Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

Borrower Scripts: Hope and A Wish List Is Not Acceptable Collateral

What to Say When the Deal Isn’t Going the Way They Imagined

by Dan J. Harkey

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Summary

Use these verbatim or adapt lightly—but don’t soften them. These scripts preserve credibility, shorten pain, and stop magical thinking.

1.  When the Deal Is Weaker Than the Borrower Thinks

Script:

“Based on how lenders are viewing risk right now, this deal is financeable—but only within tighter parameters than what you’re expecting.”

Subtext:
Your expectations and the market are not on speaking terms.

2.  When Credit Is the Real Problem

Script:

“The structure isn’t the issue—the credit profile is what lenders are reacting to.  Until that improves, leverage and pricing will reflect the risk.”

Do NOT say:
“Lenders are being picky.”

That invites debate.  This does not.

3.  When Financials Don’t Support the Ask

Script:

“Lenders underwrite what’s documented, not what’s projected.  Right now, the numbers don’t support those terms.”

Subtext:
Hope is not collateral.

4.  When the Lender Is Losing Interest (Slow Fade)

Script:

“The file hasn’t been declined, but it’s losing momentum.  That usually means we need a reset—either on structure or lender.”

This prepares them emotionally before the email arrives.

5.  When the Deal Must Be Re‑Traded

Script:

“The market feedback is clear—terms will need to tighten if we want to keep this moving forward.”

Optional Add‑On:

“That’s normal underwriting, not a bait‑and‑switch.”

Say it calmly.  Let it land.

6.  When Timing Is the Killer

Script:

“This timeline assumes perfect execution.  Lenders’ price for reality, which includes delays.”

Translation:
You are not building IKEA furniture.

7.  When the Exit Isn’t Convincing Anyone

Script:

“Lenders need a credible, measurable exit—not a directional idea.  That’s where the hesitation is.”

Never Debate the Exit
Clarify it.  Improve it.  Or accept the consequences.

8.  When the Sponsor Strength Isn’t There

Script:

“With thinner cash flow and leverage this high, lenders lean heavily on sponsor liquidity.  That’s a key gap here.”

This reframes rejection as risk math rather than personal rejection.

9.  When the Borrower Pushes Back Emotionally

Script:

“I understand the frustration.  My role is to translate the market—not fight it.”

Then stop talking.

Silence is powerful.

10.  When the Deal Is About to Die

Script:

“Based on lender feedback, this structure isn’t financeable today.  I don’t want to waste your time pretending otherwise.”

This preserves Trust—even as the deal ends.

11.  When You’re Walking Away as the Broker

Script:

“I don’t see a clear financing path with the current facts.  If something materially changes, I’m happy to revisit.”

Professional.  Clean.  Final.

12.  When Borrowers Want You to “Just Try One More Lender.”

Script:

“Additional submissions won’t change the risk profile—and each pass weakens the story.”

This stops desperation lending.

13.  When the Issue Is the Property

Script:

“The asset has characteristics lenders are discounting heavily.  That directly affects leverage and rate.”

No adjectives.  Just consequences.

14.  When the Borrower Wants Certainty

Script:

“Lending doesn’t offer guarantees—only probabilities.  Right now, the probability isn’t where it needs to be.”

Burn that line into your brain.

15.  The Universal Broker Close‑Out Line

Script:

“If the terms still make sense to you, I’ll keep working on it.  If not, we should pause until conditions change.”

You just handed control back—without surrendering authority.

Final Broker Rule for Tough Talks

Borrowers don’t need optimism.
They need clarity early—so they don’t get clarity late, from a decline email.

Calm.  Direct.  Documented.

That’s survival language.