Summary: Working from home as a loan officer can be a big change from the office. Here are a few tips that will increase your work-from-home productivity:
- Stick with a regular schedule you can keep
- Set up a productive place to work
- Stay active on social media and real estate websites
- Master the art of using your phone as a second office
- Make time for in-person meetings and events
Can Mortgage Loan Officers Work From Home?
These days, working from home is ubiquitous and mortgage loan originators are no exception. In the busy life of an MLO, the opportunity to work remotely can offer you the ability to focus on growing your business and even integrate some work-life balance. According to FannieMae, the majority of lenders reported that remote work led to better productivity and lower operating costs. Post-pandemic, lenders expect the number of remote or hybrid MLOs to increase.
Stick With a Regular Schedule You Can Keep
One of the most important things to remember about working remotely is having the discipline to stay focused. Start out by drafting a schedule for yourself. Include factors that do not relate to your work such as morning routines with your children or walking your dog. Then, make a schedule that includes when you’ll do the various day-to-day tasks that an MLO does such as making phone calls, responding to emails, and processing applications.
Sticking with a schedule will help you avoid the common trap of getting distracted and falling behind. Of course, sometimes other work issues may arise that throw a small wrench in your plan. However, having a general daily agenda will help you achieve the kind of structure that working in an office would facilitate and help you be just as productive.
Set Up a Productive Place to Work
Your at-home office is an important factor in how productive you are during the day. While you want to feel comfortable, you do not want to work in an area of your home that will cause you to lose focus. If possible, try to set up your home office in a room dedicated to your work. You want to avoid having furniture or appliances that might divert attention from your work, such as a television or BarcaLounger. Use a comfortable chair that you can sit in for several hours but that won’t lull you to sleep. You also want to make sure that your space is clutter-free because clutter can lead to disorganization, and a disorganized space can snowball out of control.
If your home isn’t big enough for a separate office, don’t worry. You can set up a workstation with your computer or laptop, an additional monitor, printer, and other tools you’ll need throughout the day. Remember, no matter how you arrange your space, the purpose is to make your workday more efficient.
(H2) Stay Active on Social Media and Real Estate Sites
A large part of building a successful clientele as an MLO is connecting with industry colleagues and prospective clients. Social media offers an easy cost-sensitive way to stay engaged while working remotely. Take some time during your day to make sure you visit sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to garner prospects, respond to comments on your posts, and check private messages.
In addition to social media sites, real estate sites such as Zillow are also important. On Zillow, former clients can review their experience with you as an MLO. And the more people who review your service, the easier it is for you to be found in search queries on the site.
Master the Art of Using Your Phone as a Second Office
Being an MLO requires that your clients have consistent access to you. In an office, they may call your office phone, but working remotely requires you to be prepared to work outside of your regular home workspace. Between sales calls, answering inquiries from prospective clients, and connecting with current clients, a remote MLO must become skillful in operating certain facets of their business from their phone. Make sure that clients have your cell number and that they know that voicemails and text messages are welcomed.
Make Time for the “In-Person” Stuff, Too
If you’re a remote MLO, make sure not to become a recluse professionally. It’s still important to get out and attend networking events, association meetings, and most importantly, client meetings. Although you are working from your home, you still need to ensure that you are making a physical presence so you can grow your business. You also need to connect with your colleagues in the office such as underwriters, assistants, and other MLOs. This can help make complex or last-minute issues that arise easier to address and even offers the ability to learn from your peers.
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