Family firm win award for second year in a row
A FATHER and son firm from Dunfermline has won a national business title two years running.
Best Mortgage Direct was crowned Broker of the Year 2022-2023 at the Prestige Awards, at the Norton House Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh.
The family business, run by Guy Travis and his son Damon from a base in Duloch, was set up in lockdown with the aim of making it easier to buy a house.
Their fully online, automated system puts buyers in touch with solicitors across the country, which has helped first-time buyers and self-employed people in particular to purchase their own home.
Guy told the Press: “It feels great, it was a bit of a shock to get the award for the second year in a row. I thought we would be one hit wonders what with the lockdown but to get it for the second year is really good.”
He said that by helping purchasers to go through the lending process online, Best Mortgage Direct allows buyers to track the progress of their loan online with real time updates on their application.
“I think younger people especially are more switched on, they want to do things through the apps and phones,” Guy explained. “The world has changed from making an appointment and sitting in the bank three weeks later trying to get a mortgage!”
As well as a quick and easy service, they aim to offer the personal touch too.
Guy said: “We have boxes we send to first time buyers or homeowners. It has a can of beer, some juice, maybe hand sanitiser and they also get some branded pens and key-rings. It’s just so the day they move into their house they have a wee box and they can still get a wee drink or a cup of tea!”
The economic turmoil of recent months has made their job a whole lot harder though, with mortgage prices rising sharply and some lenders pulling their offers while they wait for more stability in the market.
Guy said: “We do our best in these difficult times. The mortgage market in the current climate is changing daily with products being withdrawn and replaced with little or no notice. We take our time to understand the client’s needs, goals, aspirations and time scales.
“Some clients we advise to contact us 12-24 months in advance of an application in order that we can put a plan in place so that they can achieve mortgage success in the future thus helping make mortgages fast, simple and stress free.”
The best advice that Guy can give perspective buyers right now is to get in touch with a qualified mortgage broker as soon as they can. He said: “Some lenders are allowing brokers to lock customers into a new deal up to six months in advance of their fixed rate ending with no early repayment charges.”
For more information go to https://www.bestmortgagedirect. co.uk/