I've provided my model to u guys about when u seek potential partner. U will need a mixed approach. U really shouldn't marry ppl n have kids who will be effected by your lack of homework.
1. Physical looks
2. Personality. U want someone u can have meaningful discussions with. The key-word is meaningful, u don't want a carbon copy of yourself or someone u can't connect with.
3. Life goals. This is important if u don't have similar goals in life, u will fight a-lot or if u want u can assess if u can tolerate their life goals against yours.
It's also important u ask them what is their 'negatives' and if they say none, advice them no-one is perfect and it's impossible to have no negativities, if they don't 'reason' with you, I would run quickly, since it's impossible to have no negativities, if u want also, u can go find out his/her negatives from others(such as friends n family), but make sure u balance it against the positives you know, since they will obviously be 'biased'.
Once u know the above u can make an 'informed' decision about marriage and most likely u won't end up in relationship finding out things u didn't know during the 'honeymoon period'. The current approach of 'flirting n sweet talking' is for clowns, they end up in marriages where 'reality' begins and honeymoon period is over and they can't tolerate it and collapses.