Lenders star rating

How to Hook the Borrower: Your Complete Guide to Becoming a 5-Star Lender

You just spotted the perfect lead. It fits your lending criteria perfectly, and you are ready to fund it. But you also know you aren't the only one looking at it—other lenders are circling, and you need to grab the borrower's attention immediately.

You have probably heard the golden rule of Lendersa: lenders who rank 5 stars win the deals. As a competitive lender, you are willing to do whatever it takes to secure that top ranking. But you have questions. Why does it matter so much to the borrower? What exactly do you need to do? What if I am on vacation or receive a "junk" text? Here are the complete, detailed answers to your questions, giving you the exact blueprint to master the Lendersa Communication Star System and beat your competition.

1. How will a high ranking actually influence the borrower?

When a borrower is staring at a list of hungry lenders, they are looking for a reason to choose one over the other. Your star rating is the ultimate trust signal.

The entire purpose of the Lendersa communication policy is to provide better service and better control for clients seeking a loan. When they see 5 stars next to your name, it immediately influences them because it guarantees that you are highly responsive.

• It proves speed: The stars indicate your level of participation and exactly how fast the borrower will hear back from you. Real estate investors hate waiting; 5 stars tell them you move at their speed.
• It is strictly data-driven: Borrowers know the stars are generated by the automated login time of your replies. It is proof of your hustle. (Please note: The rating does not represent an official endorsement of your capacity to arrange the loan by Lendersa).

You will also notice a number in brackets next to your stars. This equals your Base Number + M#.

The Base Number is the historical leads acquired by you as of July 1st, 2026, pulled from our database. The M# (Message Number) tracks the number of messages, soft quotes, or LOIs you send starting on that date. Note: The base line is for visual display only and is not used to calculate your stars; only your active M# is used.

2. How is the Star Rating calculated, and what is the "Buffer"?

Your average is calculated simply by dividing your Total Points Earned by your active M# (Total Messages/Quotes sent).

However, there is a secret weapon: while the public rating displayed to the borrower is capped at 5 Stars, the algorithm actually awards up to 7.25 Stars if you send a fast Soft Quote with multiple options!

Earning these bonus points creates a mathematical "buffer." This means that even if you miss a deadline on a future lead, your mathematical average will stay well above 5.0, and the borrower will still see a perfect 5-star rating.

3. Actions and the Scoring Matrix

To earn and keep your 5 stars, you must master Lendersa's internal communication tools. Each time a borrower messages you, you receive an email alert with a link to log into your dashboard and reply. Standard text messages earn you baseline points, but the real rewards come from utilizing the Soft Quote tool.

Understanding the Actions:

1. Quote - Instant Multi (QIM): Submitting a Soft Quote with 2-3 loan options within 3 hours. The ultimate buffer-builder.
2. Quote - Instant Single (QIS): Submitting a Soft Quote with 1 option within 3 hours.
3. Quote - Next Morning Multi (QNM): Submitting 2-3 options between 4 and 16 hours. Perfect for catching up on after-hours leads.
4. Quote - Next Morning Single (QNS): Submitting 1 option between 4 and 16 hours.
5. Quote - On Time Multi (QOM): Submitting 2-3 options between 17 and 36 hours.
6. Quote - On Time Single (QOS): Submitting 1 option between 17 and 36 hours.
7. Quote - Slow Multi (QSM): Submitting 2-3 options after 37 hours.
8. Quote - Slow Single (QSS): Submitting 1 option after 37 hours.
9. Message - Instant (MI): Replying with a standard text message (no quote terms) within 3 hours.
10. Message - Next Morning (MNM): Replying with a standard text message between 4 and 16 hours.
11. Message - On Time (MOT): Replying with a standard text message between 17 and 36 hours.
12. Message - Slow (MS): Replying with a standard text message between 37 and 168 hours. (This will drastically lower your average).
13. Message - No Reply (MNR): Failing to reply after 168 hours. Earns zero points.

(Note: You must log your Soft Quotes and messages through the Lendersa portal to be awarded your stars, even if you call the borrower directly!)

4. Maximizing the Soft Quote Tool

What is the difference between a single Soft Quote and a Multi-Option Quote?

Hard money is flexible, and your quotes should reflect that! A Single Quote gives one scenario. A Multi-Quote gives the borrower tailored options to choose from. For example:

• Option 1: 65% LTV with a great rate. Option 2: 70% LTV with a slightly higher rate.
• Option 1: 12-month loan with a 6-month pre-pay penalty. Option 2: 6-month loan with no pre-pay penalty.
• Option 1: 50% LTV with no appraisal (closes in 5 days). Option 2: 70% LTV with full appraisal (closes in 2 weeks).

Try to keep it under 4 options so you do not overwhelm the borrower. Always read the borrower's loan purpose carefully to produce Soft Quotes that match their specific intentions.

What is the benefit of a Multi-Option Quote?

Besides earning the maximum 7.25 stars in our rating algorithm, providing 2 to 3 tailored options positions you as a true professional. A borrower who sees multiple well-thought-out scenarios will perceive you as an experienced lender who understands their unique needs better than the competition.

How do I produce a Multi-Option Soft Quote?

It is incredibly simple. Inside the Lendersa portal, fill out your initial Soft Quote and click the "Duplicate / Add New Option" button. This instantly copies your first quote, allowing you to quickly tweak the LTV, rate, or timeline for your second and third options.

5. Frequently Asked Questions & Edge Cases

Can I get a 5-Star rating without providing Soft Quotes?
Theoretically, yes. However, it will require you to reply to the borrower with a standard message within 1 to 3 hours every single time. That simply is not practical. The solution is providing Soft Quotes to build your mathematical buffer!

But I am not ready to provide a Soft Quote. What should I do?
Do not worry! The Lendersa loan request is comprehensive and designed to cover your upfront questions (often including attached documents). You are not being asked to provide a formal loan approval, nor a binding Letter of Intent (LOI). To ensure you are protected, every Soft Quote automatically includes the following disclaimer:

"This Soft Quote statement has been prepared for discussion purposes only and is not a commitment to execute a loan or a good faith estimate... Neither party will be bound to anything unless both parties enter into a binding written agreement... It is subject to review during the loan underwriting process."

Can I generate additional soft quotes or messages to artificially increase my star rating?
You are welcome to generate new soft quotes to help the borrower; however, you will be awarded stars only for replying to the original loan request or for replying to the borrower's direct questions. (Note: Only one Soft Quote or LOI per loan request is eligible to receive stars).

What are the exact rules for Weekends and After-Hours?
Our system accounts for weekends automatically. For messages generated by clients between Thursday and Sunday, the system automatically allocates you more hours to be considered "On Time" to account for the weekend.

How do I handle "junk" messages or the end of a conversation (e.g., the borrower just replies "Thanks!")?
Regardless of the borrower's reply, you still must answer it to close the communication loop. However, we have made this effortless. Our AI reads the borrower's message, and you can just click the AI-generated "Reply" button to automatically send an acknowledgment. It takes one second! Additionally, a borrower who seems to have dropped the ball will often come back to life a few days later, so staying engaged is crucial.

Is there a "Vacation Mode" if I am out of town or away from my desk?
As a lender, you can always rely on your mobile device to fire off quick replies. If you truly cannot log in, simply take the temporary low score. If you have been consistently providing Soft Quotes, your mathematical buffer will protect your public rating, and the missed messages will not severely damage you.

Is my average calculated for a lifetime, or on a rolling window? What if my rating drops?
Your M# (Message Number) average is a lifetime rolling calculation. If your score drops, there are two critical things to remember:
1. You can recover quickly: You can bounce back fast by producing Soft Quotes, especially Multi-Quotes (which earn up to 7.25 stars).
2. It measures engagement, not quality: The Star Rating is strictly an indicator of communication speed and platform engagement; it does not mean you are a bad lender. It is entirely possible that, even with a 1-Star rating, you could offer the absolute best terms and beat every 5-Star rated lender for the deal.