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WHAT CAN BUYERS DO TO HELP THEIR AGENTS?

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We've all heard it before: approximately 84% of home buyers begin their search on line. And why not? They have any number of websites from which to choose. So it's on to the computer for the home search. Next they find a home that looks really great so they pick up the phone and call or text the agent and sometimes that agent is me. The first thing I try to do is thank them for calling me. Then they start to ask questions about the home which I politely answer. Then it's my turn for questions. The first one I ask is "HAVE YOU BEEN PRE-APPROVED FOR A LOAN BY YOUR LENDER?" If the answer I get is "YES" I am elated, and we can move on to what kind of home would best suit their needs, but much more often than not the answer I get is "NO". And this is how I usually respond. "I highly recommend that you speak to your bank or mortgage broker so that he/she may pre approve you for a loan. There are many different loan programs available and he/she will tailor one that suits your needs. It is critical to know how much you can spend on a home BEFORE YOU START YOUR SEARCH. It would be awful if we found a home that ended up being out of your price range. I think you'd be very disappointed with that result and probably with me as well."

A RESPONSE SUCH AS THIS DOES NOT MAKE THE AGENT UNWILLING, UNCOOPERATIVE OR DEMANDING.
A response such as this comes from an agent who likely has learned from past experiences and wants to make the home buying process for the buyer, fun, productive and most of all fruitful..

SO FOR ALL THE BUYERS THAT ARE THINKING OF PURCHASING A HOME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, please help me by obtaining a pre-approval from a qualified lender so that I can help you find your dream home. If you don't know a good lender, ask me, as I know many great lenders!

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Check out the article below on the importance of a pre-approval from a good lender.

http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Finding-a-Good-Lender/88875

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate. Information is obtained from Neohrex and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Posted by Barb Szabo E-pro Realtor Cleveland Ohio Homes on 12/01/2008 06:43 AM

Comments (3)

mortgage, real estate, buyers, preapproval

Originally posted at: Barb Szabo's Blog: WHAT CAN BUYERS DO TO HELP THEIR AGENTS?

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3 Comments on WHAT CAN BUYERS DO TO HELP THEIR AGENTS?

DEC

Thanks, I'll definitely check with a loan officer first

DEC

Barb, it's amazing how many buyers want to start their search without knowing what their budget is. I'm sure I've lost some clients over the years through my insistence that they get pre-approved before we look at houses, but I learned that lesson the hard way as a rookie agent who drove someone all over town for weeks before I found out they couldn't buy a car, much less a house.

Lisa, It is amazing isn't it. I had to have that conversation just last night with someone who called and wanted to start their home search, but they had no pre-approval. And if you lost someone over your insistence that they get one, you lost nothing at all. Thanks for your comments.

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