Why I Killed the “Get a Free Quote” Button (And What Replaced It)
Last week I did something that probably sounds small but felt oddly satisfying: I deleted the “Get a Free Quote” button from my website.
If you’ve ever shopped for a mortgage online, you know the button. Every broker site has one. Type in a few details, hit submit, and out pops… a number. A rate. Something that looks official.
Here’s the thing about that number, though: it’s basically a guess wearing a suit.
A rate without context — your credit, your income, your down payment, the property itself — isn’t a quote. It’s a coin flip with a dollar sign on it. Two people with identical incomes could get completely different rates depending on things a five-field form will never ask about. So when someone fills out a “Get a Free Quote” form expecting a real answer, what they actually get is a placeholder. A best guess, dressed up to look like a commitment.
I’ve never liked that. Not because the people building those forms are doing anything wrong — it’s just… not how this actually works, and I’d rather not pretend it does.
So on the new site, that button is gone. In its place: “Ask the Broker” and “Let’s Talk.”
That’s not a branding choice. It’s the actual process. You tell me what’s going on — buying your first place, renewing, refinancing, picking up a multi-unit — and we figure out what you’re actually working with before anyone throws a number around. Sometimes that conversation takes ten minutes. Sometimes it’s longer. Either way, by the end of it, you’ve got something real instead of a guess.
I don’t call the people who reach out “leads.” You’re not a lead. You’re someone trying to figure out one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make, and the least I can do is actually understand your situation before opening my mouth.
The new site went live today, built around that idea from the ground up. If you’re staring down a renewal, thinking about buying, or just want to know where you actually stand — let’s talk. No form required.
I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.
Patrick
p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.
p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2025-3000179) Broker (2025-3000180), Ontario(M23006699).
p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here
Patrick Sawler is a mortgage broker and owner of Craigburn Capital, licensed in Nova Scotia and Ontario, with private financing available in New Brunswick and PEI. He answers his phone.
Ready to have a real conversation? Call 902-612-2688 or start your application at
