Recently I got the opportunity to photograph Luke Brodie from BetterLend in our studio to update his corporate headshots and business website images.

I love learning about people and their businesses before a shoot so that we can create authentic, professional images that align with their image goals, help to elevate their brands and get them more customers.

It was through this process, I learnt that BetterLend provides tailored lending solutions to both home buyers and investors, from finding the perfect product to doing the heavy lifting from application to approval - they do it all!!

If you’re looking for a lender that will take away the stress of buying a property, then contact Luke for more information or give him a like on Facebook.

Read on below to find out more about Luke and BetterLend:

1. When did you start your business?

BetterLend started in 2020 however our parent company Partnership Finance Group has been around for over 20 years in the area of residential and commercial lending procurement.

2. Why did you start the business?

Partnership Finance Group realised that our brand was too focused towards corporate and we needed to modernise. We saw a growing demand for residential lending and a failure of many brokers to adapt modern technology aimed a smoothing the process for borrowers. Separating BetterLend from our more corporate roots was an important step and our clients have benefited greatly from the investments we have made in technology and our processes.

3. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am enthusiastic and passionate about helping people find the best lending product to suit there needs. The biggest part of my job is understand my clients and also strongly communicate the process and their options to them so that they can make the most educated decision. I have done this throughout my career in different roles managing stakeholders of all different cultural backgrounds across both the tech and media industries prior to entering finance.

As a small business owner I also have an understand the ups and downs of being in business, and this understanding strengthens my resolve to find lending solutions for our many small business clients, some of whom find it difficult when knocked back from the banks.

4. Why should a potential client consider your business over others?

BetterLend are the mortgage specialists for people who only one want contact from the first phone call through to post settlement. Our brokers handle every aspect of the process from day one, unlike many other brokerages. There are no chat bots, assistants or call centres, just one person who cares about about the customer and who will support them every step of the way.

We have excellent customer friendly online forms which are industry leading. Our clients love this change and it has led to faster application times and higher approval rates.

While our brokerage is small, we punch high above our weight and our high lending volumes have created premium partnerships with lenders which give our clients the edge in getting fast and fair assessments.

5. Who might your business appeal to?

We specialise in assisting our clients through the process so we appeal to first home buyers and families who are after a more personal approach from end to end. We are also experts at complex lending structures involving multiple entities including family trusts and corporate borrowers.

6. What's your price range? Can you give some examples of producst and price for any potential customers?

Our services are free to our clients, we work on a commission from the lender.

7. What is your usual turnaround time?

We answer enquiries same day and we work with our clients to gather all the necessary requirements for loans as soon as possible. A prepared client can contact us in the morning and have their application in by the afternoon.

8. How has your experience with your business been so far? Were you nervous or worried before? How did it turn out?

BetterLend has been a great opportunity for me to realise my potential under what is a high pressure enviroment. Everyday is a challenge and with policy changes almost daily you are constantly learning. What has changed in the last year is my confidence has increased and that has made me a happier broker which has led to greater outcomes for the business.

9. What are some of the difficult aspects of your job? (e.g. difficult client, keeping up to date with blog/marketing, etc). How did you deal with it?

Mortgages and finance in general usually have a lot of anxiety attached to it for the borrowers as the stakes are so high. Being able to successfully manage this has been one of my biggest challenges and achievements.

Marketing is a very competitive space in an environment dominated by the big players. Managing our online marketing presence is always difficult whilst we are busy with clients. I am a strong believer in persistence as marketing is key to our growth, so we will continue to seek best practices and stay contemporary.

10. What would be your advice to someone thinking of engaging your services?

The best advice I can give is don't hesitate to ask questions and to be honest. It might surprise some people how information that they might not have thought to be important like 'they are planning a holiday next year' can change our recommendation for the better.

11. What's the best client/job you've had so far? Can you describe what services your provided, what their feedback was and how it made you feel?

I recently had a young couple purchase their first home. They wanted to fix their interest rate and get pre-approval. Once they were pre-approved and had placed a deposit on their home, I recommended to change lenders as fixed interest rates we rising rapidly. They took my recommendation and that decision to move to that lender at late notice will save them around $20K over the next 3 years.

This was a great feeling for both the client and myself and it shows how important it is to stay agile with changing rates.

12. How can people contact you?

People can reach me on:

Email: luke@betterlend.com.au

Mobile 0417 432 504

Alternatively they can fill out one of our forms on our website betterlend.com.au

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