I get the whole “document everything” approach—can’t argue with having a paper trail. But honestly, I’ve found that sometimes too much documentation just bogs me down. I tried keeping a log once and ended up spending more time updating my spreadsheet than actually talking to the lender. Maybe it’s just me, but after a while, I started focusing on the big stuff: emails, major calls, and anything that felt like an actual decision point.
About this part:
Don’t be afraid to resend docs—even if you know they have them.
I used to do this religiously, but after my third “oops, we lost your W-2 again” moment, I started using secure upload portals (if the lender has one). It’s not perfect, but at least there’s a digital timestamp and less chance of someone’s coffee mug eating my paperwork. Faxing feels like sending smoke signals at this point... but hey, whatever works.
One thing I’d push back on: patience is good, but sometimes you gotta be a squeaky wheel. I’ve had files sit for weeks until I called every other day—suddenly things moved. Maybe annoying, but sometimes polite persistence isn’t enough.
Title: Getting a lender to budge on underwater home sales—tips?
I totally get the frustration with over-documenting, but I’m kind of the opposite—maybe it’s just nerves, but I feel like if I don’t keep tabs on every little thing, something will slip through the cracks. I started out only saving the “big” stuff, but then later when there was a question about who said what, I had nothing to back it up. Ever since, I’ve gotten a little obsessive about keeping a folder with everything—even screenshots of upload confirmations. It’s tedious, but I’d rather have too much than not enough, especially when you’re dealing with underwater situations where lenders seem extra picky.
About being the squeaky wheel... I worry about annoying them too much and getting my file pushed to the bottom. Is that a real risk, or am I just being paranoid? I’ve heard stories both ways—some people say calling all the time helps, others say it backfires. Guess I’m just trying to figure out where the line is between persistent and pest.
I get where you’re coming from with wanting to keep every scrap of documentation—been there, done that, and my desktop is a graveyard of PDFs and email threads. But honestly, I think there’s a point where it can start working against you, especially if you’re dealing with a lender who’s already overwhelmed or disorganized. Sometimes, if you send them too much at once or keep following up with “just checking in” emails, it gives them an excuse to stall or lose track of what’s actually important. I’ve had a file get delayed because the rep said they were “waiting on documents” that I’d already sent twice... turns out they just got buried in the pile.
About being the squeaky wheel—yeah, it’s a fine line. I used to worry about being annoying too, but after a couple of deals where things dragged on forever, I started being more direct. Not rude or anything, just clear about what I needed and when. I found that if you’re organized and concise (like, bullet points in your emails instead of essays), they’re more likely to respond quickly. Calling every day is probably overkill, but once or twice a week with specific questions seems to keep things moving without making you look desperate.
One thing that helped me was keeping a running log—just a simple doc with dates, who I talked to, and what was said. That way if someone tries to say “we never got that,” you can reference the exact date/time it was sent or discussed. It’s less about drowning them in paperwork and more about having your own backup if things go sideways.
At the end of the day, lenders are just people juggling way too many files. If you make their job easier by being organized but not overwhelming, you’ll probably get better results than going full-on detective mode. Just my two cents—sometimes less is more, even when your nerves are telling you otherwise.
Totally agree that being organized but not overwhelming is the way to go. I’ve actually had a lender thank me for sending a super simple cover sheet with just the critical docs attached—helped them spot what they needed right away. Out of curiosity, has anyone here tried looping in a supervisor or escalation team when things get stuck, or do you find that just ruffles feathers and slows things down more?
has anyone here tried looping in a supervisor or escalation team when things get stuck, or do you find that just ruffles feathers and slows things down more?
Tried looping in a supervisor once when my file was gathering dust. Here’s what happened:
- Got a callback… two days later.
- Supervisor sounded like I’d just woken them up from a nap.
- Whole thing got “re-reviewed” (aka, more waiting).
Honestly, sometimes it helps, sometimes it’s just more red tape. I think it depends on whether the person you’re escalating to actually cares, or if you’re just sending your stuff into the void. If you do it, maybe bring cookies? Kidding. Sort of.