There are usually two kinds of loans: secured loans, and unsecured loans. Unsecured loans are the ones which do not require any kind of security that is to be assured to the loan lender. However, a secured loan is the one where the potential borrower would have to secure a guarantee or security against which the lender will lend money. Usually, secured loans are the better choices among the two because they come with many large and small benefits like lower interest rates – but you need to put one of your valuable assets as collateral. But you can easily avail a homeowner loan without using your property as mortgage. So, how do these homeowner loans work? In this article, we will discuss:

What is an unsecured homeowner loan?

How does it work?

Features of an unsecured homeowner loan

Why should you apply for it?

How to choose the right loan?

What is an unsecured homeowner loan?A homeowner loan can be taken by those who have a home in their name. With an unsecured homeowner loan, people can get a loan for a certain amount of the total value of the property without having to guarantee their property to the lender. One needs to be above 18 years of age and also should have a regular income source for being eligible for the unsecured homeowner’s loan. How does an unsecured homeowner loan work?Homeowner loans are very common these days as come with certain benefits, which are beneficial for the debtors. The borrower who has taken the loan has to repay it along with the interest charge in monthly instalments. The interested party should check the availability of the loan along with the market conditions before taking out an unsecured homeowner loan. They should also make sure that they can pay off the loan every month. Loans can be requested on different types of property like flats, bungalows, cottages, houses, etc. Some of the things that the lender usually takes into consideration are the age of the applicant, the loan term they can pay for, the value of the property, the income of the applicant and their credit record.Also, the rate of interest for these loans are either fixed or a floating rate of interest depending on the lender. Variable-rates of interest can be a bit expensive as compared to the fixed rate of interest in which the repayment instalments remain the same throughout the tenure of the loan.Some of the important features of homeowner loans The value of the loan will be a certain percentage value of the entire property which is negotiable in terms.

The tenure of the loan will be stretched from 1 year to 7 years, depending on the value of the loan.

The interest rate is either fixed or floating.

There will be a thorough affordability check considering income and credit score, and then a determination of eligibility of the homeowner loan.

Usually, there will be certain lenders who might take a certain amount as fees for finalizing the loan. Research can be done before selecting the lender who is not charging any extra fees.Some of the fees which are included in the homeowner loan are:

Legal Fees

Broker Fees

Disbursement Fees

Valuation Fees

After a lender and loan have been selected, several steps are to be completed before the loan is finalized. Usually, these steps can take 4-5 weeks, after which the loan amount will be transferred to the debtor’s account.

The lender will check the credit record and make sure that the loan can be paid.

The lender will then check the current pay stubs to determine an income’s regularity.

They will then check the registry of the house to confirm the ownership.

Lastly, they will calculate the property’s value and equity before finalizing the loan amount.

After the loan is granted, the monthly EMI’s of the loan will need to be paid. If you are paying off the loan early, a certain early redemption or repayment charge would be administered. Homeowners can also take a payment holiday with the lender’s approval, but in such cases, the cost of the loan will increase.Why should people apply for homeowner loans?Some of the reasons why people take homeowner loans are mentioned below:

Funding: The money that you receive can be used to fund a large expense or a smaller one, depending on your needs. Also, you can use it for your wedding expenses or to fund your dream holiday.

Business: They can start a business with their loan and invest in it with the amount. This will make the repayment of the loan easier because the returns can be used from the business to repay the loan and can also successfully secure the future of your business by investing in it.

Home improvement: Renovations and improvements can be made in the home because usually, these renovations are expensive. To increase the value of the home, timely renovations and improvements can be very helpful to enhance the overall property value.

How to select a homeowner loan?Searching for the right kind of loan can be difficult as there are many options to choose from. Some of the steps that should be taken while choosing a loan are:

First, decide the amount to be borrowed for this loan.

The next step is to calculate the value of the property according to the current real estate trend and by calculating the mortgage value that is still outstanding.

After this, decide the number of instalments that can be paid every month and according to that, decide the term of the loan.

Next, keep records like house registry, credit report, etc. available because these are needed by the lender to make their decision.

Lastly, talk to a broker for getting a market viable homeowner loan on the property

When your business is in its starting phase, you need a loan to grow it. Yes, there are ways for you to start your business with very little capital, but even in the age of the internet you need loans for the growth and expansion of your business. Oftentimes, startup and small business owners are scared of taking loans because they believe returning the same loan with interest on it will hinder their growth. The fact is a loan is not such a big liability if you have done your homework before getting it. Hastily getting a loan without researching the market and knowing your business’ growth potential can be detrimental to the business.Your Business Plan Matters Big TimeIt does not matter how experienced your management team is when your business plan is weak. When you ask for a loan from lenders, they are trying to find reasons to forward you the desired loan. They want to be sure that the loan they forward is returned in time and according to the terms and conditions set at the time of loaning. Lenders will seldom gauge the potential of your business to return the loan based on what you speak. What they want to see is a solid business plan and that’s why you need to have an impressive one. A strong business plan will consist of the following and some more.

The company description

Management role and experience

The product description

Strategy for marketing

Financial projections

An executive summary

Documented cash flow

Keep in mind that banks often look at the cash flow in the documented form, and their scrutiny is not limited to what your projections are for the future but more importantly how you have managed things in the past. They will look at your company’s cash flow records for past couple of years to see if you should be given the loan you are asking for. So, keep your business plan in mind and make sure you have worked on every aspect of it to present something impressive to the investors.Your Loan Options Are ManySometimes, you have a solid business plan and everything else is in place, but your understanding of loan options is not at its best. Many small business owners live with the impression that the only institution available to them for obtaining a loan is a bank. That’s far from truth because there are dozens of other ways to obtain the loan or investment for your startups that’s much easier to manage than a bank loan. Some of the options available to you include SBA loans from the government, invoice financing, business equipment financing loans, etc. If you are just a startup and none of those options seem viable to you, there is online fundraising.Online fundraising has become quite a popular method of getting investments for your startup from individuals who trust in your idea and concept of the business. Using funding website you have access to hundreds of thousands of investors located all around the world that are willing to help if you can convince them with your business plan and the team that’s behind your project. So, avoid making the mistake that many small business owners make when they think bank is the only place for them to get any money for their businesses.Your Timing to Apply for a Loan Is ImportantThis is a huge mistake that small business owners often make and pay the price in the form of not being able to obtain the loan they want at the terms they want. See, you will always be told to have a strong business plan because that’s the only way investors will trust you as an entrepreneur or businessperson. When you create your business plan, you are not just jotting down random numbers on a piece of paper. Your plan should give you an idea of what your business’ needs will be in the coming times. That’s when it makes sense to apply for loans well in advance and not at the eleventh hour.When you apply for a loan at the eleventh hour, you are seen as a business in trouble. Most investors will see your business as the sinking ship and they will never want to get on it. Obtaining a loan in these circumstances can become close to impossible. This is the reason why you should apply for a business loan in advance and not at exactly the moment you need it. You also have to keep in mind that loan approval process takes time too. If you need the cash on an urgent basis, every day that passes during the approval process will be causing more damage to your business.The Right People Can Make the DifferenceDelegating responsibilities to the right people is an art and skill that not many business owners have. Oftentimes, small business owners rely too much on their own skills and are scared to trust any other person to do things for them. This can be a grave mistake because you cannot be the jack and master of all the trades at the same time. For example, you might be great at crunching numbers and making accurate projections for the business but not very great at sales and pitching ideas. If you have to pitch your business idea, its marketability and scope to the investors, choose the person who can best present it. Despite your great business plan, you will fail to obtain a loan because of your nervousness and lack of confidence when it comes to acting like a clever salesperson.You have to bear in mind that investors are not investing only in your business, they are also investing in you. It is very important for them to like your personality to invest in your project. Appearing unprepared or nervous in front of them will send an impression that you are not fit to lead the project, your decision making is faulty and that you cannot create strong teams.A Well-prepared Presentation Can Win HeartsIt does not matter who is giving the presentation when the content is boring and does not address the points that investors are most curious to know. First, get your numbers straight and bring them into the presentation at the right points. Be the investor in your mind and think of the questions you would ask if someone presented the same product/service to you. Have your accountant, advisor and business lawyer by your side when preparing the presentation. You don’t want to give wrong figures during the presentation and fall for a bad deal at the end of it. The most important thing is to explain your business idea as clearly as possible. Many times the presentations are so all-over-the-place that investors can’t make heads and tails of it. If they don’t understand your business, they will never invest.So, bear in mind that obtaining a loan is not that big of a challenge. Most of the times, it is just some small mistakes in the areas mentioned above that become the cause of lost opportunities to get the right loans for your business. Create a solid business plan, choose the right people to represent your business and use all the options that are available to you at the right time to grow your business at the pace you want.

Consulting arrangements can do wonders for a business. They can provide a boost to your business by utilizing a consultant’s focused expertise and their years of experience in similar venues, and they can give a business a good old-fashioned shot-in-the-arm.Consultants are distanced from the daily politics of your business. They can provide you with unbiased opinions and fresh perspectives. The thing is, they can only do this if you allow them to do it.I’ve done the consulting gig for years. In the process, I observed and experienced clients using my services well and not using my services well. I have listened to associates’ stories of how clients work with them, too. Sometimes the clients get great value for their money, and sometimes they get less than that.How to Make the Most of Your Consultant DollarIsn’t the most important thing about working with a consultant that you get valuable results for your money and build a meaningful business relationship at the same time?In order to do this, you must go into a relationship with your consultant with ‘collaboration’ in mind. The two of you must work together in order for the consulting relationship to work. As the client, you must be a willing participant in the business relationship with your consultant.In order to get value for your consulting dollar, you must allow your consultant to learn and know about many aspects of your business.If you go to a doctor with a pain in your side, but then refuse to let the doctor look at it and test it because you’re too modest or afraid of what he will tell you, the doctor won’t be able to help you.Several years ago I consulted at a company to help them use software to create reports they needed. They did not want to show me their existing reports, however. How could I help them create the new reports if they refused to show me the existing reports? Like a patient who was afraid to show the doctor the pain in his side, this client was afraid to show me their reports. Two people at this client actually clutched the reports to themselves like patients holding their hospital robes closely.After some explanations and coaxing from me, they finally let me see their pain and allowed me to help them. (Just for fun, I’ll tell you that this company is an underwear manufacturer, and leave it at that!)A consultant’s role is to give you business information that you need in order to make informed decisions. They do not have the responsibility to make your business decisions, nor do they have the control. The responsibility and control (which go hand-in-hand) are yours.Before You Decide to Work with a ConsultantFirst of all, know what you want. Define it before the consultant agrees to work with you. Write it down. List quantifiable and/or tangible objectives. Write out what you think you want the consultant to do.
What goals do you want to accomplish? What is the scope of work? What results do you want the consultant (and your business) to achieve? What do you think is the timeframe? What is your budget for this project?
As You and the Consultant Agree to Work TogetherDiscuss how the consultant works. For example, what methodology does she use to gather information, process it, draw conclusions, and make recommendations? There is no magic answer to this question. Most consultants, over time, will develop their own methodology to perform their work. Just make certain they have a plan that is the basis for their methods.State the scope of work: what the consultant will deliver, when they will deliver it, and how they will deliver it.State who will do the work (if there is a team of consultants). Also state where the consultant(s) will perform the work.Agree on the timeframe, money, and invoicing.List points of time at which you and the consultant will touch base to discuss where the project is at, how it is coming along, and if adjustments need to be made. It’s a good idea to schedule regular meetings or conference calls so that issues do not become surprises.What Else to Look For?”The worst consultants believe their companies are smarter than their clients, instead of recognizing that they’re extensions of their clients’ resources. Junior consultants in several well-known firms especially show this trait; it’s part of their firms’ core cultures,” writes Peter Keen of Computerworld. He continues, “Arrogant cultures make lousy partners and are in the rip-off business without realizing it. Because they believe they’re so much smarter, they make many mistakes that the more collaborative and respectful consulting firms don’t make.”Look for consultants who want to form a collaborative effort with you and your business. Likewise, you must collaborate with the consultant in order to get the most bang for your buck.Two More Do’s and Don’tsTreat consultants as consultants, not as employees.If you treat consultants as insiders rather than as outsiders, you will not receive the benefits of having them work with you. This is more of a mind process for you as the client. If you think of your consultants as an extension of your employee base, you may not be able to hear them when they tell you important information. Remember, as outsiders they are able to skip most of the politics and inefficiencies of your company in order to unearth diamonds in the rough. These are the hidden diamonds you are paying them to find. If you treat them as if they are employees, you will hinder that creative process for which you are paying them.Treat consultants as adults.Believe it or not, sometimes clients treat consultants as if they were children. This happens most often when consultants are told to not contact certain people for information, even though the contact and the information is important for the consultant’s work. I’ve also heard about consultants being scolded as if they were children.On the surface, the reason that consultants should not be treated like children is obvious; no one wants to be treated like that. It’s humiliating. The deeper reasons are the same as for not treating consultants like employees: clients who treat their consultants like children will not get the benefits out of the consultant that they are paying for.In ConclusionWorking with a consultant can be rewarding for your business. It’s up to you to define your goals, how you want a consultant to help achieve those goals, participate in a collaborative relationship, and let the consultant do their work in order to give you value for your consultant dollar.