My Biggest Mistake…

Read our Q&A with Melissa Cavers from Buyers Choice about jumping in the deep end and starting her business.

How did you get into mortgage brokering & property investing?

I run a mortgage broking and property investing advice business. I have a Bachelor in Economics and Finance and I’m a registered Qualified Property Investment Adviser (QPIA), owner of five properties located throughout Australia.

My husband and I have invested in property and used the services of a mortgage broker to organise the finance. It was through this process that I thought I would be able to help people. Getting finance was such a stressful process, and we tried to get finance again, nobody would help us as it wasn’t an easy deal even though there was a solution. And then I wanted to extend this through offering property investment advice, to help people avoid the mistakes we made.

What three things have you learnt since starting your business/profession over the years?

I have leant so many things since starting my own business, I’m still learning every day! The three things that stand out;

1. Communication and developing relationships are critical for success

2. Trust your instincts and go with it, don’t question because they are almost always right

3. When self-employed you need to be totally committed and work the most hours you ever have, why should you work long hours for someone else but not yourself?

How long did it take to create your success and can you explain any defining moments to that success?

I believe I’m still on the path to success, and feel as my business is still in early stages. Success is something I am working towards. Success for me will be measured by the number of people I can help in achieving their goals, not a predefined dollar figure.

Describe some wins over the years for us:

The big wins I have had is knowing I have helped people- normal, regular people change their lives, helping people get into the property market, when they previously thought they couldn’t. Or showing people a path to follow so they can get into the market in the near future. The win translates into more business as I’m getting referrals from happy customers, after sharing with friends and family of their own success.

What are the mistakes you can easily make and what mistakes have you made?

My biggest mistake was taking so long to take the plunge and give it a go, however this has meant I have learnt many more lessons from mistakes I have made which is to the benefits of my clients. I initially only focused on the financial objectives, and not having a balance between work and leisure time, including spending time with family.

What advice would you give to other aspiring business owners?

Others wanting to go out and follow their passions and start their own business, here are my top five tips for you:

• Give it a go, you will never know until you try, and you don’t want to look back in years to come with regrets or always wondering what could have been.
• Team up with a great mentor who will really guide you to where you want to go and what goals you want to reach.
• Be prepared for challenges and set backs, know if you can work through them, those are the moments you will think back to and will be the most proud of.
• Don’t let others steer you off course. You know what your goals are- focus on them wholeheartedly.
• Celebrate your success, always have a balance with your family and allow time for fun.

Check out Melissa’s business via clicking here.