| Getting in the door of a real estate agent or loan | | | | standard closing cost,'" he said. |
| officer isn't hard. Staying there is the difficult part. But it | | | | "The introduction gets their foot in the door," Baird said. |
| doesn't have to be according to customers title | | | | "Their service keeps me coming back to them." |
| companies covet. | | | | He maintains his relationship with Talon even though it's |
| Naoma Doriguzzi, a loan officer with Wachovia in | | | | not the preferred title company in his office. |
| Virginia Beach, Va., said it's all about the service. She | | | | Baird, who does a lot of investor contract work, said |
| said she works exclusively with a title company | | | | there are several things a title company should do to |
| because she gets a good response once an order is | | | | keep his business and what others look for when |
| placed - and if there's a problem it's handled right | | | | shopping for a new one: |
| away. | | | | 1. Can you do double closings? |
| "Service, not the food helps," she said. | | | | 2. I need the same processor for certain investor |
| Kathy McGraw, owner/broker of California-based | | | | clients. I don't want to call and ask, I want to e-mail and |
| CELLing Realty, is amazed how title companies only | | | | ask questions. |
| go after large franchises. | | | | 3. My clients are out of state, we need the ability to |
| "They don't even bother with us mom and pops," she | | | | close via e-mail. |
| said. "I don't have any coming to my door." | | | | 4. You will likely be working with the sellers title |
| McGraw said the title company she works with has a | | | | company and will need to coordinate the duties and |
| persistent representative that helps agents when | | | | play nice with each other. Some contracts are won on |
| problems arise. She said, for her, it comes down to the | | | | the promise of seven-day closings, can it be done? |
| quality of reps and escrow officers, "not the title guy." | | | | 5. Can the title company hold earnest money in their |
| Chad Baird, a real estate agent with Re/Max Spirit in | | | | trust account? |
| Dayton, Ohio, said a title company that wants his | | | | Baird noted it's been helpful to have been introduced to |
| business needs to give personal attention. | | | | the people processing his orders. |
| He was introduced to Kristen Schilder of the Talon | | | | "When we talk or e-mail, we now have a personal |
| Group more than two years ago. Baird said she | | | | connection," he said. "I've dropped off checks and |
| helped him understand what took place at a title | | | | contracts before and found nobody at their desks. I |
| company and discussed the process, the resources | | | | peeked into the lunchroom and they were all in their |
| they had available and general advice. Baird said the | | | | eating. They know me, I know them, I ended up sitting |
| title company helped explain what the $75 for an | | | | down and staying for another half hour just talking. It's |
| abstract meant. "They didn't respond with the 'it's a | | | | a very friendly atmosphere. |