If they stall or refuse to call a lender for pre-approval, or won't produce a POF letter, then SYL.

If they are not pre-approved yet, and have stopped communicating, I'd stop communicating also. I wouldn't formally "cut them free" but would release them in my mind and move on. They might come back at some point with an explanation and pre-approval in hand.

I don't wait overly long... time is our most precious commodity so why waste it on a client who is not motivated at the end of the day. By the same token, I don't "formally" fire them. I ghost them back and let them make the first move back to me when they are serious. And if not, so what... some will, some won't, so what, next.

Here's to me and here's to you
here's to love and laughter
I'll be true as long as you
and not one minute after.

If after being educated and instructed, they're not going with the program, F'M. I don't have time to chase non-functioning weenies.

Communication is a part of connecting. Ghosting is frightening.  Staying in touch is part of the bigger picture. 

Drop them like a hot potato (mind wise), time wasters! (They had cut themselves free)

Bye Felicia! They don't seem like serious buyers to me. Do yourself a favor and cut them loose. Let them be someone else's hobby.

1 they don't get pre approved

2 they don't sign a buyers rep agreement

3 they will not let me drive the bus

They really are just lookers not buyers, aren't they? If they don't communicate or respond, there is not much you can do. Buyers have responsibilities too to make their next move (in more than one way!)

I wont bring a buyer out without a pre qual letter from a local and trusted lender. 

dig deeply for listings, Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS 

I don't cut them totally free but do stay in touch with them from time to time 

ASAP. 

:)

Paul, I won't go after that one. 

Happy New Year!

Takes a lot of coaching and education to get them to do what it takes to get into a new home.

Chances are they HAVE applied for pre-approval and failed. They're likely too embarrassed to tell you. I have had this and a year later, they're on my doorstep again - ready to go! 

I wouldn't burn that bridge but, I also wouldn't put any more effort into convincing them to get their pre-approval or showning houses, for sure.

Candice A. Donofrio put it well. Not one minute after! 

They are the ones who go ghost.

People are so afraid of lenders.  I think they would rather go to the dentist for a root canal than get preapproved.  Lenders are not scary people.  Some of my best friends are lenders.  :-)

Have learned from early on that only preapproved buyers get the attention of experienced realtors.  With high tech stocks prices reduced ~30% in 2018, it is harder today to cough up with $300+K down payment while most still can qualify for 1M+ preapproval. So I will be probing around see if they have the min 20% downpayment.

They could be saving for a bigger down payment, waiting on a promotion, inheritance or any number of legitimate reasons. Lack of communication is just normal human behavior. Keep the auto updates going and if their situation improves they will appreciate your effort.

Then they are not buyers are they?

Since I work with investors only this is a rare happening.

I only work with buyers that are pre-approved, with underwriting approval with my lending partner.  They are well qualified and ready to buy in their price range ... and we only look at homes in their price range. 

What you have is leads that you have not converted, Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS 

Converting leads is the hardest yet most necessary part of our business.

You see, I work in reverse. Buyers come to the office for their first interview meeting with me. They will be peppered with questions - needs, wants, and requirements, Then I decide if I want to work with them or not. If I do, then, they have to get qualified ASAP. Nothing really happens until they get qualified and I have a pre-qual in hand.

Then I know they are 'actually' buyers, they are committed, and what their real budget is, and down payment. 

Lets work professional smart.

Oh yes, one more thing... they must sign a BBA with me. It's not an option if they want to work with me.

When they've been shown what they want but they still aren't pulling the trigger on something.

I stop calling them but leave them on drip email and automated searches if set up.  If they call me, I ask them to get their stuff in order before I will take them out.

We attempt to conduct a Buyers Consultation Session with our Buyers before viewing properties

If they don't choose to become pre-qualified they aren't a prospect.

Communication is key. They need to communicate what is happening and then I will make a decision. 

Paul,

So many good answers by so many smart AR friends...A

Their lack of desire to get qualified is often the time to cut them loose and that should happen early on in the game.

Keep them on your email list. Sometimes, it is months or years before they get serious.

They know something they have not told you.

#1. They have not seen a house they want.

#2. They fear if they get preapproval, they will be perpetually updating and taking a credit score hit.

#3. This is the one YOU NEED TO KNOW.....

They are avoiding shame.  This wears many suits. So give them a safe place so shame can be avoided. Every human action is to avoid shame.

You should have an Idea of their income (education, what they drive, where they work, job title)  and be able to extrapolate their maximum mortgage budget. Start there.

If they aren't willing or able to do their part in getting qualified, then I don't have time to waste on showing them properties.

This type of behavior has its roots in childhood development where an authority used will & force to get a result & instead got resentment & resistance. This will play out until someone corrects it....correctly (with love) or for an adult, with patience....

What Nina Hollander & Debe Maxwell, CRS said.  :)

We will always have so-called buyers like that and we will not consider them bona fide buyers until they do take that critical next step. Until that point, they are nothing more than prospects and not worthy of wasting your resources on.

I explain, My level of investment to your success can't be greater than yours. I will proceed at your pace, advise you to the risks & rewards of waiting and let you do what makes sense to you.  I will send anyone listings, I'll only go out with the buyers who are ready, except maybe the first time. 

If they do not return calls or reply to emails  or texts

Paul, I've dropped my share of buyers over the years. Most of the time, I'v e dropped them when they showed they were not committed to our agreement. They'd call a listing agent to see a home even though we had a written agreement. Or, they would go set up showings with other agents during that same time. They had zero loyalty to me. In that case, I freed up their future to use whoever they could find to work with them. No loss. 

I'm with Michael Jacobs ...communication is connecting, sharing and moving forward in a relationship. I'm also with Richard Weeks

 1 they don't get pre approved

2 they don't sign a buyers rep agreement

3 they will not let me drive the bus

If they haven't gotten that lender pre-qual/pre-approval yet, I don't waste my time.

These buyers can stay on my web site, I won't take them out until they are approved, or show proof of funds.

If they are not willing to get pre-approved, they are just a lead and not actually a buyer. I don't kid myself of try to make a deal out of every lead. I want motivated buyers.

I would create a process and explain the process. Those who are serious will follow your process. The others will become someone else's headache.

When I don't get information I request

within 7 days

I put them into two systems:

A go fund me type pre- loan system to gather more down payment.

A credit repair improvement system

When they are serious they will have more money and a better FICO. I don't dump anytone, just keep fixing them

Getting them pre-approved is one of the first things I do. I also like to meet with them to talk about their needs and the process then have them sign a buyer agency agreement. If they won't do any of those things, they can be on my newletter mailing list as long as they want. I'd rather spend time with my family than with strangers who have no motivation. 

You feed them, send the signals in your rotation but when they don't communicate, move on to ones who do that you can help. Just walk away from the MIA's and you don't always know why they backed off right away. Something happened in their life...or they already bought and are a tad sheepish? Getting divorced, lost job, medical problem...life happens. They can not get qualified for some reason.

If they won't get pre qualified or produce a bank letter for proof of funds, then let them go.   Your time is much too precious to waste on those. Concentrate on the ones that do and are motivated.