While social media can be a great way to stay in touch with friends, keep up with the lives of long-distance family members, and get the latest updates on whatever interests you most—from your favorite bands to exercise trends—your favorite platforms can play an important role in one of your biggest life decisions: finding your new home.

When shopping for a home, the most important step you can take is to find an experienced real estate agent who knows the neighborhoods you're interested in inside and out. But in addition to working with a highly rated professional, you can also help narrow your search through your favorite social media platforms. Try some of the following tactics to gather as much information as possible.

Check out an agent's social media. Before making the final decision on which real estate professional to work with, check out their social media sites. A savvy agent will not only promote available listings on social media, they'll share knowledge about the market and give you a glimpse into their personal lives as well. Social media can help you get a better sense of not only an agent's expertise, but their overall personality—because you and your agent should have a strong chemistry. 

Search by zip code. You can use Instagram to get a deeper feel for towns and cities by entering their zip code into the search field. This will result in a variety of posts, ranging from shops and restaurants in the area to local activities taking place. You'll also find some listings of homes for sale, and posts from real estate professionals in the area.

Take to TikTok. Real estate professionals often use TikTok to showcase a home creatively, giving you a better feel for a listing you may be interested in. You can also find great videos and tips about navigating the real estate market in general.

Learn more about schools. If finding a home in a neighborhood with good schools is high on your priority list, check out the social media accounts of the educational facilities in the town you're interested in. Social media will showcase different aspects of a school, not just their ratings and test scores, but the extra curricular activities it offers, how the staff interacts with children, and its overall culture and school spirit.

Join neighborhood groups. Many neighborhoods and communities have their own Facebook group where all sorts of topics are discussed, from safety concerns and local politics to art and cultural happenings. Joining these local groups can give you a great head start on becoming part of the community.

In addition to these steps, your agent may be able to recommend specific social media pages you should check out in order to gain as much information as possible before making your final decision.