I ask about their financial qualification first.  Will you be paying cash, or do you have a pre-approval letter from a Lender?   And... are you working with a real estate agent?

I get all the information prior to showing.  Lender approval and proof of funds. And, I ask if they are working with an agent.  Shocking I know ... but some have actually not been honest about that 

I ask questions. What I do depends on their answers.  But I never ever meet random strangers at a home alone.

I will generally ask if they have been preapproved and by what lender.  If they haven't taken that step, I encourage them to do so before we meet.

I always ask someone I don't know to meet me at my office first. If they are real, they show up.

I use my instincts, ask a few Qs and do some gentle fishing. If I think they are OK, I schedule an appointment for them to see it. If not, there are 1200 agents in our association and it's on LB. I'm not available, but you can hire a buyer's agent to show. Enjoy!

Firstly, I would find it quite insulting for a Buyer to think I was simply sitting by the phone awaiting their call! 

Secondly, I'm fortunate in that all of my listings may only be shown to qualified buyers so it is not expected that I'll jump. 

I've not found too many people who don't have an understanding of how the world has changed our old mode of operations.

I think you have a distinct advantage being a women saying you're not meeting anyone without them coming to your office. Then cite a safety issue/policy at your office.

I always tell them bring your pre-approval with you please.

You have to ask questions and in light of Beverly Carter's death in Arkansas you need to be certain about who you are dealing with. Met them at a public place first and do some qualifications.

I say ABSOLUTELY! Come on in to my office so I can meet you and then we will go from there.

Let's meet at my office and chat first!

The ones that call and think I can stop everything for them, will have to wait. The ones that my instinct tell me have potential, we ask all the questions and will take them out once before needing to see the pre-approval.

I always meet them first, so I can talk to them. But I do ask on the phone few questions to find out if they work(ed) with someone else, if they talked to a lender and when they are planing to buy.

I do some prequalifying first and find out if they are a qualified buyer. I then schedule an appointment to come into the office. I generally don't show without a buyer agency agreeement or the discussion about representation.

It is my Fiduciary relationship to the seller to show only qualified buyers their house ..without a contract with the buyer I actually still represent the seller ..

Depends on the pricing of the listing. More expensive listings require criteria whereas the lesser require convenience. More showings can lead somewhere. I do all my own showings hands on all the way. I know what people are saying and thinking first hand when they do. I use this to uphold or modify my position. My experience is what people hire

Good morning Mimi. Most of my Realtor partners that I work with will not show a property without a pre-qualification letter. I personally think the ones that do often waste their time.

If I was an agent, yes, or course I would meet with anyone that is looking for a house. At the meeting, ask them if they have talked to a lender, and if they have a letter. If they have not, get on the phone and do a pre-qualification (including running a credit report) and educate the customer on the buying process. A good lender can have this done is less than 30 minutes. Then show them the house. But don't come across as a person that doesn't have the time to talk with buyers who are not approved yet.

I spend a little time talking (and a LOT of time listening) when they call to determine if they are qualified, serious buyers since so many of the listings here are by appointment only. If we do set an appointment, I meet them in a public place before showing since the office is a bit of a drive and not in the area I work.

That is up to the seller. If sellers instructions were to show only to preapproved buyers, then they must provide a current lender letter before i will meet them at the house.

I do get all of their info, let someone know I am meeting at a listing.   Generally I will show them the home without asking about the lender, meet them and built rapport, and go from there.

I ask a few "pre-qualifying" questions, but don't push for all the paperwork right away, first try to see how serious they are.

This always depends on the circumstances, the property, the conversation, etc. Let your 'gut feeling' control.

To be in compliance of fair housing and provide equal service our policy is they get pre qualified and sign a buyers rep agreement or find someone else to open doors for them.

If it's an agent, I'll pre-qual their client.  Most of my listings are agent accompany.   I'm not going out there for a looki-loo or someone who has a home to sell first.  Contingent offers are looked down on in this market with homes going in multiples.

If it's a person, I'll qualify them to see if they're into the lender process yet, then I'll go if I think they're ready to purchase (or close enough) or if think I can pick them up as a buyer.  Gotten a couple buyers that way recently.

I try to get the property sold for my sellers, so I show it.  I always ask first if they are working with a agent.

I always ask two questions before I will meet them.  1) Have you talked to a lender yet?"  (The "yet" is important.)  And 2)  Are you working with an agent?   If they have an agent, I suggest that their agent should show the property, or find a colleague who will show them the property.    I have been known to show a buyer property on behalf of their buyers agent, if that agent calls me and explains what the extenuating circumstances are.  Of course, I don't expect listing agents to show houses to my clients, either.

The agents for whom I market would meet them in the office first and then have a conversation and explain what's needed....

I very seldom rush out to see anyone, instead I start collecting qualifying info and set an appointment for a later date.

Since I don't do "dual agency" I refer them to another competent Buyer Agent in our brokerage...

Mimi Foster I ask, if their buyer has been preapproved.

I get as much info as possible then show them the home.

I ask questions but depending on the listing/seller I don't necessarily get a lender or other information.  

I like to meet them at the office before going to the property. 

If it is a consumer without a buyer agent, i do ask a series of questions and depending the answers show or ask for that pre uql letter first

100% of the time we make sure they are qualified to buy the home.  If they haven't talked with a lender yet, that comes first.  

I ask them a few questions .

What Fred Griffin said. What Kathleen Daniels said. What Tammy Lankford said.

I vet any buyer and I or someone from my team does each showing.

Mimi Foster - I'd stay away from that and refer him/her to another agent at my brokerage - unless they are willing to share their pre-approval letter and willing to work with you.

My office is not close to my farm area. I usually meet them at a public place. When we talk, I get as much info as possible including their lenders info. 

They have to be pre-approved first.

It depends on how I feel in my gut.  I would probably would show them the house without a lender letter, but would get some of their information.

Mimi,

We always were pre-qualifying over the phone, and not I did not ask for a Lender's letter when I knew the company who needed to lease a couple of floors in the building.  Nor did I ask, if they wanted to buy a building.  I made an appointment and showed them the space.  We wrote an offer or we did not, and I had with me a list of other suitable buildings.  When we moved to Napa, no one asked us for a letter to see a home...A

I go through my checklist for this type of situation.