PREAPPROVAL is CRUCIAL!!!

Every week I get calls and emails from people out looking for homes who want to see them NOW. And I get showings from agents for their clients. Problem is...not Pre-Approved! What is up with that. You buyers agents should know better and for you clients, there are three key reasons why your pre-approval is so important.

1. A pre-approval is just that, taking your basic info and making sure that your credit is ok to go forward with a purchase. The benchmark of today's lenders is a score of 620. If you're not there, most can offer some kind of credit repair. But if you are there then at least you know you're good to go on a purchase.

2. The preapproval helps you define your price point. Many call and say that they're looking for a home in the 150K range but want a monthly payment of 750 or less. Unless you've got a magician for a lender or are putting a huge amount down, this is probably unrealistic. The preapproval helps you and your agent find properties in the range that you can'afford comfortably.

3. And lastly: put yourself in the seller's shoes. They get so excited to know someone is coming to look at their home. Imagine you are them and people just come traipsing through just to look at your decor and may possibly may not be qualified to buy! You've taken hours to ready the home, get out for the showing and get your hopes up to be dashed by this unqualified buyer.
All Buyers agents should make sure they qualify before showings. Sadly there are still many who are desperate for a sale and do not do things correctly. It is my company, Keller Williams' policy to get preapprovals before ever meeting at a home or the office to start a very time intensive search for the client.

So whether you're looking in the Greenville, Travelers Rest or mountains of Upstate SC or any where else please take 15 minutes and take care of this most important step so your agent can really help you with what you need. And agents, please don't show those listings until your buyers are preapproved. I can't take giving my sellers that news any longer!