Broker

LMJ10

Anyone else getting really cheesed off that it’s taking So long for their broker to reply to emails!?
we don’t have time on our side as wanting to go through HTB. And the last month I’m chasing every email I’ve sent to him for a reply.! Driving me potty!  I feel like I’m doing all the work I’m paying him for! 

Graeme1978uk

On the contrary mine is brilliant, we are also going through HTB. She did the HTB application for us and does all the running around and chasing up whatever needs chasing up.

SueF1

As annoying as it is, I can imagine their workload at the moment is hugely inflated. Not only are the numbers up massively for the amount of people wanting their services but the lenders are totally overrun too making their job even more difficult and ultimately, more time consuming.
My broker says in 30 years she has not see it this bad and she's really not enjoying her job at the moment. The constant hikes in rates and lenders seemingly taking advantage, the pressure's on for everyone involved.
I think at this time we all need to be a bit patient, as hard as it is, because nothing's happening very quickly.
I am currently gong through my fantastic broker for an application with Santander. Looking back at old texts from 2 years ago, a previous mortgage application, the timescale from my application to offer was 3 working days. This time, I'll have waited over a month just to get the valuation done....

SueF1

Graeme1978uk said:

On the contrary mine is brilliant, we are also going through HTB. She did the HTB application for us and does all the running around and chasing up whatever needs chasing up.

Mine too. She's great even though she's snowed under. Sorry to rub it in OP and sorry you're clearly having a rubbish time with yours!

LMJ10

SueF1 said:

Graeme1978uk said:

On the contrary mine is brilliant, we are also going through HTB. She did the HTB application for us and does all the running around and chasing up whatever needs chasing up.

Mine too. She's great even though she's snowed under. Sorry to rub it in OP and sorry you're clearly having a rubbish time with yours!

🤣 maybe! Just feels like I’m doing all the running around and finding out my own answers. Frustrating 

ACG

At the minute we (brokers in generally) are spending a LOT longer on each application, especially the self employed applicants. 

That being said, if they are busy/struggling they should stop taking on new customers and they should be letting you know when you will next hear something. I dont know if you are paying a fee or not, but part of the reason we charge a fee is so that we dont have to stack customers high in order to earn a wage, every customer can get hold of us usually straight away but worst case scenario is usually within half an hour. 

Gem_M90

I was initially using a broker recommended by family and he was brilliant, I've been house hunting over a year and explored many different options and he was on hand for even the silliest questions. In the end due to getting fed up offering way over the value for properties and still not having offers accepted...we opted for a new build and to use the help to buy scheme in Scotland to bring it within our reach. My broker has chose not to deal with HTB and due to the aftermath of covid, just couldn't provide enough resource to sort an application for me, and therefore advised I use the builders recommended broker and didn't charge me a fee despite advising me on and off for a year. I wasn't so keen to use the other broker, but my original one told me to keep in touch and if I needed advice he'd be there. The new brokers were also excellent in fairness however more impersonal than I'd been used to, so I did still confirm 1 or 2 things with my original broker. We hit a few bumps in the road however the new broker dealt with everything perfectly. They really are worth their weight in gold when you find a good one.