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Whether your job is relocating you, you’re gearing up for a fresh start, or you’re moving back home. Here are a few tips to help the process be a little less hectic.

The home search and buying process locally can have its hurdles. Add to that hundreds or thousands of miles and it can become that much more complicated. The good thing is, it’s not impossible.

The first task is to find an agent in the city you’re moving to. With the right agent, having the knowledge of the city and technology is key!

Here are a few critical factors to keep in mind when you find yourself in a home search from afar.

When it comes to the long-distance home search, the internet is one of your best resources! Besides finding the perfect home, searching the web will help you decide if the home you plan to purchase is in a good and desirable location (close to schools, shopping, restaurants, interstates, hobbies, or far away from those if that’s what you’d prefer J)

Although it’s best to view the home/neighborhood in person, sometimes that’s just not possible. Be sure to research things like commute times to work, crime rates in the area, and, don’t forget to check out the school rankings. School ranking is important even if you don’t have children. This will help with the resale value.

Another important and valuable resource is a local, knowledgeable Real Estate Agent. “You’re going to want someone local on the ground — someone who is very familiar with the city, neighborhood, and prices,” Meghann Shike of Synergy Realty in Nashville says. “You need to get a feel for how that person operates. Are they available to talk to? You’re going to have more questions than you realize and your agent is going to need to be there to answer them.”

Throughout your home search, be sure to keep a list of features you’d like in a home. This is the case when buying locally or a thousand miles away.

Think of the top features you’d like to see in a home (think less cosmetic, more structural and location, because you can always paint, you can’t always pick up your house and move it.) This could include schools, yard space, layout, etc. For instance, you want a home with a large kitchen and dining room because you do a lot of entertaining. You find a couple homes you’re interested in, one has great décor, is updated in the color scheme and style you love but the kitchen is tiny and there’s not enough space to host gatherings. The other home is a little dated and the style works though isn’t your favorite, but has a large eat-in kitchen and a huge dining room. Which do you choose? One thing to keep in mind is, cosmetically, you can transform any space to fit the design you’re drawn to. If the space is there and there’s room to work with, you may choose the second. If you have it in your budget, you can update right after you relocate or at some point paint, change the countertops or appliances to make it fit your look.

Knowing exactly what you want out of a house and location allows your agent to help you narrow down neighborhoods and homes easier, which allows you to make an offer quicker, which is especially important in a fast-moving market.

Don’t fear the long-distance home buying process. It can be easier than you may think. Video chat is a fantastic way to view the home in real time (because we all know, pictures can be deceiving). If your agent is top notch, they’ll be there throughout the entire process to make everything a little smoother.

Do your research, shop online, be sure to know what you want, and most importantly find and agent you trust.