Vodka is just pure alcohol with some water added, and there is no difference among the brands.
I have been saying this repeatedly for years, much to the annoyance of friends and co-workers.
My assertion was backed up recently by this excellent Planet Money Podcast, called “The Vodka Proof.”
According to the host, vodka is made like this: “Yeast eats sugar and poops out alcohol” 😊 (and that’s it; nothing else goes into it).
The host did admit there is one difference between brands – the fonts on the labels.
And how does this podcast relate to lending?
All too many Realtors and borrowers alike truly believe Vodkas are different, and all lenders are the same.
But – they have it exactly backwards!
Lenders are very different, particularly in the purchase world.
Here is why and how to tell the difference.
1. REVIEWS! We beat this horse so often, we’re turning it into hamburger. But – a large number of authentic online reviews is essential to prove a lender has sufficient experience and skill to perform.
At last count, between Yelp, Zillow, Google, Reach 150, Redfin, etc., we have over 700 Five Star Reviews. If anyone wonders what can go wrong during a transaction, we encourage them to read the zillions of bad reviews earned by all too many lenders.
2. COMMUNICATION! Realtors demand it! Our entire system revolves around it – 60 Minute Response Times; Full Weekend Coverage; and Constant Updates are just a few of our guarantees. Most lenders lack the systems necessary to guarantee communication the same way we can and do.
3. SPEED! 14 Day Closes; 5 Day Appraisals; 24 Hour (or faster) Pre-approvals. Speed is essential in a competitive marketplace.
4. LOCAL APPRAISAL PANEL! This is a necessity! Our Appraisal Manager handpicks every appraiser on our panel, and saves deal after deal with her skill. We had countless deals blow b/c of appraisal issues before we cultivated our own panel.
5. TRACKING REFERRALS! We have an extremely sophisticated CRM and system that ensures no referral ever falls through the cracks.
6. MARKETING ASSISTANCE! We have legitimate marketing experts on staff who love to help Realtors grow their business in ways that no other lenders can. Email me if you’d like more info.
Anyway – lenders are not actually like Vodkas. If anyone can prove me wrong, I will send them a bottle of the best vodka around (it turns out it comes in a plastic bottle and costs $3.99 at CVS).
Jay Voorhees
Founder/Broker | JVM Lending
(855) 855-4491 | DRE# 1197176, NMLS# 310167
