Truth in Foreclosure

All you want is for your foreclosure to go away…put it all behind you like a bad dream you’ve finally awoken from.  You want to wake up to a bright, sunny spring day rather than another dark, dreary day of worrying about your home and family.  Unfortunately, scam artists know that…
Since we’ve decided to stop counseling with homeowners and negotiating with lenders, we’ve been looking for other companies we can feel comfortable referring homeowners to.  We feel it’s our duty to help you weed out the good from the bad…because there are a lot of companies out there and we have a level of knowledge and experience you don’t.  We don’t want to see anyone get scammed, but if you really want to, here’s how to do it.

Don’t Ask Questions

We have a series of questions we ask every company we consider.  You should have a list too.  Here’s some of what we ask:

1. Can we get a copy of the contract or work agreement you use to review and have reviewed by our lawyer?  (Even if you don’t have a lawyer, you want them to think you might.)
2. How much will this cost me?  (You may have to provide them some information before they can answer this because many services charge based upon your specific situation.)
3. Is there a payment plan available?  (We recommend against paying anyone the entire fee up front.  Even if they have a money back guarantee, if you pay everything up front, you have no leverage to keep them honest.)
4. Is there a guarantee and how often do you have to honor it?  Can we talk to some of the people you’ve honored your guarantee with?

You should also research online to see what kind of consumer complaints they have.  Finally, ask the company for some references with phone numbers and then actually call them.

Don’t read everything carefully

You will get a contract before they begin work.  They may also provide you with other helpful or contractual documents as well.  Make sure you take the time to read through each of them thoroughly.  Make sure you understand everything.  If you don’t, ask the company what it means and then take it to a friend or lawyer and ask them.  If you can’t get answers to these questions, move on to another company.

Don’t trust your gut

You’re not an idiot.  God gave you a certain amount of intelligence…it’s time to use it.  Consider everything you’ve learned about the company before you make a decision.  Many people will write down a list of pros and cons before making big decisions like this.  Maybe that will work for you too?  Of course there will be nervousness as you think about the decision, but consider whether you feel comfortable with it or not.  Do you think it’s the right thing to do…will it help you sleep at night?

Don’t go overboard on trusting your gut, though.  You have to be careful to make a thoughful, reasoned decision and not an emotional one.  If you’re gut is telling you not to deal with this company, don’t…no matter how much pressure they may be putting you under.

Don’t ask for help

You don’t have to go through this alone.  You certainly have friends and family members that would be glad to help you out.  Use them…that’s why God puts them in your life.  They may never know you need help if you don’t have the courage to ask them for it.  Especially if you have problems making good decisions in stressful situations…reach out and find help.

So that’s it…I hope it helps.  Please leave a comment a let the community know what you’re thinking.

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Tags: counseling, lender mediation, lender negotiation, list, loss mitigation, scams, tips