We've decided that we're going to wait out the next 6-12 months, pay off every single CC in that time (and wait the ridiculously long time it takes the CRAs to update their files once credit accounts have been settled in full!) and hopefully save another few k's to make sure we're under what seems to be the elusive 85% LTV and get ourselves in a much better financial position before we put our house on the market.
Although *I* know we can afford what we need, and we have a squeaky clean credit record, we seem to be faced with a "computer says no" attitude, and the "advisors" we've seen couldn't really have helped less.
We've seen 2 mortgage advisors - one based at an EA (although not employed by the EA, I think he was Countrywide) and one a Barclays advisor. The EA broker, although a seemingly nice fella, wasn't very much help on the advice front and has basically not kept us informed of anything and not returned calls when he's promised to - culminating in us getting to speak to him the other day, and him telling us "oh I didn't think you were bothered" (yeah, that's why we signed forms for credit searches!!!). I knew the meeting with the Barclays advisor wasn't going to go well, when he thought 97.5k - 12.5k was 87k.... and then went on to tell us he's only been back at work since "last week" after being off since November and he didn't know the new system... and then proceeding to fill in the application incorrectly, submitting it, not being able to edit it and having to call the underwriters to do so, which would take over a week to do, as he was then off work for the rest of the week....
Sheesh.
So my question.
When the time comes for us to start this process again, how do we find a good broker?
We live in rural north Wales, so they will be few and far between anyway, so I want to minimise the chances of us finding another broker who will do more harm than good!
I know word of mouth is probably the top tip here, but we simply know very few people who have moved recently.
How do we sort the good uns from the bad uns before we waste our time and theirs going through hours of meetings?
Can any brokers give suggestions of questions to ask a broker that would help us determine if they're going to be helpful?
Thanks in advance for any replies :)
Although *I* know we can afford what we need, and we have a squeaky clean credit record, we seem to be faced with a "computer says no" attitude, and the "advisors" we've seen couldn't really have helped less.
We've seen 2 mortgage advisors - one based at an EA (although not employed by the EA, I think he was Countrywide) and one a Barclays advisor. The EA broker, although a seemingly nice fella, wasn't very much help on the advice front and has basically not kept us informed of anything and not returned calls when he's promised to - culminating in us getting to speak to him the other day, and him telling us "oh I didn't think you were bothered" (yeah, that's why we signed forms for credit searches!!!). I knew the meeting with the Barclays advisor wasn't going to go well, when he thought 97.5k - 12.5k was 87k.... and then went on to tell us he's only been back at work since "last week" after being off since November and he didn't know the new system... and then proceeding to fill in the application incorrectly, submitting it, not being able to edit it and having to call the underwriters to do so, which would take over a week to do, as he was then off work for the rest of the week....
Sheesh.
So my question.
When the time comes for us to start this process again, how do we find a good broker?
We live in rural north Wales, so they will be few and far between anyway, so I want to minimise the chances of us finding another broker who will do more harm than good!
I know word of mouth is probably the top tip here, but we simply know very few people who have moved recently.
How do we sort the good uns from the bad uns before we waste our time and theirs going through hours of meetings?
Can any brokers give suggestions of questions to ask a broker that would help us determine if they're going to be helpful?
Thanks in advance for any replies :)