Timing's definitely key, but I've seen the flip side too—clients who stumbled onto their dream home unexpectedly and then scrambled to get pre-approved. Stressful doesn't even begin to cover it... Maybe a bit earlier isn't always bad?
Getting pre-approved earlier definitely eases the stress. Usually, I'd suggest clients start the process even before casually browsing listings—just to have a clear budget and avoid that last-minute panic. Ever had someone lose out because they weren't ready in time?
Had a client once who stumbled onto their perfect home without pre-approval... by the time they got everything sorted, someone else had already swooped in. Not fun delivering that news, so now I always stress prepping early to save headaches down the road.
Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way too. Had a client convinced they could wing it—until reality hit and someone else snagged their "dream" place. Pre-approval isn't glamorous, but neither is losing out on a home you love... just sayin'.
Yikes, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Did your client eventually find something else they loved just as much, or did they always regret missing out on that first place? Just curious how these things usually play out...
