“ Before I met Mark, I had been worrying for years about my home as I made the mistake of entering into an interest only mortgage due to unforeseen changes to my circumstances. I had always intended to change to a repayment mortgage, but life just passes you by and before you know it the bank wants it’s money back .After talking to Mark about it, he gave me the confidence, not just to apply for a repayment mortgage, but to find the best deal possible as I was convinced I would have had to sell my home. Mark is extremely efficient, and within a short period of time he found me an extremely good deal (which I thought was too good to be true) bearing in mind I had debts from years ago when my marriage broke down, which had affected my credit file and were still being paid off .He absolutely bent over backwards to find a mortgage for me that was not only going to stop me from losing my home but that was both sustainable and affordable (a miracle) .Mark is very professional, he gives a personal level of service which is exemplary and I'd recommend the use of his services to anyone. I will definitely be using him again as I am forever grateful and can’t thank him enough. ”

Fiona Lancaster (Manager, Oswaldtwistle) September 2022

“ I didn't believe I'd be able to purchase a property as I thought I'd need a large sum for my deposit. I was also concerned I may not be an acceptable borrower because I seem to waste money most months so I was worried my spending may be scrutinised. Eventually though, I was able to apply thanks to Mark. He managed to source a 95% mortgage for me which meant I only needed a 5% deposit. With his help at the beginning, throughout the application process, and then with the legal work (he also found a solicitor for me), I'm now finally the proud owner of my first home. Mark handled most of the work, so I didn't really have a lot to do myself. Being a first-time buyer, that was a huge relief as I had little to no knowledge about buying a property and what I needed to do. Thank you. ”

Elle Fashoni (Deputy Ward Manager) December 2021

“ If it wasn’t for Mark, I would still be renting. My personal circumstances and the pandemic meant the first-time buyer process was a challenge from the word go. Without Mark's expertise and initiative I wouldn’t have got past the DIP stage. When I did find a place, under a Discounted Sale Scheme, most lenders wanted a 15% deposit which I simply didn’t have. Mark, however, managed to source me a low interest 5% deposit mortgage product with the Leeds Building Society which wasn’t available to the public at the time as it was through a new government FTB initiative. Throughout the process, we hit obstacle after obstacle, and whenever I felt like all was lost, Mark pulled it out of the bag with remarkable skill and professionalism. On receiving a mortgage offer, Mark sourced me a fantastic solicitor, and sorted out my insurance. From start to finish, all I had to do was answer questions and respond to emails. He made everything so easy for me. Communication was quick, clear and concise. I never had to chase Mark for anything, he was available at all times and never had that “sorry i’m out of office hours” mentality. Mark is the man for the job, a pleasure to work with, and truly knows his stuff. ”

Ben Pepper (Web Designer, Southport) November 2021

“ The idea of buying my first house was incredibly daunting, but Mark managed to make the entire process as quick and painless as possible. His friendly attitude, exceptional knowledge and unrivalled dedication were incredible, and I cannot thank him enough for all his hard work. I couldn't imagine working with anyone other than Mark in the future. ”

Jordan Shenton (Software Developer, Stoke-on-Trent) May 2021

“ I first used Mark's services in 2008 when he secured me a very good residential mortgage and a life insurance policy. 12 years later, now aged 54, I was looking to remortgage again so I approached my existing high street lender. This proved to be extremely cumbersome and I got the impression the underwriters were worried about my age So, after several attempts and finally being turned down, I asked for Mark’s help. He quickly found me a fantastic deal with a 21-year repayment term. Mark is remarkable at finding solutions and made my experience so less stressful I wouldn’t hesitate to use his services again! ”

David and Rebecca Woodhouse (Finance Manager/Admin Assistant, London) May 2020

“ How very fortunate we were to complete our remortgage just before the pandemic changed the world. We cannot thank you enough as always for your hard work, attention to detail, and professionalism. Furthermore, we are also very relieved that we decided to commit to the life cover which is so comprehensive. I’m thrilled it covers the children up to 22 years of age and you were quite right that turning fifty next year meant it was exactly the right time to take your advice and secure this cover. Alongside our budget income protection, we really have peace of mind in these uncertain times. It’s great to know we can always rely on you as our financial adviser who has great integrity and we will always recommend you. ”

Darrell and Zoe Simpson (Electrical Engineer /Veterinary Receptionist, Nantwich) March 2020

“ When we needed to speak to a mortgage adviser at our own bank about our prospective property purchase, we were shocked to be told the waiting time for an appointment was 11 weeks! We knew Mark locally, so we wondered how soon he would be able to discuss it with us instead. I was pleasantly surprised to be told he would be able to see us almost immediately. Mark is very personable and made us feel comfortable at our meeting. Initially, he helped us check our credit reports, then, he successfully sourced a lender and a product for us. In the meantime, he also helped us arrange a survey. This was a very worthwhile exercise as we discovered some issues about the property we would otherwise have been unaware of. Soon after, we had a DIP accepted and next day, he submitted a full mortgage application for us. Remarkably, only a week later, we had a mortgage offer! We were amazed to think that all this had happened weeks before we were told an initial mortgage appointment with our own bank was even possible! Mark had already sourced a solicitor for us from his comparison panel at a competitive cost. Dealing with a solicitor directly is quite difficult, not the same as dealing with Mark. He was readily available, very communicative and always there to help if we needed him. In the weeks before we actually completed, he also sourced 'low start' protection policies for us, including CI cover, plus a good premium for our first home insurance policy. We were very grateful for Mark's continuing help throughout the difficult process. We would be very happy to recommend him to anyone. ”

Bartosz and Martyna Taranczewscy (Breakdown Recovery Driver/Barperson, Southport) August 2019

“ I would like to thank Mark for all the help he gave me in 2017. We were introduced when I tried to find a mortgage for a property purchased at auction for which I had to use a bridging loan. Two sales had already fallen through, so with little experience and the bridge term ending, I found very few lenders were willing to help and I didn't know what to do next. Mark"s help was exceptional. He assisted in negotiating with the bridge lender, securing an extension, whilst sourcing one of the very few mortgage lenders who could help me (due to the size of the property). Mark managed to achieved this, so a big 'thank you' to him. Unfortunately, to find time to deal with the above, bridge extension penalties were unavoidable, so I ended up with some personal debts. To assist with this, Mark eventually helped me secure a very difficult loan to pay off monies which I'd reluctantly borrowed from friends and family. During this period, Mark also helped me re-mortgage my other rental property, sourcing a product which halved my monthly payment. So, a BIG Thank You to Mark again for all his help as I eventually had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and even managed a holiday. I would recommend Mark to anyone. ”

Thandi Strouthos (Carer, Seaford) February 2018

“ I dare not think about how long I have dealt with Mark Barnes...Having started with advice on one buy-to-let mortgage, with Mark's professionalism and knowledge, this has now grown. I also utilise Mark's services for my residential mortgage as well as insurances. Unlike other advisers, Mark is not there just to make money out of you, he is definitely there for 'you', the customer! In fact, on many occasions whilst finding the best deal for you, I am sure he personally short changes himself. You can lay your cards on the table with Mark and tell him exactly what you want and he will climb mountains to assist you. Whilst knowing Mark, I have made recommendations to friends, family and business colleagues to also use his services and, personally, I think it is their loss if they don’t. ”

Janette Newman (Company Director, Leek) July 2017

“ I was introduced to Mark by a family member in 2013 whilst looking for home insurance on my newly purchased property. He really went the extra mile to help me understand the type of cover I really needed. Since then, I've kept in touch with Mark whenever I've needed financial advice and he has always responded whether it be in or out of office hours. Earlier this year, I needed help with a remortgage to allow me to release equity from my property. I contacted Mark again. Prior to the application process, it came to light that my credit record had been impacted by a CCJ caused by a trivial matter. I feared my hopes of getting a new mortgage deal were immediately over, and if had embarked on this process on my own it surely would have been. At this point, however, Mark really came into his own. He didn't let me give up hope and helped me optimise my financial situation to ensure that prospective lenders would have no doubt of my ability to afford the mortgage, despite the CCJ. My position was complicated further as I was a self-employed freelance contract worker. To help with all this, Mark set me up with critical illness cover to protect my mortgage and an income protection plan to give me more personal security. This would prove to lenders that I had the correct measures in place to continue to repay the mortgage if I suffered a serious illness or long-term sickness. Although my income was sufficient, I hoped this would help Mark reach out to more lenders for a good mortgage deal as our options were limited. Eventually, all the hard work paid off and, to my absolute amazement, Mark was able to secure me a deal which allowed me to release equity from my property, reduce the term of my original mortgage deal by 5 years, whilst increasing my monthly payments by only £20pm! Dealing with Mark was a pleasure. He took the time to visit me at home, understand what I was trying to achieve, and fully explained the process I needed to go through to stand any chance of getting the remortgage. I think its really important you can deal with somebody you can trust and who you feel is genuinely there to help you, rather than simply make their own profit. I would recommend Mark's services to anybody. He is a decent, honest and genuine person who takes a real interest in the needs of the people he is working for. I can't thank him enough for his help and advice, and I will be a client of his for many more years to come. ”

Ricky Taylor (Business Analyst, Gatley) November 2016

“ I write this from the bottom of my heart. We can't thank Mark enough for all the help, support and guidance he has given us throughout our journey to find a mortgage to realise the family dream to move to a larger property. It was a rocky road from start to finish, but with Mark's persistence and determination he got us there. We thought it would be a simple open and closed case as we knew we could afford the property, but, as I now realise, affordability isn't the key, proving it is! Where gaps were present, Mark carefully guided us through the outstanding issues to satisfy our lender's detailed application criteria. The biggest bonus of working with Mark, in addition to his professional approach to mortgage advice, is his flexibility. As a mum who juggles full-time work, a busy social life and domestic chores, I needed to work with someone who would respond to me outside the 9-5 office hours of other advisers. Mark was on hand to answer texts, emails and calls during evenings and weekends. It has been a pleasure to work with Mark and since initial contact with him I have taken out two mortgages, 2 life insurance policies and I will refer my family and friends to engage his advice and services in the future.. Based on the work Mark has done for me, I could not recommend him more highly. ”

Kirsty-Jayne Taylor (Project Manager, Crewe) December 2015

“ Mark has now sourced, advised and completed 3 BTL mortgages for us with 3 different lenders. With a unique self-employed job, a complex income make-up, and the challenging nature of the property types I was attempting to purchase and remortgage (an 8th floor apartment, a holiday let, and a high LTV requirement), he analysed the detailed criteria and identified the one and only possible niche lender appropriate for each property. He then liaised with each lenders' underwriters to ensure we could fit their criteria throughout the process. He maintained communication with us and sought new solutions to our problems as they arose. I will be using him again on my next purchase. ”

Nigel Sumner (Publican, Nantwich) August 2014

“ We applied for a mortgage in June of this year and found the whole process much more detailed than had it had been on a previous occasion. As with most people today, our lives are busier than ever, and we would not have been successful without Mark's assistance. Thoroughly recommend. ”

Nigel Jones (Farm Manager, Ness) December 2013

“ I was very happy to have had Mark's help with the application for my Engage Over 50's Plan in March of this year, because of my advancing years. He was patient and understanding and I have no problem in recommending him to family and friends in respect of financial matters. ”

Maureen Tollet (Mother, Dukinfield) April 2013

“ Mark arranged my remortgage and relevant cover after being recommended to me by my boss. It turned out to be the wisest move! A potentially stressful time was made easy by Mark who was honest, professional and friendly throughout the whole process. I can genuinely recommend Mark and can't speak highly enough of him as a financial adviser and genuine person. ”

Phil Potter (Catering Manager, Birmingham) January 2013

“ Thank you so much for assisting me and making me feel comfortable. I have peace of mind when I know someone has understood my needs and acted accordingly. A caring, honest and reliable person, we could do with more like Mark Barnes in the business world. Highly recommend. ”

Hasumati Bakrania (Homemaker, Harrow) July 2012

“ Mark is by far the most honest, reliable & trustworthy man we have ever had pleasure in dealing & doing business with. We have recommended him to many of our friends & will continue to do so for as long as we possibly can. Mark explained everything in precise detail so that we were crystal clear in what we were getting for our money. We are very privileged to have found such a genuine adviser & now friend. ”

Isla Mackay (Administrator, St.Asaph) June 2012

“ I can highly recommend Mark as, not only an expert financial adviser, but a very hardworking, honest and reliable person. He has completely reorganised our finances including mortgage, life cover and home insurance, and given me sound advice on income protection, loans and credit cards. Before I spoke to Mark, I was struggling to sleep at night and had become very anxious about juggling finances. I had never had the confidence to find my credit rating, but following Mark's advice I was relieved to discover it was not terrible as I had expected it to be and this was a great relief. I trust Mark implicitly and would recommend him to anyone needing help with their finances. I shall certainly be contacting him again in the future. ”

Zoe Simpson (Travel Agent, Nantwich) May 2012

“ I was very pleased with Mark's service, and his calm and pleasant manner. He was extremely professional in setting up my requirements. I know if I need any further information, I will not hesitate to contact Mark every time. ”

Linda Brown (Administrator/P-t Student, Oxton) April 2012

“ Mark provides a friendly but professional service and works hard to find the best possible options. He always ensured I was kept informed and gave clear explanations about the process and products. I will definitely use Mark again. ”

Nicole Meardon (Teacher, Ellesmere Port) April 2012

“ I am very happy with Mark's service, and at no time did he push or coerce me into anything. He was very patient and understanding during the whole process, giving good advice and information. ”

Graham Williams (Car Valet, Ellesmere Port) March 2012

“ I have known Mark for a number of years now. He has been very helpful on every occasion. I would not go to anyone else, and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to all. ”

Tracy Fox (Radiographer, Runcorn) March 2012

“ Very satisfied with your service. Many thanks. ”

Nigel Jones (Farm Manager, Neston) March 2012

“ I feel I can't put into words the quality of service you provide - it Is second to none. I'm also impressed with your website. ”

Dave Gibbins (Senior Residential Child Care Officer, Prenton) October 2011

“ You have provided us with a fantastic service over the last two years. I hope I can help encourage many other people to experience this great service, and the products you offer, just as we did. ”

James Clarke (Police Officer, Leeds) July 2011

“ Mark provided a professional and personal level of service which was really appreciated. This, allied to advice without any pressure to buy the product, will definitely lead me to use his services again. ”

Andrew Sheldon (Consultant, Tarporley) March 2011

“ Thanks for all your help in seamlessly transferring my mortgage - I never imagined it would be so quick and trouble-free. I have been pleased with your efficiency and honesty and intend to contact you in the future for renewal quotes. ”

Ged Heaney (Accountant, Preston) February 2010

“ I scored Mark 5 out of 5 for all categories on my Customer Feedback (Satisfaction) Form. I was particularly impressed by the 'excellent' and appropriate way I was kept informed throughout the process. ”

Mary Michael (PA, Loughton) March 2009

“ I was extremely happy with his service and the effort he put in to enable me to do a very difficult remortgage which has enabled me to keep my home, and reduced my monthly outgoings by 50%. ”

Sue Cain (Book-Keeper, Northwich) December 2008

“ Mark proved to be very helpful and extremely trustworthy. ”

Diane McKinney (Occupational Health Training Officer, Chester) February 2008