First and foremost, choose a lender that is experienced with the type of loan that is being requested. The lender should understand the collateral and strategy and be able to structure a deal that offers you the opportunity to have a profitable outcome. A good hard money lender can often add value to the investment decisions that you must make. Next, verify that your lender has the capacity to make the loan and the capability of executing it in the time frame required. Finally, make sure that your lender has a reputation of integrity and conducts its business with honesty and transparency.