How to Read a Calculator Lead: What the Borrower's Numbers Tell You
How to read a mortgage lead that arrives with calculator inputs: price, down payment, DTI, rate, term and tool used, plus a hot/warm/nurture triage table.
Mortgage Speed-to-Lead: What to Do in the First Five Minutes (and the Next 14 Days)
A minute-by-minute first-hour playbook for calculator leads: consent-aware call, text and email sequencing, what to say, and a 14-day follow-up cadence.
FAQ · 4 questions
Questions loan officers ask
What is a calculator lead?
A calculator lead is a borrower inquiry that arrives with the inputs and results from the calculator the borrower used, such as income, debts, down payment, rate, price and payment. In PrequalFunnel it also includes the page URL and traffic source, so you know where the borrower came from as well as what they calculated.
Can I trust the numbers a borrower types into a calculator?
Treat them as the borrower's best guess. Income is often entered net instead of gross, debts are often missed, and taxes and insurance are often left at defaults. The numbers are a starting point for questions, not facts for underwriting.
How fast should I call a mortgage lead from my website?
As close to immediately as you can, ideally within the first five minutes, while the borrower is still on or near the page. Speed matters less as an end in itself than as a way to reach the borrower while the question that made them use the calculator is still on their mind.
Should I call or text first?
Call first if the borrower consented to calls and it is within permitted hours; follow a missed call with a short text if they consented to texts. Some borrowers prefer to text, so ask on the first contact which channel they want you to use and record it.
PrequalFunnel
Your next borrower is already on your site.
Give them the numbers they came for, and get the lead with those numbers attached.
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