Email Lenders Prior to Having the Deal?

[Reyna Lopez]

Can I email local banks and hard money lenders before I have the deal or I have to do this once I have the deal?

A bit back story: I am a consultant, therefore have a 1099 job, not a w2 job. I'd like to do a BRRRR strategy for my first deal. I'm planning to get a HELOC to have that money in my account so that the lender sees that if extra money for rehab I can fund it. I plan to get a hard money or private money lender to fund the house + rehab and then refinance to a commercial loan (since I won't qualify for a conventional loan just yet with my 1099 job)I don't have the deal that I will be purchasing yet (actively looking for it) but can I start emailing local banks to see if they would refinance me and/or hard money lenders?

I understand that getting a pre approval is great (I obtained one when I bought my personal property) but since I am planning to get a commercial loan can I still get a pre approval? Considering that the commercial loan qualifications depends on the property, not sure how they can pre qualify me before I even have the property...