on. This means that they are probably just “window shopping” and will continue to look at other homes besides yours. However, if they have been looking for quite some time, they will typically make a commitment one way or the other right away, whereas buyers who have just started looking will not. It’s always better to go with a buyer who has been looking for a long time. They have already seen what’s out there, and chances are they have already considered their options and will be able to come to a decision much faster.
Have you already been pre-qualified by a lender?
This can be presented as either a question or a statement. Try phrasing it as a statement such as, “If you are interested in purchasing my home, I would like for you to be pre-qualified before you make an offer.” Knowing whether or not your buyer has been pre-qualified will show you just how serious this buyer is. You will also be able to determine whether or not they will be qualified to purchase the home from you. If not, tread carefully, as you would need to make adjustments to the contract to fit their status. If the buyer is not qualified, it’s best to scratch them out of the equation completely. You do not want to get involved with a legal process that ties your home up in legal limbo while loan qualifications get sorted out. This will prevent you from showing any other potential buyers if this specific buyer is not qualified, and drags out the whole process, costing you extra time and money on a buyer who may well turn out to be unable to actually buy the house.
Have you already sold your home, or do you still need to do so?
This is an extremely important question because it will give you a general time frame for how long you have to move into a new home yourself. If they are currently in the middle of selling their
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