If you’re a busy broker, you know there’s always so much to do. You’re meeting clients, sorting out loans, and always looking for new business. With all this going on, finding time for yourself or thinking about growing your business can be tough. How do you make sure you’re using your time well, so you’re not just busy but also making progress and having some time left for yourself?
The key lies in not only surviving your day-to-day operations, but thriving in a dynamic industry with proper time management techniques.
The Challenge of Time Management
For brokers, time is more than just a resource—it’s the very currency of success. Every minute lost on inefficient tasks is a lost chance to expand your business, or simply take a moment to breathe.
But the real struggle for many brokers isn’t a shortage of time, but mastering its effective use. As your admin tasks accumulate, striking a balance between day-to-day operations and strategic growth efforts becomes not just an uphill battle but a potential roadblock to achieving your full potential. Neglecting this balance can lead to missed opportunities, unsatisfied clients, and ultimately, hindered business growth.
Effective Time Management Tips
If you’re the kind of broker who’s trying to do it all, from client meetings to paperwork, it’s easy to feel swamped and keep pushing tasks off. Shifting to a solid time management routine might seem challenging at first, but you don’t need to overhaul your day straight away. In fact, even small, smart changes can make a big difference.
Here are some proven, effective tips to help you manage your time better and make your day work for you:
- Prioritise Your Tasks
Start every day with a clear plan by pinpointing the tasks that matter most. The Eisenhower Box, a simple yet powerful tool, divides tasks into four categories:
- Urgent and important
- Important but not urgent
- Urgent but not important
- Neither urgent nor important.
This method allows you to prioritise tasks that have a real impact on your business, ensuring you focus on what needs your attention right away and what can wait.
- Leverage Technology
Automation can streamline your workflow, especially for those repetitive tasks that can eat into your valuable time. CRM systems like Salesforce and HubSpot are excellent for managing client relationships with minimal manual input, automating follow-ups and keeping track of client interactions efficiently.
Similarly, project management tools such as Trello and Monday.com can automate task assignments and progress tracking, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. By leveraging these technologies, you can significantly reduce the time spent on routine tasks, allowing you to concentrate on areas of your business that benefit most from your personal expertise and touch. - Delegate Non-Core Activities
This is where a Virtual Assistant (VA) can be a game-changer. Delegating tasks such as data entry, appointment scheduling, and even initial client communications to a VA can significantly free up your time. - Set Boundaries
Learn to say no. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire way to burn out. Setting clear boundaries with clients and yourself ensures you have time to recharge and focus on quality service.
If you’re finding it challenging to implement these time management strategies on your own, or if you’re looking for more tailored advice specific to the mortgage broking industry, join us for an exclusive webinar designed specifically for brokers like you.
This is your opportunity to learn from industry experts, gain valuable insights, and ask questions that are specific to your challenges.
CTA: [REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR]
Integrating Koruna Assist Tools
In the mortgage broking industry, every second counts. That’s where a Virtual Assistant (VA) from Koruna Assist steps in, not just to assist but to transform the way you handle your loan processes. Here’s a closer look at how a VA can revolutionise your workflow:
Lead Stage
Data Entry and Client Information Extraction: Your VA meticulously enters every client detail into your CRM and ensures all necessary information is captured right from the start.
Pre-submission
Loan Structuring and Document Management: From forwarding Credit Guides and Credit Proposals to clients for review to collecting any additional supporting documents needed, your VA is on it.
Ensuring Compliance: Working closely with you, your VA helps complete all essential documents for the loan application, ensuring compliance every step of the way.
Submission Stage
Efficient Data Management: Your VA manages the saving and filing of the loan application through AOL, checking all boxes before submission.
Additional Tasks Include:
- Ordering valuations and reviewing pricing as needed.
- Conducting income analysis and updating servicing calculators.
- Analysing living expenses.
Post-submission
Loan Progress Updates: Your VA monitors the lender’s processing times, providing timely updates on the loan’s progress.
Client Follow-ups: For any additional documents required by the lender, your VA ensures they’re collected promptly from your clients.
Settlement
Loan Offer Documentation: After formal loan approval, your VA coordinates the receipt, signing, and return of Loan Offer Documents, liaising with lenders to ensure everything is in order for certification.
Client Updates: They keep both you and your client informed until the lender confirms the application is scheduled for settlement.
Post-settlement and Aftercare
Continued Client Support: Even after settlement, your VA remains available to assist clients with any further needs and reminds you of important follow-ups, such as repayment expiration dates.
If the idea of outsourcing still leaves you with questions, or if you’re unsure about the tasks you can delegate to a VA, we’ve got you covered. Our “106 Things to Outsource to Your VA” eBook is your comprehensive guide to optimising your workflow and maximising productivity. It’s filled with actionable insights on how a VA can take your mortgage broking business to new heights.
CTA: Download Our Guide
For the modern broker, every client interaction and every loan application can set you apart from the competition, that’s why mastering the art of delegation and time management has become essential. It all starts with recognising the value of every minute of your time and knowing that some tasks, while necessary, can actually be expertly handled by a trusted expert.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to work harder but to work smarter. And sometimes, working smarter means letting a skilled VA take the wheel on specific tasks, so you can drive your business forward with more focus and clarity.
Ready to Transform Your Workflow?
If you’re ready to take the first step towards a more organised, efficient, and productive way of working, discover how Koruna Assist can be your catalyst to becoming a broker who not only achieves your targets but also enjoys the journey along the way.
