Meet

Sarada Sapkota

How long have you been working at Lendfirst Home Loans?

I've been with the business since 2023.

 

What solutions do you deliver at Lendfirst?

Home loans, personal loans, business loans and equipment finance.

 

How would you describe your approach to work?

Reliable, Self-Motivated and committed to providing quality service.

 

What did you do before you started at Lendfirst?

I’ve been a chef for 25 years working at a variety of restaurants, hotels and facilities in Cairns and Sydney.

 

What is your greatest source of enjoyment in your job?

When clients are lost and are in need of guidance and knowledge, I enjoy educating and helping them achieve their home ownership dream.

 

Can you tell us about the most memorable moment of your career?

Managing the kitchen at the army Base Camp in Baghdad during the post 9-11 invasion of Iraq. Working in a challenging environment, the soldiers appreciated having a warm home cooked meal to eat instead of their usual pre-packaged frozen meals. I was honoured to be able to use my skills and experience to provide a small moment of pleasure and enjoyment for those who were prepared to give their lives for ours.

 

Is there a client or project that stands out?

I came across a Nepalise couple who were finding it difficult to work out how to go about buying their first home. They had good jobs and spoke good English but struggled with understanding some of the complex terms used by Agents, Banks and Legal people in the process.  I was able to articulate the process and requirements in a language that they could more easily understand.  This made them feel empowered and confident to go out a buy their first home.

 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I like researching and reading about property investment strategies that successful property owners have used to grow their portfolios.

 

Tell us something surprising about yourself.

I grew up in the countryside of Nepal and purposely found work in tourism in the hope that I would find an opportunity that would enable me to move to Australia.  I worked many different jobs at low levels in the industry and one day came across a couple from Cairns who selflessly gave me their time and knowledge to help me find a way to migrate to Australia.

 

What’s the most unusual or interesting loan request you’ve had?

Have not come across any pythons yet like Michael but I’m sure as my experiences grow there will certainly be some stories to tell.

 

What piece of advice would you give to someone thinking about purchasing their first home and why?

Find someone who is on your side and will give you advice and assistance that is in your interests not anyone else’s.

 

Imagine you are at a BBQ with strangers, what surprising fact would you tell them about mortgage broking or mortgages?

Just over 70% of all mortgage clients go through a mortgage broker to get their home loan and this number continues to increase year on year.