Why does OffLot suggest getting pre-approved after I make an offer?

Because offers are more likely to be accepted when you're pre-approved for financing. A pre-approval shows the seller you're ready to complete the purchase and helps you understand your budget. On OffLot, getting pre-approved does not affect your credit score. In the preview, the Social Security number and date of birth fields are locked, and answers are never saved or sent, so no real credit check happens.