I receive a call from an existing client who is looking to move home and wants me to look at his potential options, I agree to go and see him this evening.
Tuesday
It is a 6am rise today as I have a breakfast meeting at 7am. Back home – the office – for 9am, ready for the start of the working day. The morning is spent carrying out mortgage research for an existing landlord who is looking to refinance a holiday home.
I receive an email from a lender confirming application has gone to offer – this type of email is always welcome.
I have a meeting with a lender early afternoon – these meetings are always productive as you get to know a lender’s lending criteria in detail.
My early evening is spent writing up client reports and then I decide to go to the driving range to start getting ready for the golfing season ahead – it is freezing.
Wednesday
First part of my morning is spent updating clients on their mortgage applications and chasing solicitors for updates. The rest of the morning is spent preparing mortgage and protection quotes.
This afternoon I have a presentation to a firm of accountants that are interested in what I do and how I could help their clients. The presentation goes well and I get great feedback.
Two face-to-face client meetings this evening: both first-time buyers and wanting to establish what they can borrow and how much it will cost them. Both meetings went well and it was nice to hear I had been referred to them by existing clients.
Home for 9pm.
Thursday
I am a list man; I jot down all the cases I need to prepare figures for. It is a mixture of first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let remortgage, and buy-to-let purchase via a limited company. All clients require the figures by the end of the week, a busy few days ahead of research and speaking to lenders.
Late morning, I have a meeting with a mortgage lender. Once again I get an understanding of the lender's criteria, which is key in the mortgage market. It is a positive meeting and to my surprise they can lend to one of my potential clients.
I go back home and spend the afternoon carrying out mortgage research – most of the time is spent on the phone to lenders confirming their criteria. None of my cases are particularly straight forward this week.
After tea I spend a couple of hours preparing options for clients to be ready for them for tomorrow.
Friday
I wake up early – I complete all my research and finalise figures for clients who are looking at properties this weekend. I receive an email from a client I first had a meeting with two years ago, they have sold their house and have had an offer accepted on a house and want mortgage options as soon as possible.
I open up an email from a lender confirming a mortgage offer has been produced. I ring the client to pass on the good news for the weekend, the client is delighted.
I am planning on finishing for the weekend at 4pm until I receive a voicemail from a couple looking to move house; they need a decision in principle by the weekend. I agree to go and see them this evening.
The weekend is hopefully full of 6 Nations rugby and no work. We will see.
Daniel Bailey is principal of Middleton Finance, based in Derbyshire
