Recently, I have attended different association meetings discussing what real estate professionals want from mortgage lenders and vice versa.  In my ten years of association with both industries, I am left dumbfounded that the topics and the points made in these discussions remain the same.  Can it be that that mortgage and real estate professionals are so entrenched in their ways, that they just get together to discuss how to better serve one another, and apply nothing they learned?  Real estate professionals will say that better communication is needed and in order to earn their business mortgage people better prove that they will be offered top shelf service.  Faster pre-approvals, no closing delays, returned phone calls, prompt and frequent status updates, and on and on and on and on.  If I had a penny for ever time I heard the standard list of how to better serve the mortgage and real estate communities, I would have more money than the recent stimulus package passed by the U.S. government.  I am beginning to think that these meetings are meaningless venting sessions.  For example, I attended one well known association meeting where a large real estate team could be asked any question pertaining to how to better service them and their customers.  The team gave the customary answers we have all heard infinite times.  The following day I followed up with a mortgage lender who attended the meeting and asked this person if they learned anything valuable.  They said the things discussed were things that everyone already knew.  My thoughts exactly.  So, why not change?  If you already know all things one needs to do to succeed, why not implement them?  I hope it's not all lip service from both sides of the table.

The single, most surprising fact I take from all of those meetings, is most real estate agents do not care who their clients go to for their lending needs.  I don't understand.  The mortgage company is the most integral piece of the entire transaction.  It will difine the customer's overall service experience.  Real estate agents must realize that customers left to their own devices will make a mortgage decisions based entirely on price.  This leads to bad service, which reflects poorly on your brand.  Agents need to find solid lending partnerships with lenders who offer the client the highest level of service.  It may take some time, but once this is in place you will see a marked increase in your customers' experience, which will positively affect your brand.  

Real estate professionals, you are now officially on notice.  This is your call to action.  For too long you have allowed the mortgage industry to negatively effect your brand.  The real estate transaction your customer experiences depends heavily on the service level provided by the mortgage industry.  Imagine if there was a BenchMarq by which to choose your lending source. This BenchMarq would guarantee a specific level of service you and your client would experience during the transaction.  Picture transparency, accountability, efficiency, and communication as your contract moves seamlessly to the closing table.  LoanMarq is the solution that makes all of this possible.  It brings the service in the mortgage industry to a level once only dreamed.  Real estate professionals, it is time to measure your lending sources by "The BenchMarq."  Does your lender use LoanMarq to facilitate your transactions?  If not, demand it.  The revolution in real estate is here, LoanMarq -- The New Service BenchMarq.