One of my Realtor partners, John Carlson, has a personality as big as the state of Texas. I'm sure that's partly why he's always in the top 10% of Santa Clarita's realtors.
It doesn't hurt that he definitely knows his stuff when it comes to buying and selling real estate, of course, but people will always gravitate toward someone who makes them feel immediately at ease and treats them like family.
The first words out of John's mouth when I was first introduced to him were, "You're really tiny." to which all 60 inches of me plus 3 extra inches by way of stilleto heels quipped, "No, I'm aerodynamic. I'm low to the ground."
He may have one joke in his hand and a dozen up his sleeve at all times but the one thing that John doesn't joke about though is a preapproval.
When he tells people time and again, "You're not getting into my car without a preapproval," he means it, and he's not alone. Any realtor worth his or her Open House sign wouldn't touch a prospective buyer with a 10-foot pole without a preapproval either, and why would they?
To be blunt about it, it's bad business to spend your time and energy on buyers who may not even be able to afford the homes that they're looking at. Not when the price of gas is $5/gallon. Not when you don't get paid unless a deal closes.
Unless you're a masochist and get off on having your heart broken, looking at homes when you have no idea how much home you can afford, or if you can afford it at all, is like going into a world-class spa to get the head-to-toe treatment, only to find out you only have enough money to get one brow waxed. You're going to fall in love with a home that you simply can't afford.
So, my advise is, get thee to a loan officer for your preapproval before you ask your Realtor to take you out for a drive.
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