Calculator question; Newbie!

[Evelyn Castillo]

Hey BP! So I am looking around for homes where I see the possible potential... But I am having issues with the order of the steps I need to take since I have never purchased a home before. Okay, so say I find a home that I like and I am working on the analyzing portion of this potential deal but then I come across the ARV portion of the calculator and other estimates on the calculator... Should I be pre-approved before calling contractors, agents, or even analyzing anything? I hope this question makes sense. I have all of these steps mixed up in my head when I practice with the calculators. I've seen how Brandon Turner will sometimes estimate repair costs, etc using his experience but I have none and I wouldn't know how much it would cost to paint the interior/exterior of a house for instance. Thank You in advance.