You’ve been thinking about settling down and buying a home for a while now, and you finally think you’re ready. It’s time to Tour some digs!

But hold up—you need a game plan. House hunting is about more than popping into a few open houses and picking the one you like best. In fact, there’s a science to it: A smart search means you’ll save time, money, and your sanity during the rest of your home-buying process.