Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
The short answer
For most people, using a mortgage broker gives you more choice and better support through the process. But if your bank is offering a competitive deal and your situation is straightforward, going direct can work perfectly well too. There's no single right answer — it depends on your circumstances.
Using a Mortgage Broker
- Searches across dozens of lenders
- Access to deals not available direct
- Handles all the paperwork for you
- Chases the lender on your behalf
- Knows which lenders suit your situation
- Often fee-free for standard cases
- Supports you from start to completion
Useful for: First-time buyers, complex situations and people who want someone to handle the process and compare options from a lender panel.
Going Direct to Your Bank
- Only offers their own products
- You do the research yourself
- You handle the paperwork
- May have loyalty deals for existing customers
- Familiar brand you already bank with
- No broker fee, with the bank's own product range
- Limited support through the process
May suit: Simple remortgages with your existing lender, people who have already done thorough research, and straightforward situations with good credit.
What most people don't realise
Your bank can only offer you their own deals
When you walk into your bank, it will discuss its own product range. A broker may review options from its lender panel and explain the available choices for your circumstances.
A broker can review options beyond a single bank
Some lenders only distribute through brokers — they do not have branches or direct-to-consumer websites. A broker can explain whether an available option is suitable for your circumstances.
Estate agent advisers may use a different lender panel
The mortgage adviser sitting in an estate agent's office may work with a different lender panel and fee structure. It is sensible to ask how their service works, what it costs and whether it is suitable for your circumstances.
It's not just about the rate
The lowest rate is not always the most suitable option. A broker looks at the full picture: arrangement fees, early repayment charges, cashback offers and whether the lender's criteria fit your situation. A different rate and fee combination may work out differently overall.
When going direct to your bank makes sense
I'm not going to pretend a broker is always the answer. There are situations where going direct works well:
- You're remortgaging and your current lender is offering a competitive product switch — no new application needed, minimal paperwork
- You have a very straightforward situation (employed, good credit, standard property) and you've already compared rates yourself
- Your bank has a genuine loyalty deal that isn't available through brokers
- You prefer to manage everything yourself and you're confident navigating the process
Even in these situations, you may wish to ask a broker how its lender panel and fees work before deciding.
When a broker may be useful
- You're a first-time buyer and you're not sure where to start
- You're self-employed or have variable income
- You want someone to handle the paperwork and chase things up
- You want help comparing options from a lender panel, not just one bank
- Your situation is a bit unusual — gifted deposit, shared ownership, right to buy
- You want clear, jargon-free advice from someone who's on your side
- You'd rather spend your time on other things and let someone else do the legwork
Not sure which route is right for you?
Have a quick, no-pressure chat with Rob. He'll give you an honest answer about whether a broker adds value in your situation — and if going direct makes more sense, he'll tell you that too.
*Fee-free for standard cases. A fee of £345 may apply for complex cases — always discussed upfront.
