No jargon, no pressure, no surprises.
The whole process, start to finish, so you know exactly what you are walking into before you pick up the phone.
- Free initial advice
- No credit check to talk
- No obligation at any stage
- One adviser throughout
Four steps, and what each one involves
Most people come to us unsure what they are even allowed to ask for. This is how we take it from there.
We listen
A free call, at a time that suits you. We ask what you are trying to achieve and what is worrying you. No jargon, no pressure, no obligation to go further.
We research
We look across the lenders and providers available to us and work out what is genuinely open to you, then explain the options in plain English, including the ones we would rule out and why.
We recommend
You get a written recommendation setting out what we suggest, what it costs, and the risks. You decide whether to proceed. Nothing happens until you say so.
We see it through
We handle the application, chase the lender and solicitor, and keep you updated until completion. You always know who to ring.
How long it usually takes
Every case differs, and the two things most likely to slow you down are the valuation and the solicitor. These are realistic ranges rather than promises.
| Stage | Residential mortgage | Equity release |
|---|---|---|
| First call to recommendation | 2 to 5 working days | 3 to 7 working days |
| Application to lender offer | 1 to 3 weeks | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Offer to completion | Depends on the chain | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Typical total | 4 to 12 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
Ranges are indicative and based on our own recent cases. Complex income, adverse credit, non-standard property or a long chain will extend them.
What to have to hand
You do not need any of this for the first call. Ring us with nothing but a rough idea of what you want and we will work from there. This is what will be needed later, so you can start digging it out.
Everyone
- Photo ID and proof of address
- Last three months of bank statements
- Details of any existing mortgage
Depending on your case
- Payslips or two years of accounts
- Details of credit commitments
- Property details and an estimated value
Questions about the process
If yours is not here, ring us. We would rather answer it properly than leave you guessing.
Will this affect my credit file?
No. An initial conversation with us involves no credit check and leaves no footprint on your credit file. A search only happens later, with your explicit permission, if you decide to proceed with an application.
How much does advice cost?
The first conversation is free, however long it takes. For equity release and later life lending we charge a fixed fee of £1,495, payable only on completion. Any fee for residential mortgage advice will be agreed and confirmed to you in writing before you commit to anything. You will never receive an invoice you were not expecting. Protection advice is normally paid for by commission from the insurer, which does not increase the premium you pay. Where a fee would apply in your case we will tell you and agree it with you in writing before you commit to anything. All fees are confirmed in writing before you commit to anything.
Am I too old, or too young, to get help?
Very unlikely. We arrange mortgages for first-time buyers in their twenties and lifetime mortgages for homeowners in their nineties. The question is not your age, it is what you are trying to achieve and which lenders will consider it.
I have been turned down elsewhere. Is it worth calling?
Usually yes. A decline from one lender tells you about that lender's criteria, not about the whole market. Self-employed income, adverse credit, unusual property types and later life borrowing all have specialist lenders that high street banks do not compete with.
Do I have to come to your office?
Not unless you want to. We work by phone and video across the whole of the UK, and we visit clients in person across Yorkshire. Plenty of our clients complete an entire case without leaving their front room.
What happens to my information?
We collect only what we need to give you advice and to meet our regulatory obligations, and we use it only for that purpose. We do not sell your data and we never pass it to third parties for their own marketing. Where we need to share information with a lender, insurer or solicitor to progress your case, we tell you first. You can ask to see what we hold, have it corrected, or have it deleted where we are not required to keep it. The full notice is on our legal page.
Let us find out what is actually open to you
One free call. No credit check, no obligation, and a straight answer about what is realistic.
What happens when you call
- You speak to a qualified adviser, not a call centre
- We ask what you are trying to achieve, then listen
- You get an honest view of what is realistic
- No pressure and no obligation to go further