CLEAR Delivers NZ's Newest Mortgage Web-Site For Intelmortgage
New Zealand's newest web-based mortgage service was launched today with the backing of CLEAR Communications' expert web
site development and hosting.
Mortgage broking company IntelMortgage Financial Solutions today launched a web site offering loans from 15 banks and
financial services companies, plus direct access to real estate agents and sharebrokers.
IntelMortgage's Chief Executive Graham D'Arcy-Smith says the user-friendly site (www.intelmortgages.com) was delivered
in record time by CLEAR Communications, ensuring that IntelMortgage is at the leading edge of the new web-based
mortgage-broking services market in New Zealand.
CLEAR's Web-hosting Manager Craig Tikao says the successful launch of the high-functionality web site showed what could
be achieved in a short time, without blowing the budget.
"Most business people have heard horror stories about time and cost over-runs in web development. Unfortunately that has
put many businesses off committing to ecommerce," says Mr Tikao.
CLEAR Communications projected-managed the web site development to ensure the deadline was met - including developing
the web site's architecture, selecting a web design partner (Wellington-based Veda), providing security and ensuring the
site had potential for growth.
"As a result, IntelMortgage can add services in the future. We've designed the architecture so that it can easily
accommodate services such as CLEAR's PaySafe, which is a secure credit card verification system," says Mr Tikao.
Mr D'Arcy-Smith says the web site launch establishes IntelMortgage as a clicks-and-mortar operation, with an office in
Wellington and a broker force around the country. "We can meet customers face-to-face, talk on the phone or on the web."
He says mortgage broking has huge unrealised potential in New Zealand, accounting for only 17 per cent of this country's
lending market. By comparison, the proportion is 25 per cent in Australia and more than 80 per cent in the United States
- more than half of that coming from customers using Internet services.
"The successful providers are the ones offering the best levels of customer service, integrity and reliability. Our
service has all these, as well as transparency and flexibility - we're happy to tell customers what our brokers are
being paid per transaction," says Mr D'Arcy-Smith.
He anticipates up to 40 per cent of IntelMortgage's business will come through the web site within the next five years,
although he acknowledges that some customers may initially feel more comfortable using a combination of Internet and
face-to-face interaction. IntelMortgage intends to introduce more web-based services by early 2001, including mortgage
broking via WAP (mobile Internet phone) and access to insurance and sharebroking services.
Veda's Operations Manager Ben Northrop says IntelMortgage's web site has been designed with the user in mind. "It offers
customers simple, smart financial solutions."
ENDS
For further information contact Rochelle Lockley Communications Manager - Commercial CLEAR Communications Ph: (09) 912
4104 Office Ph: (021) 763 784 Mobile Graham D'Arcy-Smith Chief Executive IntelMortgage
Financial Solutions Ph: (0800) 468 351