Vernon help Self-Build customer to build dream home

When Mark, Technical Director at a major UK housebuilder in Manchester realised his dream barn came on the market, his email to his wife Sharon was “This is not a drill. This is the opportunity we have been waiting for. It’s just 12 months too early”.

Mark realised that it was going to be a challenge to finance the purchase as he couldn’t liquidate certain assets he held straight away. He also knew he would have to prove that he could complete the build without relying on the equity from their old house. A further complication was that the couple owns a holiday let which is also mortgaged. So Mark sat down and waded through the options with his IFA, Maggie McCrea. When they decided there was a deliverable plan, Maggie went to the market to see what the options were available to them. After a number of false starts, Maggie suggested contacting the Vernon on the basis that we could manually assess the risk on this project, taking into consideration all Marks assets, earning potential, and ability, based on his experience, to successfully deliver the project.

The pair received a very quick decision in principle based on the initial submission of approximately 20 documents. To secure the full offer we asked all the questions Mark and Sharon expected including a number of “what if” scenarios. With Mark’s pro-active approach to planning and scheduling the relevant information, we managed to deliver a full offer within two weeks and cleared the offer conditions within a day of Mark’s solicitor lodging the documents with us.

Mark directly contacted our Chief Executive, Steve Fletcher, to voice his gratitude to the Vernon and the experience he had with us, which you can read below:

Mark said:

"You have provided the lending to allow my wife and me to buy, build and ultimately enjoy our beautiful new home. Throughout whatever challenges the project threw out, the one thing that has been consistent was the level of service I received every time I made contact with The Vernon. From the application process right through to converting the building loan into one of your standard residential products on completion of the project you exceeded my expectations at every touchpoint."

"You even managed to impress my solicitor, which is a feat indeed, with the very efficient way you dealt with the clearance of the offer conditions."

"Excellent customer service is what we all expect in this day and age and sometimes we forget to acknowledge it. In this instance I could not just thank the people that I dealt with, I thought I would go right to the top to let you know what great people you have working for you."

"You have two very happy and what will be loyal customers. Thank you so much for helping us build our dream home."

"You invested in our dream, we repaid your faith in us by paying what was due and staying loyal to you at the end of the project”

Before

After 

Mark and Sharon want to send special thanks to our business retention and mortgage application departments; in particular Jane Eyre, Julie Mcloughlin, Diana Mutch, and Chris Davy.

Mark comments:

"Whilst I am convinced they are many other individuals worthy of praise, that will have handled my account during the process the four people named are the ones I have spoken or corresponded with personally. Each and every time I was so impressed with the friendly, personal, professional, and efficient manner that every contact was managed."

If you would like to visit us for advice on your mortgage needs visit us at one of our local branches call 0161 429 6262 to arrange an appointment at your local branch or fill in a contact form and we will respond to your enquiry.