You’ve hired a realtor, put your house for sale, and you’re ready to sell your home. Now, it’s only a matter of time before you find a buyer. But how do you recognize a serious home buyer?
Selling a home is both exciting and stressful all at once. When someone makes you an offer, you can easily get carried away and think that you’ve found the one. But some buyers are not serious about purchasing your place, or they might get cold feet at closing. That’s why it’s important to look for signs from the start to spot a quality prospect.
Here are five signs of a serious home buyer:
They’re working with a realtor
If a buyer has already hired a realtor, that’s a pretty good sign they’re serious about making a purchase. It means they’ve already made a certain commitment to the realtor to work together on finding them a home, and they’re probably ready for the next step. So, if you want to tell serious home buyers from non-serious ones, this is your first sign to look for.
They’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage
Another way to identify a serious home buyer is if they have their financials in place. For instance, if they provide a pre-approval letter when they make you an offer. You can see that they’ve already been pre-approved for a mortgage, you can bet that they’re serious about closing. A pre-approval letter demonstrates their commitment and financial readiness to purchase a home.
They show genuine interest in your house
A serious homebuyer will show genuine interest in your home. This means they’ll set up maybe not just one showing, but two or three. They will spend a significant amount of time in the home. Someone who spends a few moments in the house and acts on emotion could be a recipe for disaster. Make sure they’ve spent enough time in and around the home to KNOW they want it.
They ask the right questions
Additionally, a serious buyer will ask the right questions. For instance, they might ask around regarding the foundation, roof age, paint, property taxes, or maintenance issues. This means they’re already planning for future costs and picturing themselves living in the house – and that’s definitely a good sign.
They’ve put their current home for sale
Finally, another sign you’re dealing with a serious buyer is that they’ve already listed their current home to sell or they’ve made clear their rental is coming to an end. That’s a clear sign they’re seriously looking for a new home, and your house may just be the one.
So there you have it. Those were the top five signs of a serious home buyer. After you’ve found them, you’re ready to go to the next step, and that’s selling your house but It’s important to note that these signs are not foolproof, and there can still be unexpected developments in the home-buying process. However, these indicators can help sellers and real estate agents identify buyers who are more likely to follow through with a purchase, ultimately saving time and reducing uncertainty in the selling process.
If you need any help, the Soukup Real Estate Team is here for you. We combine expert negotiation and proven industry experience to help sellers like you sell their homes hassle-free and for top dollar. Feel free to get in touch with us for all your real estate needs in Fort Collins and the Northern Colorado area.
