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Meet the Team “Virtually”: Pamela Blakes

Let’s meet our Broker Account Manager, Pamela Blakes who joined our Bridge Loan Network team in 2020.  Pamela specializes in building and maintaining broker relationships, and providing education and support for Bridge Loan Network’s software platform. She loves gathering interesting tidbits about her clients, or a life lesson they have learned. She will be happy to add yours to her book of “Information I Could Learn from or Use to Help Someone Else”.

Q:  How do you prefer to start your day?

A:  I really like to just grab my coffee and get my day started, except weekends, haha.

Q:  What’s your go-to productivity trick?

A:  Honestly I just make sure I stay organized, and check things off the list as I go.

Q:  How did you start working for Bridge Loan Network?

A:  They found my resume online.

Q:  What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

A:  My client relations. Creating a bond and being able to take that relationship and create great business together while relying on one another. Creates great success for both parties involved.

Q:  What was your first job?

A:  I worked in a hair salon.

Q:  Are you an early bird, or night owl?

A:  Early bird, all the way!

Q:  If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

A: Hmmmm, Let me think about that. I may be better as a Care bear. Power would be JOY!

Q:  If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?

A:  Text, Music apps, Email.

Q:  What’s one song you have completely memorized?

A:  The Clash – London Calling

Q:  What’s your most used emoji?

A:  Heart, close second Cartwheel!

Q:  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A:  Rock Star!

Take Listing Pics like a Pro

Take Listing PicsAfter the renovations of your fix and flip have been completed, capturing the moment is essential! Not only to hold all the hard work you’ve done in a tangible form, but also for marketing. Don’t have a professional camera? Not a problem! With the right steps, you can take amazing photos with just your phone. Additionally, marketing your rental is also key to making a profit. And it starts with the perfect photos to share with potential clients.

Lighting

Good lighting can make or break any photo. If there isn’t enough lighting, the rooms can appear gloomy and overall give off a bad appearance. The goal of these photos is to give prospective clients the feel that they can see themselves in the space. Therefore, warm and inviting light helps create the illusion as well as opens up the space. Capitalize on getting the most amount of light into the room by taking photos on bright sunny days, opening the blinds, and turning on all the interior lights. Natural light is your friend so be sure to take full advantage of it. Although when taking photos be careful of shadows that can be cast. Shadows often come into play but can be dependent on the angles you take the photo.

Angles

Take a variety of photos from different angles. You don’t have to use them all, but it gives you an abundance of photos to work with. Not only can different angles give a variety, but the quality of the photos can change when factoring in other variables such as shadows. Keep in mind taking photos from corners opens up the room and adds dimension compared to straight-on photos that can make the room appear smaller.

Outside

Of course, capturing the rooms inside is essential, but so is capturing the outside! Outdoor living space can be a major attraction to prospective clients. Again, lighting will be a major component of getting the perfect photo. Be sure no personal belongings are in the shot such as your car in the driveway. And don’t get too caught up in the season you shoot! Although spring or summer may seem like the best options for blossoming flowers, fall and winter can be just as beautiful! Taking an outdoor photo with a fresh blanket of snow on the property or the fall foliage surrounding your fix & flip can add the perfect charm to your array of photos.

Shooting your fix and flip should be fun! All of your hard will pay off in these photos, so you want to be sure to capture the beauty. With these tips in mind, you will be able to take beautiful photos on a budget.

AAPL Annual Hybrid Event

Las Vegas AAPLBridge Loan Network is excited to be exhibiting at the upcoming Hybrid American Association of Private Lenders’ (AAPL) 11th Annual Conference. The Hybrid AAPL Conference is taking place November 15th through 17th both in Las Vegas and virtually and is the leading real estate lending conference connecting private lenders, brokers, crowd funders, and service providers.

The agenda for the conference is filled with captivating speaking sessions and ample networking opportunities (both virtually and in-person), including an opening night cocktail hour.

“I am very excited to attend my third AAPL Conference in November,” says Business Development Specialist, Jacob Therrien. “The quality of conversations, exhibitors, and attendees at the AAPL Conference is what makes this conference the best of the year. This event gives us an opportunity to meet the new companies in the industry, as well as, connect and strengthen long-standing relationships with other industry professionals.”

Stop by our Bridge Loan Network booth at the conference and online to learn how our Loan Origination Software can help take your Private Lending business to the next level!

For more details on the AAPL Annual Conference, click here.

Use Your Outdoor Space Year-Round

Outdoor SpaceNow that autumn has begun, so has the chilly weather! Those beautiful outdoor spaces you created shouldn’t only be reserved for the summertime. Make your outdoor spaces usable all year.

Stay Warm

If you haven’t already, you should certainly look into investing in a firepit! This is an easy way to stay warm during the colder months of the year while enjoying your outdoor patio. Choose from wood burning, propane, gel fueled, or natural gas fire pits to fit your needs. Firepits are a win-win situation because not only do they serve for warmth, they are perfect for roasting yummy treats like smores! In addition to a firepit, consider adding heat lamps to stay warm and cozy outside. A patio heat lamp is simple to assemble and can often be positioned to heat an individual directly, rather than just the surrounding area. With a wide variety of heating lamps to choose from, match the style to your already existing patio!

Privacy Screen

Think of getting a privacy screen to put up wherever you please. This helps transform your patio from summer to fall, as well as blocks the wind as the temperature drops. Such a quick and simple fix to change seasons! Outdoor screens can add a nice visual to your outdoor patio space and gives you more seclusion from others. Enjoy the peace and quiet of your outdoor space with a beautiful new privacy screen.

Let There Be Light

Just because the sun goes down sooner, doesn’t mean you have to sit in the dark! Add some more lights to your outdoor space to create a warm ambiance. Dive into your style of either twinkling lights, tiki torches, or glowing lanterns. Make sure your lights are weatherproof to avoid having to constantly change them out.

Add Some Aesthetics

Put down an all-weather rug (or a few) to fit the season and giving your feet something warm to walk on. Rugs made from polypropylene are great at withstanding whatever nature may throw at it during the season. Have a gazebo or pergola? Add in some curtains! Allow yourself to draw in the curtains when the temperature drops and that transformation of the summer to fall feel.

Just because summer’s gone doesn’t mean your patio has to close up. Use these tips to maintain enjoying the beautiful outdoor space you’ve created. And don’t forget, throw some more pillows and blankets out there to keep the space extra cozy!

Meet the Team “Virtually”: Jacob Therrien

Let’s meet our Business Development Specialist, Jacob Therrien who joined our Bridge Loan Network team in 2018.  Jacob works closely with brokers and correspondent lenders in the commercial real estate space to educate them on best practices and how to strive for success.  Jacob was awarded the Rising Star award from the American Association of Private Lender’s (AAPL) in 2019.

Q:  How do you prefer to start your day?

A:  A cup of strong coffee while I watch the sun rise.

Q:  What’s your go-to productivity trick?

A: If I feel my productivity going down, I always make a list of priorities, so I know the important things get done before anything else.

Q:  How did you start working for Bridge Loan Network?

A:  I was lucky enough to stumble across BLN during my post grad job search. I interviewed and immediately fell in love with the team, the culture, and the plethora of opportunity that it presented.

Q:  What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

A:  I am super proud of how well our team has come together to grow our business to a known player in the Investment Real Estate space. But my proudest personal accomplishment is winning the 2019 AAPL Rising Star Award.

Q:  What was your first job?

A:  My first ever “job” was working for a neighbor doing landscaping when I was 13. 10 dollars an hour, paid in cold hard cash!

Q:  Are you an early bird, or night owl?

A:  Money doesn’t sleep, neither do I. I am 100% all the time.

Q:  If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

A:  I would love to read minds… In order to make more sales…

Q:  If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?

A:  Maps, Music, Banking App.

Q:  What’s one song you have completely memorized?

A:  The ABC’s

Q:  What’s your most used emoji?

A:  Crying laughing facing is ALWAYS the best emoji for any situation!

Q:  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A:  I always wanted to be an Aviation Pilot, but a diagnosis of chronic migraine syndrome shot down those dreams fairly quickly. So inevitably, software sales was the next best option!

Virtual NACLB Annual Conference

NACLBBridge Loan Network is virtually attending and exhibiting at the upcoming National Alliance of Commercial Loan Brokers (NACLB) Annual Conference. The NACLB Conference which is taking place November 10 – 11, 2020 is the largest organization of mortgage brokers and industry professionals.  Their mission is to provide exceptional education and ample networking opportunities between brokers, lenders and service providers.

The agenda for the NACLB Conference is filled with compelling sessions from the top mortgage brokers as well as industry experts. In addition to the mix of educational sessions, there will be numerous opportunities for virtual networking with other attendees and the awesome exhibitors, such as Bridge Loan Network.

In addition to exhibiting, virtually, our Business Development Specialist, Jacob Therrien, will be a featured panelist on the “Commercial Real Estate 101” Panel on Tuesday, November 10th from 11:00 – 11:55 AM EST.

NACLB’s Broker Attendee Benefits Include:

Be sure to visit the Bridge Loan Network team online at the show.

For more details on the National Alliance of Commercial Loan Brokers (NACLB) Conference, click here.

Driving Traffic to Your Website

Driving traffic to your website can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! With the right plan of action, you can create increased engagement with users, therefore opening the doors to more clients for your business.

These tips can help take your website and business to the next level.

Prioritize Usability

Of course, the glitz and glam of your website layout can be intriguing and exciting to the eye, but it does no good if the website is difficult to navigate. Having a well-structured website is vital to creating a positive user experience. In addition, having a responsive website is essential considering the broadening use of mobile devices. Whether users are utilizing your website on a laptop, cell phone, or tablet, easy navigation across all platforms is key.

Social Media

Now this seems like a given but is often overlooked. Social media has been and continues to be on the rise. This is one of the most popular marketing tools available and is mostly free! Promoting content from your website such as upcoming events and blog posts can then drive traffic to your website. Social media is a support to website trafficking, not a substitute. Use it effectively, and don’t forget to make your content shareable!

Engagement

Online engagement heavily relates to social media use. It’s simple, the more you engage, the more exposure you get. Increased exposure could lead to more traffic to your website! Get active in your online groups within your industry, and comment on posts here and there. Be sure your engagement is purposefully and sincere. Make your voice heard in the virtual world.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is an incredible way to stay in touch with clients. Useful information can be provided with just the click of the “send” button. This is another opportunity to provide useful links to your website on the content you choose to promote. Again, another chance to drive traffic to your website. Considering we all get bombarded with tons of emails daily, be sure to carefully choose an intriguing subject line in your email. Getting your audience members to actually open the email is an important first step!

Keep in mind driving traffic to your website won’t happen overnight. It can take months before you see substantial results, and that’s okay! Creating a plan and sticking to it can boost your rankings in search engines and in turn, better your business. Plus, with the help of Bridge Loan Network, we can provide you with a custom application link for your website to capture leads for potential clients.

Referral Marketplace Partnership Announced

Bridge Loan Network has developed our Referral Marketplace as a way to connect investors and brokers to the perfect lending solution for 5 years, helping countless brokers close more deals and organize their business.

As our team takes great pride in continuing to improve our product and software offerings we’ve continued to grow from a new start-up company in this space by using feedback from all our clients and industry partners.

In an effort to expand our Referral Lender Network, further automate the matchmaking process, and improve and expand on the available product offerings Bridge Loan Network has partnered with a directory of private lending companies offering short and long-term financing secured by residential and commercial real estate throughout the United States, Private Lender Link.

Private Lender Link has been offering an online directory for Lenders, Service Providers, and other professionals in the investment real estate industry since their start in 2010.  The Private Lender Link team touts the highest level of customer service and works tirelessly to match broker and investor loan scenarios with the perfect lending match.

We are very excited to launch this partnership and offer faster and more accurate lender suggestions. To gain access to this Referral Network, please contact your Broker Account Representative at Bridge Loan Network to ensure you have the correct membership with us. Then once your loan request has been added into our Bridge Loan Network software simply select the Action to “Refer to Private Lender Link.”

Protecting Your Home Against Hurricanes

2020 has been pretty unpredictable thus far, including the weather.  Safety is the utmost importance during these unpredictable storms, but of course, you want your home to be protected too! Here are some ways to help protect your home against hurricanes.

Impact-resistant windows and doors

Invest in impact-resistant windows and doors. With these in place, they will help to strengthen the safety of your home against harsh weather. Impact-resistant windows and doors can withstand winds up to 200 mph, in addition to objects that may be thrown at your home. Having these in place can make a huge difference for not only possible storm damage, but the dreaded clean up afterward.

Landscape

Although landscaping may not seem directly apart of the home, it can certainly come into play during a hurricane. Everything and anything surrounding your home come into fair play when the winds aggressively pick up. Consider exchanging harder landscaping materials for soft ones. For example, instead of using gravel or stones, use mulch or wood chips. In addition to using softer materials, be sure to check out your tree branches! Trim any branches that are already breaking or dead. Trimming branches is a great place to start prepping your home since it is a quicker task!

Garage

For a short-term fix to strengthening your garage doors, opt to install vertical door braces or horizontal beams. Utilizing these reinforces the structure of the doors, which will fend better against high winds. For a bigger upgrade, invest in impact-resisting garage doors. Much like the doors and windows, impact-resisting garage doors are the utmost protection for aggressive weather. Although installing these are more expensive than vertical door braces or horizontal beams, they may be worthwhile considering your valuable car is residing inside!

Sump pump

Ever think about installing a sump pump? A sump pump moves water from your basement to a designated area out of your home. This simple mechanism can help protect your home from rising waters which could ultimately lead to structural damage. There are different types of sump pumps such as submersible, pedestal, battery-operated backup, and water-powered backup sump pumps. Ensure the sump pump being used is free of debris to ensure it will effectively work to protect your home against damage.

Of course, a generator would be a huge help for possible power outages too, just make sure you use it safely and situate it away from your house! But these tips will help preserve your home or investment property during aggressive and unpredictable weather.

Keeping Your Information Safe Online

With many employees working from home, unfortunately, the traffic of account hackers has also increased. And many of their tactics have gotten more clever for obtaining information online. Be sure to keep your accounts and information safe with these tips and tricks.

Variation

Although simplicity may seem like the best way to go for memory’s sake, add some sort of variance to your password. Whether it be different capitalization, numeric values, or punctuation, you want to ensure you are using a password that cannot be easily guessed. And whatever you do, do not use the same password for all applications! Afraid you’ll forget your numerous password? No excuse! Use a password manager such as Secret Server, Bitwarden, or Dashlane to keep track of all your account information.

Change It Up

Some applications may require you to change your password after a certain number of days. Although this may seem tedious, it is important to change when prompted. Take it one step further by changing the passwords of all your applications every few months. Get into the habit of changing all passwords, even if you are only required to change just one or two applications. Frequently changing passwords will make it, so your account information is less likely to be tracked.

Be Cautious of Downloads and Links

Some emails may seem legitimate but can be a hacker in disguise. If the email contains a download or link and you’re not sure if it is safe, look for clues it could be a hacker. Do you recognize the email address it is coming from? Or could the email address have various numbers attached to it? Is the spelling in the email message itself correct? When in doubt if you aren’t sure, don’t open any links or downloads and reach out to your IT Department. In addition, do your best to avoid unknown sites to limit the opportunities of engaging with malicious code.

Two-factor Authentication

Setting up two-factor authentication creates another layer of safety for your information. Many of us use just one password to access certain sites, but if there is an option to enable two-factor authentication, you should take it. Something as simple as sending a text with a code to your phone before logging in can create an abundance of safety so only you can access the account.

Update

Update! Update! Update! Updating your systems is such an important and simple way to help keep your accounts and information safe. Failure to update your systems allows hackers more time to create new and improved ways of obtaining your information. Updating your software, system, firewall, and the browser should remain a priority. So next time you receive an update pop up, don’t close it out!

Shut Down

Turn off your work laptop or computer at the end of every day. Devices that are always left on are more susceptible to getting viruses or malware. Get into the habit of shutting completely down at the end of the day to ensure your accounts are being protected, even when you’re offline.

Bridge Loan Network is a site you can trust. Those who use the Bridge Loan Network (BLN) platform are helping to protect their information, and their client’s information by storing it in the software. Aspects that ensure the safety of information include the entire site being https, all documents and PII are encrypted, and the firewall only allows access to BLN for users in the United States. In addition, the company follows the OWASP secure coding practices to safeguard the information of users. The safety features Bridge Loan Network uses are exactly what you want to look for when entrusting your personal information on different websites.

Although hackers are upping their game while many are still working from home, these tips will help to ensure the safety of your information. Always be cautious while using your devices and if something seems odd, go with your gut. Hackers are smart but you are smarter!