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You have been looking on-line, and you have hit the "favorite" button on 20 houses. That is wonderful! But before we book showing appointments, I need you to do the following:
1.Have your Pre-Approval or Proof of Funds Letter Ready
- If you need financing, then submitting a pre-approval letter with your offer is stronger than a pre-qualification letter. Pre-approval letter is from a lender that you qualify for a specific mortgage amount based on an underwriter’s review of all of your financial information: credit report, pay stubs, bank statement, salary, assets, and obligations.
- If you are submitting a cash offer, then submitting a proof of funds letter with your offer is stronger than not. You would need to contact your bank.
- Why do I need to do this before I look at homes? When we look at homes, you may think the first one we see is the house for you. If you have your pre-approval or proof of funds letter ready to go, then we can submit your offer ASAP. Getting this done before we look for homes will allow for you to compare lenders, banks, and financing options.
2. If the homes are located in different cities, research the cities beforehand.
If you know for a fact you do not want to live more than 25 minutes away from town, then I suggest eliminating the homes that are further than that. You need to determine if the city offers all the amenities that you need. This way, we save drive time, gasoline, and showing time.
3. Read over EVERY SINGLE DISCLOSURE that has been provided.
If you are reading over the disclosure, and there is a deal breaker, then we do not need to scheudle to see that home. It's not being picky, it's being effective.
4. We need to plan!
- Do our schedules align that day? I may already have appointments booked.
- Submit your list of homes two full days prior to showing. I will need to contact all of the agents and see if their clients schedule matches up with our showing schedule. Maybe the home already went under contract? Maybe there is a conflict? If so, we can modify as necessary.
- Driving: I recommend we drive in seperate vehicles. This is will allow you to talk freely about your home experience with those you brought with you, while I am accomodating for other clients during the drive to the home.
5. Pack the essentials:
- Snacks and Water
- Closed Toe Walking Shoes
- Toilet Paper
- Hand Sanitizer
- Rain Gear
- Phone Charger
- Notepad and Pen (notes about homes, information you don’t want to forget)
5. Sight See After Showings!
You're not just buying a home, your buying a home in a city/town. Through the day for lunch and in the evening, try local restaurants, and wineries! After we are done for the day, maybe you want to check out a local event going on in town as well.
I am looking forward to working with you. Even though it will be a jam-packed day, I know that there will be laugher and fun memories to be made.
Kelly Raulston
“Reliable and Ready” REALTOR® since 2016. I was born in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, but was raised in Texas since 1997. When I found out we were moving to Plano, Texas, I remember looking forward to riding a horse to school and a brand-new pair of cowboy boots! Growing up in Plano prepared me to be competitive, quick, and to have a strong work ethic.
I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Axe’em Jacks! That is where my love for East Texas began. The nature, warm smiles, football games, and community values can't be beat! I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I was a middle school math teacher in Tyler, Texas. I met my husband, Travis, in Sunday school, and we have been married since September 2016.
I love being a REALTOR® in East Texas! Relationships are genuine, the area is beautiful, and the market is rockin’! I am an involved REALTOR® to better the community. Some of the organizations I am involved with are: The Professional Development Committee, Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee, and Tyler Educational Networking Group. Some awards I have won were “The Hustle Award” in 2016, and “Rookie of the Year” in 2017.
When I am not working with my clients, I like to spend quality time with my friends and family doing the following: running, target practice, read and participate in book club, and playing with my dachshund Greta.
