for the first time.)

DON'T get distracted by the decor.

That bright green bathroom might not be your cup of tea, but you can take change the color. I'll even give you the names of a couple of painters. The seller's style may not be your style, but look past that to the house itself.

DON'T forget to look around outside.

Get a look at the exterior of the home -- the roof, windows, construction features, the outdoor living spaces. Walk around in the yard and get a look at any outside appliances, such as heat pumps. Notice the landscaping, fencing and parking areas.

DON'T be afraid to ask questions.

If you wonder about something while we're looking around, ask. If I don't know an answer, I'll get one for you.

DON'T get discouraged.

The search for a new house can take time and persistence, and all the choices might seem overwhelming. But we will find your new home. The very best part of my job is that happy ending when we're able to match the right house to the right buyer.

I'm ready when you are to get started on the search for your new home. Contact me anytime at (540) 793-0442 or rpayne@mkbrealtors.com. Take a look at my listings here and like my page on Facebook.