Know Your BDM: Neil Nisbet, Envelop

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

I am Midlands-based and I cover over 200 brokerages.

What personal talent/skill is most valuable in doing your job?

My main talent/skill is shaping a deal in the specialist marketplace and having a can-do attitude in a lending environment where very little is straightforward, especially given the current climate.

What personal talent/skill would you most like to improve on?

I am a bit of a technophobe. Luckily, I operate mainly face-to-face in my role and have some great colleagues on hand to help me out when I really need it.

What’s the hardest part of your job?

We often have to deal with strict deadlines and short timeframes, especially when it comes to cases involving bridging finance. However, this is part and parcel of the role and we have to constantly find ways to ensure that our clients’ needs are fully met in a timely and responsible manner.

What do you love most about your job?

Most BDMs will say the same but I love the fact that every day is different.

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

People buy from people. Bob Burg.

How do you keep up to date with developments in the market?

We have regular team meetings to discuss changes in lender criteria and I speak with brokers every day who specialise in all kinds of mortgage advice. Because of this I always get to stay on top of any market trends.

What is the most quirky/unique property deal you’ve been involved in?

I once looked at getting bridging finance on a church that had a swimming pool in the basement. Most lenders didn’t want to take the risk.

Tell us about your trickiest case – what happened and how did you resolve the problem(s)?

Cases only become tricky when a party involved lets you down. It is all about managing the expectations for everyone involved.

What was your motivation for choosing this career?

I enjoy interacting with a variety of introducers and borrowers to help them fund their property dreams, business ventures or whatever their end goals may be.

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

A builder, but I’m terrible at DIY.

What did you want to be growing up?

Basketball player. I used to play professionally for many years.

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

Mind reading. This would be a dream for a sales-based role.

What is your strategy for tackling challenges?

Stay calm and focus on what you can control.

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

What’s the weather like up there? Being 6 foot 8, I get asked this question a lot and I’ve always found it to be a little strange.