It is no secret that banks are still not eager to help you with real estate financing. Of course the market has improved somewhat compared to a few years ago, but banks are still cautious. All the more reason for you to have your own business and reputation in order when applying for financing.
Is Big Brother watching you?
To what extent is your reputation on the internet really important? Last Friday I was allowed to be present again for the fifth year in a row at the Award ceremony by White Canvas® at the Conservatorium Hotel. No coincidence that many big real estate people were present again. Cor van Zadelhof presented the Award to Wouter Bos. He is quite a guy. People ask me so often what is important for obtaining a convening real estate financing. Here, in my opinion, two things are of great importance:
In the first place, a lender always asks who you are and what you have done in the past. This has everything to do with the risk profile for the lender with a possible financing. The internet is the ideal source to see if information about you can be found. Are there articles about you or your company to find, you may have a bankruptcy behind your name or have you been mentioned in articles or publications in the past? Or maybe you have profiles on social media channels where information can be found? The internet remembers everything and this can sometimes work against you, whether the information is right and/or complete or not.
Incidentally, it is not just about whether the lender might run a financial risk, we are also talking about a possible reputation risk if it becomes known that you are a client with him. If there is a chance that this may negatively affect the reputation of the lender, then it may also decide on that basis not to work with you.
In the second place, the financier looks at the real estate experience of the applicant. Here little risk will be taken and experience and a clean track record are therefore of great importance.
It strikes me again and again that the people who are badly on the internet always say to me, no that makes no difference to me! It is of course great that you do not bother yourself, or at least want to create that impression, your possible financier thinks otherwise. It does matter!
1 chance for a first impressions when applying for a real estate financing
Let me be clear about it: you may well drop a stitch, completely clean is also suspect. But be critical, the lender is a first impression on what he or she sees on Google. Some of the information about your person and company you have control over. So make sure that your Linkedin profile is in sync with what you say in the financing application. And yes, people always check your company website and Facebook page too.
In addition, there is a part that you have no control over because it is put online by third parties. But here too, fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your reputation is in good online shape.
“The world in which we now live is about speed and control, so check your online reputation on a regular basis. And there are also specialists in the field of online reputation management who can help you. Do you have a blemish? I have a detergent advice, it is called “White Canvas.nl” After all, you only have one chance for a first impression.”