In your opinion, if a buyers agent supposed to make sure a person can buy without the pre approval letter? How do they do that without a pre approval letter? The pre approval letter has less personal information than a W2. Im amazed that you are against getting a pre approval letter but you'll share your W2s and financial documents.? An agent such as ncrealestateguy who won't show a house without a pre-approval letter is doing everyone a disservice - buyers, sellers and him/herself. Especially himself, because as someone just beginning to search for a house, if I were met with that response, I would take my business elsewhere. I think that agents see the house buying experience quite differently than buyers do. As a buyer, I know generally how much I can afford (from the on-line calculator), and my focus is on locating the house, not the details of the sale. Not at that point. Here is an example in another field: a bathroom remodeling company in my area won't let you into their showroom without first having come to your house to measure. It makes perfect sense to them, but as a prospective buyer of that service, it was such a turn off that I went to another company. Linda, regarding showing my W-2 to an agent I want to work with, I'm not being secretive or trying to hide my financials. It is the real estate industry's requirement of the interim step of a bank pre-approval that I am arguing against. It seems a waste of time since I would want to shop the rates among various mortgage companies after I find a house and need financing. So, the prequalification doesn't help me at all. It is hoop that agents are making buyers jump through. If I e-mailed you explaining my circumstances, made an appointment, and then walked into your office with my W-2, a piece of paper showing my 800 FICO score, and my driver's license, why wouldn't that be sufficient for you to get me into a house that I had already researched on the internet?

Normally, the agent comes, you sign the listing, they take the pictures & list or you sign, they put it on the MLS then take the pics. I can';t tell you how common no pictures is in our area, it usually takes a week. When you signed, did you discuss exactly when it would be put on the MLS? Here it is within 24 hours after they have the signed contract. I've never read that an agent will hold a listing for a week after getting it signed. Who is doing the photos? If a pro is coming, they surely wouldn't set it up before you signed & it was listed because if you change your mind they may not be able to stop the photographer from coming. Ours was set up a week in advance and even after we had a signed contract still had to go through the motions with the pro pictures due to it already being set up. If the agent themselves is taking the pictures, surely they could have done it when you signed. You said you weren't ready when you signed, so this should have been discussed. You need to speak to your agent to see if there is a fee to get a new MLS number, from what I understand from reading here there usually is, think I read about $1,500. You also need to see if it will change your days on market. As a buyer, I would rather see the pictures later then to get a new MLS number. I've saved listings as they've come on and if I notice a link doesn't work, then the house shows up with pictures and a new MLS #, I won't take the time to look again if I see the same info / blurb. If it comes in under my new photos / tour, then I know I have it saved and need to look at the pictures only. I don't have a lot of time for "games" and as a seller myself have taken into account things I do as a buyer with my listing. When I say games, I don't have time to figure out what has changes on something I already looked at. I usually move it to another non important folder or delete it and go on my way. Getting a new listing due to not being ready for photos is not a big deal. Just make sure you have everything set if you are doing an open house with enough notice & signs.

Ha ha! I was really just thinking about pouring a glass of wine while I chill out here. jamaraz, you know that you MUST continue to post pics along the way. (And identify with your screen name in the post) Nothing I hate more than going through the prelim step and then don't get to see the outcome! Thanks funcolors...more good info, and i'm def taking the plunge on the faux wood garage now, as well as finding a way hurry along the blue-green patina over the front door. And while structured topiaries aren't my fav either, I can see that having something taller than the typical potted flowers draws the eye to front entry. Curious, what did you put for the front walk/steps? The slate/flagstone needs a lot of repair and might need to be replaced anyway. CHEERS!

LOL I can't wait until you can share. I'm getting our place ready for the first move in (while the real house is finished). The carpet guy spent six hours cleaning today. His comment "INteresting color scheme" (red orange burgundy and pink...all running into each other, and the orange/red fake brick). But the 8 track player works...and the new GC wants to trade work for it LOL I'm sitting here with moving boxes above my desk level, and paint chips everywhere....and can't wait to get started! I get the added fun of furnishing, so (now don't laugh) obviously if you furnish a house you need to provide a christmas tree right? Well anyhoo, we will because I went out and bought all new christmas decorations LMAO. We don't have chairs but we do have roudolph :op I picked up some lovely dishes at that big linen store, and I'll be donating my glassware to the house so I can get new stuff :oP I did a little searching, and our cabinets (the ones in the new place) are by QuakerMaid. They're SOLID mahogany...with WOOD boxes. They're gorgeous, and get this, they are all drawers in the kitchen, with pull out trays, etc, from 1977. Everything we want today, :O) QuakerMaid will custom make me some fill in pieces to exactly match the existing pieces, so I can actually re-design the kitchen the way I want it to work, verses trying to work with a few cabinets and not much space :) We'll have to have fun together on this :) I actually have to stick to a budget (which might kill me) LOL so please rein me in on occasion right? (I'm looking at farmhouse sinks for the kitchen...won't that be cool? Heh heh) (Does Home Despot make those?) LOL