a la mode news & marketing tips — posted August 23, 2005

Colorado mortgage broker wins Corvette giveaway

We're happy to announce that Blake Justus of Clear Creek Mortgage in Golden, Colo., is the winner of a brand new 2005 Corvette Convertible.  More than 5,000 mortgage brokers entered the giveaway, which was held to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the launch of Mortgage XSites.

Justus was shocked when he received a call from Brad Eaton, Vice President of Mortgage Products, telling him he'd won the silver sports car.  "I couldn't believe it. I was trying to figure out which friend was playing a joke on me," he says.

Justus purchased his XSite, www.clearcreekmortgage.com, in March after working with a trial site for a few weeks.  "I like having a professional website I can be proud of and when I meet clients face to face they always tell me they’re impressed with it," he says.

The online FlexApp 1003 is one of the most important features for Justus, especially when dealing with out-of-state clients.  "It makes it easy to have all of my clients' files electronically in one place," he says.

Justus also likes the convenience of the automatic status updates he receives when a client has completed an application. "I often help customers fill out their applications over the phone and just two seconds after we're done, I'll get an e-mail update notifying me that the application was submitted," he says.

Credibility is crucial to the success of your business — you want your clients to view you as an industry expert.  Since your XSite is often the first means of communication you'll have with clients, your Staff Profile page is one of the best places to outline the skills, experience and professionalism of you and your employees. 

Your profile should highlight the most important aspects of your experience in a way that successfully demonstrates your credibility.  Think about your clients and what they would like to know about you and your staff that would make them want to use you for their mortgage services.  Feel free to boast a little. For example,  if you've been in business for 20 years, say so!  If you received awards for service - include it in your profile!

In addition to your name and title, here are some items you may want to include in your profile:

• Why and how you got into the mortgage business.

• How many years of experience you have (Include licensing information if required in your state).
• Your business philosophy or mission statement. In other words, what your customers can expect when they work with you.
• Any industry associations to which you belong.
• Describe any awards or special recognition you've received.
• Identify what sets you and your company apart from everyone else.

In addition, you might want to give your profile a more personal touch by including information about where you're from, your family, your hobbies, your favorite sports team or even an anecdote about your first mortgage experience.  The profiles of your employees should be similar to yours but you might also want to describe their job, how long they've been with your company and how your clients might interact with them.

Remember, while you want your clients to get to know you, your staff profiles shouldn't be more than a few paragraphs.  And once your XSite visitors have had a chance to meet you and your staff, encourage them to contact you with questions by including a lead generation form at the end of your Staff Profile page.

XSites now integrate with Ellie Mae LOSs

Your XSite is now fully integrated with all three of Ellie Mae's LOSs: Encompass®, Contour™ and Genesis®, making the exporting process faster and easier for you and your loan officers.  Now, with just one click, you can set your XSite up to automatically export a loan app when it's finished — without lifting a finger. 

Briefly Speaking

If you have an idea, tip or feedback on any of our products, we'd love to hear from you!  Please e-mail us at info@alamode.com.