Know Your BDM: Lara Montague, Foundation Home Loans

by: Specialist Lending Solutions
  • 01/07/2019
  • 0
This week Specialist Lending Solutions is speaking to Lara Montague, internal business development manager – north at Foundation Home Loans.

 

What locations and how many advisers and broker firms do you cover in your role?

I cover all of the North West and North East, and I support both Cheryl Power in the North West and Julie Bourne in the North East.

 

How do you establish and maintain a good relationship with brokers?

The main thing for me is to listen to what their enquiry is, so when I respond it’s giving them the solution they need. It may not be a yes, but I find brokers don’t mind it when I say no, as at least I’m being honest and upfront.

 

What personal skill is most valuable in doing your job?

Being proactive and working smart. I would also say being knowledgeable as well – we have so many enquiries coming through, again it’s being able to listen to the scenario and then making sure the information given is accurate.

 

What personal talent would you most like to improve on?

I used to play the keyboard when I was younger, so it would be nice to get that out again and play a few songs; my partner plays the guitar as well so maybe do a few songs together.

 

What’s the best bit of career-related advice you’ve ever been given?

To be happy and be yourself. Help the people around you and they will help you.

 

What is the most memorable property deal you’ve been involved in?

I’ve not been in the mortgage industry for that long, but I would say in general, it’s when cases are declined and I have been able to look at the reasons for the decline and do what I can to get these overturned. It can’t always be done but I will always go above and beyond to try.

 

If you were head of the FCA for the day, what would you change about regulation in the mortgage industry?

This is a tough one, but I would probably try not to make any more changes for a while that impact on the private rented sector.

 

What was your motivation for choosing business development as a career?

My background has predominately been in recruitment and also working abroad as a Thomas Cook rep, so working in an account management role suited me down to a tee and was a natural progression. I like helping and working with people, the location for me is good as well, as I do like to have a work-life balance.

 

If you could do any other job in the property sector, what would it be and why?

Being in the mortgage industry does open up doors to many other roles such as underwriting, arrears, customer services or being a regional account manager. I am open to the opportunity to learn so if a role became available and I believed it was right for me, I would go for it. I believe everything happens for a reason, but I do like being a BDM.

 

What did you want to be growing up?

A princess – my dad still calls me a princess so I still believe that I am.

 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

That when I’m stuck in traffic to be able to press a button in my car to turn into a motor bike, so I can get in front of everyone.

 

And finally, what’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?

If we could accept the income for an applicant as ‘the bank of mum and dad’.

 

 

 

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