Searching For A Home Online --- Which Web Site To Use!?!

In a comment on a recent blog post, Josh stated:

"So when I was searching for my place, I rarely used realtor's websites.I stuck to hrar and realtor.com. Do most of your home buyers find your listings through your website?"

I find it fascinating whenever I have the chance to learn about which web site or web sites people use to search for homes in the Harrisonburg area. Here's why I find it interesting . . .

Some people (like Josh) don't want to use a particular company or agent's web site -- they will often use www.hrar.com, or www.realtor.com -- but I'm not sure exactly why. In the past, you would only find that company or agent's listings on their web site --- but now most company and agent web sites will allow you to search all homes currently on the market.

Josh (and others) -- help me out here . . .

1. Would you feel an obligation to use the services of a company or agent if you used their web site?

2. Do you wonder if you are really seeing all of the listings on their web site?

3. Do you wonder if the company or agent's listings will be given preferential ranking on their web site?

4. Do you find www.hrar.com, or www.realtor.com easier or more enjoyable to use for finding properties?

5. Is there something else that I am missing?