Changing jobs, leaving friends and venturing into the unknown is challenging enough without adding the pressure of finding a rental home in an area you don’t know well. Make the process easier by searching all avenues available; get started with these five suggestions.

Go online: In some major cities, the community classifieds website Craigslist is the main source for finding rental housing. One advantage to using an online resource is the ability to filter the postings by preferences such as number of bedrooms, maximum monthly rent, room-shares and even sublets. You can also post in the housing-wanted section with a description of what kind of rental unit you are seeking. And best of all for those moving to a new city, you can search or post from anywhere in the world.

“People can get a sense of an apartment without venturing outside,” says Jacqueline Schmidt, who recently posted a Minneapolis housing-wanted ad on Craigslist. “It makes it a lot easier for both sides to vet the situation, while savings loads of time and not costing a dime.” Shortly after posting, Schmidt found her ideal rental. Other websites, such as Kijiji, Rent.com and Apartments.com, provide similar tools for searching online rental housing classifieds in different areas of the country.

Find a broker: In especially competitive rental markets, using a rental broker is a common strategy. “Brokers have connections and information that are not always available to the public,” says Sondra Slappey, an agent with Keller Williams Mountain Properties in Vail, Colo. Also, a broker may be able to negotiate better rates on your behalf. With a professional broker, you’ll spend less time scouring ads because the legwork is being done for you. In most cases the prospective tenant doesn’t pay to use the agent; brokers receive a commission from the property owner based on a percentage of the first year’s gross rental revenue.

Navigate neighborhoods: Deciding which neighborhoods appeal to you is a good first step toward finding an apartment or rental home. Check out Cyberhomes’ neighborhood tool to find information about schools, median home prices and more. Once you have a couple of neighborhoods in mind, take a day or two to explore in person. Get a feel for the environment, and keep your eyes open for rental signs in windows; you may find an apartment or home to rent before it has been posted elsewhere.

Use your network: See what contacts you can find in your new city through friends and relatives. You never know when your friend’s brother’s girlfriend’s sister may be looking for a roommate. If you’re relocating for a job, ask your new boss or co-workers, who have a vested interest in getting you settled. Speak to as many contacts as you can because “the advice you receive may save you a future headache,” says Slappey.

Peruse the classifieds: In some cities, newspaper classified ads are still the most widely employed tool to advertise rentals. Find out what’s standard in your new city. Paper listings may be updated less frequently than online postings, but you also might find a gem listed by a less computer-savvy owner.