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Declined for financing? Start here.

A “No” from one lender isn’t a No from every lender.

If you were turned down for home improvement financing — or you’re afraid to even apply — you’re not out of options. Many homeowners who were declined elsewhere do qualify through programs built for a wider range of credit situations.

Start — I was turned down See what my project would cost
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No hard credit pull. Checking your options here won’t affect your credit score — and being turned down once is common, so don’t let it stop you.

How it works

Four steps, and none of them touch your credit score

SecondLook Loans is a free service. You tell us what happened, choose a contractor whose financing reaches further than the one that turned you down, and send your details. The contractor takes it from there.

1. Tell us what happenedYour project, and which lender said no. Two minutes, no credit check. 2. Scope the cost (optional)Good / Better / Best price ranges for your ZIP code before you talk to anyone. 3. Choose a contractorSee which pros in the network serve your ZIP — or let us match you. 4. Send your detailsName, phone, email. The contractor reaches out within one business day.
The short version

Why one decline isn’t the end of your project

Home improvement financing is usually arranged by the contractor, not by you. That means the lender who reviewed your application was whichever lender that contractor happened to work with — and most contractors work with exactly one. If their lender only buys prime paper, a score in the 600s gets an automatic no, no matter how solid the rest of your file is.

A full lending waterfall works differently. One application moves from a prime lender to a near-prime lender to a second look or subprime lender, each one reaching further down the credit spectrum than the last. Nothing about you changed between the first no and the eventual yes — only who was looking.

SecondLook Loans is not a lender. We are a free referral service that connects you with home improvement contractors whose financing includes those deeper programs. There is no hard credit pull to start, and a turndown somewhere else is common and expected here.

See the six most common reasons → What is a second look loan?
Honest answers to fair questions

Questions homeowners ask us first

What if I’m declined again?
Some situations still won’t qualify — we won’t pretend otherwise. If that happens, a decline here comes with guidance on what to improve and an invitation to reapply when your situation changes. Options exist for a wide range of credit situations, but no outcome is guaranteed.
Will this hurt my credit?
Prequalification uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. If you decide to move forward with a full application, a hard inquiry may be required at that point — you’ll know before it happens.
Am I obligated to move forward?
No. Checking your options, getting an estimate, and even meeting a contractor carries no obligation. You decide if and when to move forward.
How fast can my project start?
Prequalification takes minutes, contractor contact happens within a business day, and scheduling depends on your contractor’s calendar and the season. Many projects go from application to installation in a few weeks.
See the full step-by-step and FAQ →