I hate wasting time….unless it’s on Facebook, YouTube, or watching one of the 4.2 million reality shows on one of the 4.2 million cable channels. Other than that I hate wasting time! Don’t you? So let’s talk about a few ways to make a better use of our time…shall we?

Do NOT get in the self-checkout line behind the person who has a buggy full of groceries! Do NOT watch the ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ (unless you DVR them and have alike a marathon viewing weekend)!  Don’t eat donuts on a treadmill AND do NOT start the home buying process without getting prequalified.

Here are 5 reasons you should get prequalified:

1. Save your Saturdays! A lot of folks schedule time to go look at homes on Saturdays. Who wants to spend time going from home to home when you may not even be able to afford them. Knowing what you can and cannot afford will help you better focus your and your Realtors time. (Always work with a local Realtor…they know the market and the process).
2. Answers to THOSE questions! Think about it. Simply by going through the process of getting prequalified you will be forced to think about not only what you can afford, but it will focus you on what features are priority. Is it location and schools or is it views and a pool? Do you want a big yard? The process is very beneficial in helping you prepare for the journey ahead.
3. Helps you clean up ‘that’ room! We all have that room that doesn’t stay as clean or kept up as the rest of the house. You know the one you don’t want anyone going into when they stop by. Well sometimes our finances or credit can be like that. We simply ignore things we know need to be done or maybe we don’t know what can be done to fix some of our financial issues OR maybe we don’t even know we have things that can negatively impact us. Well, the process of getting prequalified can open that door and force us to get our finances in order…which is a good thing. If you are working with a good local lender you trust, then they should be more than able to make suggestions and put you on a timeline to get things straightened up.
4. Relationships matter! Getting prequalified will get you and a local mortgage company working together. It will start the relationship…they know you and you will know them. You will know where they are located so you can get face time if need be. They get to know you and your situation…their job is to know the deadlines, the process, the market, and the rates…so they will become part of your team. Having them be on your side will always improve your experience.
5. Memories! Believe it or not the more you do up front to help make the home buying process go smoother the better your memories will be. It may seem trivial now, but it will matter! Most memories are simply a big puzzle made up of all the small pieces. Pieces that are based on the Relator you choose…the mortgage company you work with…the actual home you buy. Let’s face it…it is probably the largest investment you have made and it can be stressful. So why not make the process as easy as possible…control what you can. You will thank yourself down the road when you are looking back on it.