1st step to buying a house

GET PRE-QUALIFIED. Normally, I would visit one home with a buyer if he/she were not pre-qualified. It permitted me to size up the buyer and get to know them. I do not want to waste my time showing homes to buyers who THINK they can buy a house. Therefore, I make sure they get pre-qualified either beforehand or after the first meeting which could be visiting one home or at my office. I prefer not to meet clients for the first time at their place of residence. Too many distractions. I want to have the buyers undivided attention. I have a lot of information to divulge to the buyer and I require that I have his total attention on what I have to say so that he may ask the correct questions. When the buyer asks me questions on the information I have just given him then I know he's paying attention even though he may not comprehend everything. It also tells me how quickly the buyer processes information so that I either can go quicker in my explanations or take more time with my explanations. Some buyers are embarrassed to ask questions which is not in their best interest. Buyers should understand that the realtors information is repetitive and we may incorrectly assume the buyer has understood everything when in fact they have not. It is vitally important for the buyer to ask ALL questions even the 'stupid' ones because all questions have a purpose....to keep us all out of court. I would rather answer a 'stupid' question than stupidly pay for a lawyer.