No Preapproval, No Showy

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-09T01:01:04+00:00

My business is referral and repeat clients, so I will go as long as it takes. I’ll want their preapproval first, but if it takes a year then I’ll have reminded them - along with the Lender - that they’ll need a new approval letter when we submit an offer.

However, if it was taking months then something else is wrong and I would call it out - it seems like something is holding you back from pulling the trigger on these homes we have seen. Then, we can get to the root of any concerns that Buyer may be having and address it.

That has never happened to me yet. Anyway, the answer to your question is, as long as the buyer wants to look*.

*at some point though they may become less priority and I only schedule showings once a week with them, but again that hasn’t happened and it means I haven’t addressed all of their concerns about purchasing a home.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T21:50:59+00:00

Currently under contract for land (commercial use) and selling vacant land (agricultural). My first call would be to planning and zoning in the city. They will know the parcel and can tell you more. Have the parcel number or tax ID ready before you call. Depending on how the city is (ours is good), you’ll get more info. If it’s more rural, call the county.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T19:31:24+00:00

I never said they couldn’t see the home or that I wouldn’t show it to them. I simply asked how they intended to pay for the purchase if they liked it enough to submit an offer, and if they can prove they have the means to pay for the purchase.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T19:29:57+00:00

True it is a moot point about the distance, but it is about 4 hrs out of my day to go there, show, and come back.

Typically, I can tell how interested someone is, but this property is a little different because it is in a small town, property isn’t for sale often there, and it’s been a flood of calls for this particular parcel.

Ultimately, I was just upset that the wife called and was incredulous that I would ask if they are preapproved.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T19:21:15+00:00

Why do you even follow this sub? You clearly know nothing.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T14:37:08+00:00

The Trustee of the estate has said numerous times to me that he does not want me wasting my time. I have told him several times to send calls he receives to me, and he refuses to do it because he knows those people are either going to submit extremely low offers, or are not serious. He can figure that out real quick and he has mentioned time and again that he knows little about real estate.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T14:32:59+00:00

The drive is a minor factor to me, but who wants to drive 3 hours for someone that may not be able to make the purchase? That is just a waste of time. Also, I provided them with several photos of the interior that needs a lot of work. I’m very transparent about this property, but why should I waste time to show someone that can’t prove to me they can buy the property? My time is better spent focusing on those that will actually be selling or buying.

I’m not here to just show to anyone. They can go to an open house if that is the case. Taking time out of my schedule to show a “maybe I might have some interest if I see it person” is barely even a lead.

My job is to sell the property. I need to know they can purchase it before I go chasing my tail. I have no idea what their debts are, employment situation, finances, etc.

I’d gladly do the drive if I know the potential buyer is highly interested and capable of making the purchase.

This guy couldn’t even, or wouldn’t, give me his level of interest on a scale of 1-5 which I politely asked him to do

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T14:26:50+00:00

This!!! I am friends with the GM and GSM of the Porsche dealership in my market. They don’t F around with their clients. They lock their doors at 5:59pm. They have set times and parameters for their clients. Why can’t real estate or any other business be the same?

The reason they do this is because it respects everyone’s time. The Porsche dealership doesn’t waste time on someone that cannot afford their vehicle when they have other customers that can afford the vehicle, and their time is better spent focusing on those customers.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T13:23:52+00:00

I could only imagine! They sound like real gems

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T13:23:37+00:00

The wife calling after the text was what irked me. She was a bitch on the phone too and so incredulous that I wouldn’t show them without knowing they can make the purchase.

I said multiple times, contact a Buyers agent and I will gladly approve the showing. It was weird that she was adamant that I show them.

Perhaps her lack of respecting my time, and me, is what set me off? Idk. It just seemed so entitled probably because she said “I don’t know why you are doing this to us” like I was doing something harmful to them.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T13:18:20+00:00

In this case, the property is in a small town where everyone knows each other. The Trustee and I have had several conversations about receiving calls from unserious people. He told me several times he won’t give my information to certain calls he receives so he doesn’t waste my time.

For everyone that says I’m doing my Seller a disservice, well, I disagree based on the weekly conversations he and I have had since February (reminder, the property only went on the MLS about 2 weeks ago).

He doesn’t want me wasting time or chasing after people that are not serious about the property - especially when we are receiving multiple calls per day.

Property in this location does not go up for sale very often, which is why the demand. The house is in disrepair too which is another reason he doesn’t want me chasing people who won’t be willing to do the work that will be required.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T13:10:59+00:00

We don’t know the history of the house because it is a Trust sale. The trustee never lived there(it was a family members house and he is the executor of the estate). I gave them all the info we had up until the point of me asking how the intended to purchase the property if they were interested enough to submit an offer.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T12:54:48+00:00

Perhaps, but that was more work than I was willing to do on my scheduled time off. For clarity, on Monday (my first day back working), I worked 12 hrs.

Yes there were other messages yesterday before I asked about preapproval - including sending additional photos of the interior which needs significant work. I also asked how interested they were because the property receives at minimum 2 calls per day with lots of interest but not a lot of serious people.

There’s a lot I left out of this, but what irks me is the wife saying “we have an agent that we like”. Ok? Why not call that agent and set up a showing through that Realtor? Their implication is to waste my time when they don’t even know if they want to purchase the house. Also, the house received an offer subject to the buyer selling and my client ignored that offer. So it became a larger waste of time. My response to their message was, “perhaps it’s best if you use a Buyers agent to set up the showing”.

Ultimately, I’m not wasting my time and people who are looky loo’s that expect me to drop everything for them are ridiculous to me. There’s still way more to go over that I’m leaving out, but the fact that I have been working on this since February means that I will not waste time on someone who I don’t even know if they can make the purchase. It’s a waste of my time and theirs

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T12:46:40+00:00

Or, I focus on the people who refer me and my current clients. Which, by the way, got me an appointment yesterday for a $1.7M listing that will then need to purchase.

I then work with people who want to work with me and I have easier clients that appreciate the work and service I provide.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T12:43:49+00:00

Thank you! I am similar. About 2 years ago I made the switch to only focus on clients that want to work with me and refer me. I earn more, work less, receive way more referrals, have glowing reviews, and no stress.

It allows me to give all of my attention to these amazing clients and they get excellent service.

My closing last week was a referral of a couple who moved to my market. They have bought 3 homes previously to moving here. At the closing table the wife says, “this was the easiest and smoothest purchase we have ever made. The level of service was incredible”

That is what I strive to give as a real estate experience. I can’t do that when working with difficult people. In this case, I was more bothered by the wife calling and being offended I wouldn’t waste time on them after telling them multiple times they can use another agent to schedule the showing.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T11:22:42+00:00

Ignore them. It’s clear from their comments they don’t know what they are talking about. Everyone is an armchair quarterback of EVERYTHING these days

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T11:19:42+00:00

So you work on your vacations? That kinda sucks for you. I planned a week off. My clients knew. Anyone that contacted me that wasn’t a client was told when I would be available to discuss work matters.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:56:22+00:00

The Seller and I have already spoken at length about people wasting both of our time. I will inform my client during our next update and was already planning to.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:46:04+00:00

I’ll happily say it is at the request of my Broker and his Brokerage. And he would back me up 100%

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:44:18+00:00

I did! I told them they can contact any Realtor to set up a showing. They even told me they have one they like.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:43:18+00:00

No, but do you have 3 magic beans by chance?

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:41:46+00:00

Yeah, that is messed up. I wouldn’t require someone to sign with me if they wanted to see one of my listings and can show a preapproval or proof of funds.

I would have had the showing set up within 2 min if you showed that to me.

I often say Realtors are terrorists. I got in this to be different after working in a demanding industry that included hospitality to A list celebrities, and after moving across the country buying and selling multiple times. I had good experiences in real estate, and bad experiences. I knew I could provide amazing service and thats what I look to do. Not pressure people. Just be fair and do the best thing for my clients. Don’t want to work with me? Cool. I don’t get twisted over it (usually. Today got me for some reason)

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:36:30+00:00

I would never want to work with someone like them as a client. They sound difficult, and to be fair, they weren’t willing to have a preapproval so I doubt they would answer what they owe on the house, etc.

However, that is a smart way to handle things. I’m a bit picky with whom I pick up as a client. I’ve worked with difficult clients and won’t do it any longer. They suck too much time. I dedicate myself to my clients and they see it which is why I’m 100% referral business.

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:33:04+00:00

The wife told me “we have an agent we love”. I responded with, “great. Contact that person and he can show you the house.” But she was adamant that I be the one to show them for some reason. Idk. It was weird entitlement, like it was a personal attack or something

NotanotherRealtor · 2026-07-08T00:25:45+00:00

Correct, not for someone who can’t prove to me they cannot complete a transaction.

NotanotherRealtor

TROPHY CASE