Online surveys and contact forms can only tell you so much – if you really want to learn how people think and what they want from your business, you actually need to meet with them. In person!
That’s why the team at Silver Hill Capital, LLC is looking to get in front of as many HomeVestors® Franchisees as possible this year. We want to strengthen relationships with partners we’ve closed loans with and introduce ourselves to those who may want to work with us down the road.
One of the best ways to meet with larger groups is to attend monthly Ad Council gatherings across the country. In the past few months, our dedicated reps have joined meetings in Boston, Dallas, and Atlanta to discuss the latest Fix-N-Flip and Long-term Rental program updates and take questions from Franchisees and DAs in attendance.
We may just be getting started, but we’ve already learned a few key insights through our Q&A sessions. Here are some takeaways:
1. There’s no such thing as a bad question
Once our team completes their presentation, they open up the floor for Franchisee questions. Occasionally, they get a very specific question regarding a property or financing request that seemingly wouldn’t apply to anyone else.
These questions may involve basement functionality in a property a Franchisee is rehabbing in the northeast or prepayment fee options for a rental home in Florida.
While some lenders may prefer to take questions involving a specific scenario off-line, we enjoy answering them in a group setting. That’s because we understand that Ad Councils are comprised of Franchisees within the same community who see the same types of deals and experience the same types of issues.
In other words, even the most specific question has value for everyone in the room. So if we stop by your Ad Council later this year, don’t feel like you have to keep your questions focused on general terms or bullet points.
2. Speed matters…but so does clarity
We know that speed is a major differentiator when it comes to choosing your financing partner. At Silver Hill, we’re able to close a bridge loan in as few as 10 business days (or on occasion even quicker). We’ve even closed a long-term rental loan in just 18 days for a Franchisee this past January.
But we certainly don’t close every loan that quickly. In most cases, missing documentation, complications with the subject property, or miscommunication lengthen a transaction’s timeline.
In this deadline-oriented environment with so many moving parts, none of us can afford these types of delays. While it’s our job to clearly communicate our process and requirements, it’s also the Franchisee’s responsibility to stay on top of their tasks and do everything they can to keep a deal on track.
That’s why we’ve so enjoyed taking transaction-focused questions from Franchisees during Ad Council gatherings. Whether it’s during breakfast or a presentation break, we’ve often seen investors pull one of our team members aside to go over application requirements or appraisal processes – anything that has the potential to trip up a future closing.
Sure, most of this information can be found online or within a Power Point presentation. But Franchisees are able to get a more specific answer (and one tailored to their unique scenario) by asking questions in person. And we’re confident that these conversations lead to clarity, which leads to fewer misunderstandings, which lead to fewer delays, which lead to faster closings!
3. You know what they say about squeaky wheels…
We can’t speak for other lending partners, but Silver Hill reps leave Ad Council meetings EXPECTING to receive program requests or concerns that they can take back to leadership. Those who saw Silver Hill’s initial product parameters know that we’ve made significant adjustments to tailor our solutions more closely to your needs as Franchisees.
So if there are changes you’d like to see to our programs, Ad Councils represent the best opportunity make your voice heard. Our team will either work to make adjustments or clearly explain why such a change is impossible at this time.
Since solutions like our Fix-N-Flip program are offered only to HomeVestors® Franchisees, it only makes sense that the terms align with your business. The councils we’ve visited so far haven’t needed any prodding to share their opinions, and we hope that trend continues as we visit more groups across the country!
Want us to make a stop in your city?
If you think the Silver Hill team could add some value to an upcoming Ad Council gathering, then please let us know! We promise not to get in the way – our goal is to sponsor the event, present for a few minutes, and then take any and all questions.
Reach out to Josh Waltzer ([email protected]) or your program reps (Rodney Young for Fix-N-Flip loans and Millie Corripio for Long-Term Rental loans) so we can discuss further.
Fix-N-Flip Lending: [email protected]
Long-Term Rental Lending: [email protected]
