Jane Henninger, a Realtor^® from Colorado Springs uses this list to qualify prospective buyers. All questions may not apply in every situation, but they provide a thorough way for you to separate real buyers from those simply shopping around. I thought you might find the list useful.

A. What is the buyer's motivation?
Do you currently own a house?
Do you need to sell that home in order to buy this one?
Is your house currently on the market?
How many showings have you had?
How any written offers have been presented?
Why didn't you accept any offers?
Is it under contract? When will it close?
Are you currently working with a Realtor^®?
If your house is not currently sold, and not listed with a Realtor^®, how do you plan to market it?
If you were to see our home today, and like it, would you be prepared to make an
      offer right away?
Do you currently rent? When is your lease up?
If you find the house you like, can you break your lease?
How soon do you need to move into your new home?
From where are you moving?
Are you involved with a company relocation program?
How long have you been looking for a new home?
How many homes have you looked at?
Did you see any you liked?
Did you make a bid on any houses you liked? What happened?
How did you happen to call us (stop by)?
Did you see our (sign, newspaper ad, get sent by friend, get sent by Realtor^®)?
Why are you working or not working with a Realtor^®?
What was it about our ad (or seeing our house) caught your eye?
Will you be viewing our home with your family?
Will all the decision-makers be available to see our home?
If not, when will all be available?

B. How financially qualified is the buyer?
What is your current mortgage (rent) payment?
Have you been pre-qualified for a mortgage loan?
Have you been pre-APPROVED?
For how much have you been pre-qualified or pre-approved?
Does the pre-qualification require any seller-paid concessions?
How long ago did you speak to a loan officer?
What interest rate was used? Fixed rate or adjustable? Term?
Did the loan officer run a credit report for you?
Is your credit history clean? Please explain. (Any charge-offs, judgements, excessive late payments?)
Are you the co-signer on another person's loan?
Which loan officer, at what company, did you use? May I call the loan officer?
Have you been given a good-faith estimate of closing costs?
How much of a down payment are you planning?
How much earnest money do you have available?
Have you consulted with your attorney?
Do you currently have a Buyer Agency Contract with a Realtor^®?
How much commission is this agent to be paid? By whom?
Have you ever declared bankruptcy? How long ago?
Have you ever had a foreclosure? How long ago?

C. How sophisticated is the prospective buyer?
Do you have to consult with anyone else before you make an offer on this home?
Is this your first home purchase?
Do you have anyone advising you about the purchase of a home?
Who will be handling the property inspection for you?
If you have purchased before, did you use a Realtor^®?
Have you ever sold a house before?
If you sold, did you use a Realtor^® for the sale?
Will you be living in this property yourself, or are you buying it for someone else?
Is this purchase strictly an investment?

D. Does my home really fit this prospective buyer's needs?
Why are you looking in this neighborhood?
What are your required housing needs?
What would you change about your current home?
What features of your current home have you outgrown?
What current home features must you have in your new home?