Start with the life you want the property to support. Write down the space you need, the places you travel to regularly and the trade-offs you can accept. A shortlist becomes much more useful when it is guided by these needs rather than by every new listing that appears.
Then compare properties on the same basis. Look at usable floor space, layout, entry price and competing choices. Ask which differences matter to your household and which are simply attractive in a brochure.
Finally, think about the future buyer. When your plans change, who is likely to value the same home? You cannot predict the eventual sale price, but you can understand the strengths and weaknesses of the decision before committing.
The goal is a shortlist you can explain clearly: why the property fits, which risks you accept and what would make you walk away.