After years of working with both buyers and sellers, I can tell you with great certainty that most sellers care that your offer is…reliable.
They want to know that your financing is secure, that you're ready to work in good faith to get through (minimal) contingencies, and that your offer won't fall through.
They want to know that you'll meet deadlines, comply to timelines, be pleasant to work with and that the process will be smooth.
As we head into the spring real estate market, here are some things you can do to prepare to buy:
01 — Get pre-approved with a lender. But not just any lender — one who is reputable and a pleasure to work with. I've seen sellers choose one offer over another simply because they didn't trust the pre-approval letter or that financing would come through.
02 — Get crystal clear on your budget. Your pre-approval amount is a great place to start. However, it doesn't necessarily determine the amount you're comfortably willing to pay each month towards a mortgage, insurance, and taxes. Determine what that monthly number is and then talk with your lender about what price point you're willing to go up to. They can help you run numbers.
03 — Work with a real estate agent with solid local relationships and experience in the market you want to live in. Trust me, it matters.
04 — In a really competitive situation, consider performing a pre-offer inspection so that you can perform a home inspection prior to putting in a offer. If you're comfortable with the results, you can place an offer without an inspection contingency and that is a major plus to sellers.
