Its been awhile but I lost it yesterday - not just on a closing officer but on her supervisor. I have a property that is to close on Weds and I got an e-mail Thursday to pay past due sewer, no problem, wrote the check and sent a copy to the title company with the bill. Got an e-mail late yesterday afternoon from the same title company that they had to VERIFY that the check had cleared. First issue - WHAT??? this has never happened in the 6 years I have worked for this bank or with this title company. They have always taken the check copy and even on the day of closing - so I know they haven't "cleared" on those closings. Second - I love the way you tell me this on Monday - MLK Holiday when the city sewer division is closed. I went off on her supervisor too - called him thinking I could have an intelligent conversation - uh no - he told me this has always been their policy - that is a load of crap. Now let me tell you three weeks ago, I went over the title officer's head to one of the owners (ok I'm a nut) and I am sure that they are really ticked but when they have screwed up my last four closings - not closing them on time due to whatever stupid issue - I went higher in the chain. So - what is my point? I felt totally justified in going up to the mountain top and talking to one of the owners of the title company - but - now I am gonna get nothing but issues with this title company because of it. No more for me - I am gonna be super nice - even when I know someone is a dork - and just pushing a file around on their desk. Lets see if its true - being nice gets you further.

My best friend always told me..." Kill them with kindness"...and let me tell you...she was one of those people you would want for a friend and not your enemy...

Being nice will only get you so far with some people. I always try being nice first but it that doesn’t work, I do what you did. I did it last week with ServiceLink. Without going into all the gory details, I found it necessary to climb my way up the food chain at the company. Prior to my chat with management, I couldn’t get a response to emails or phone calls for weeks. It worked and now their closers are falling all over themselves trying to give me good service. I prefer nice but if that doesn’t work, the growl usually does.

note the capital K in "Kill" ...what ever it takes...

I had the same issues with title rep. At first I was nice and patient, but that only went so far especially when I figured out they were pushing the file around. These title companies are lucky to have the bank business in this market. Reduced title fees and probably more problems, but they get the volume. Finally had to go over her head to her manager in a not so nice way.

Of all the things I've ever lost . . . . I miss my mind the most !

So I didn't loose it on anyone in particular yesterday but I did have a tantrum while sitting in my truck. Ever find yourself pounding on your steering wheel yelling potty words? Again, I was sitting still not driving. Deal number three fell apart for the week, a trifecta that was not welcomed. I still have the listings, and yes, I can sell them again. To top it off, the AM on one deal says he is keeping the earnest money - which of course he has no grounds to do - just another thing I have to deal with that I do not have time for. One fell apart because the buyer's agent didn't get the signatures into the auction company on time - REALLY????? How do you explain that to your buyer? He had called me like 6 times for clarity which I gave him and he still messed it up. Here once we recieve the buyer's signatures on the bank addendum, we mark it in contract on the MLS. Weird, but it is the way our MLS does it. Oh goody, I get to deal with all the questions about why it is back on the market from looky loos. I am sure at some point this will seem funny, but for now, I am out of patience. May not be a good idea to answer the phone.

Listed and sold an REO last May, all cash investor. Major soil contamination issue discovered when buyer did a soil test. It's on file with the DEP. I immediately notified the AM and sent a copy of the report. The AM had the tank removed but never told the contractor about the contamination. It passed the city inspection because "no one saw a hole in the tank." Clean up is about 25k/30k based on the report but subject to change -- could be more, could be less. Sales price 35k.

AM asked for the report and estimates for the cleanup atleast, oh, 42 times, (which was sent each time by either me, buyer's attorney or the buyer) followed up with another 232 emails from the AM asking when we're going to close/what's the status? I asked for a "supervisor" to get involved. More emails. More copies of the report and estimates.

The other day the AM's supervisor asked if the buyer would take a credit. One minute later AM emails and says I should find another buyer. Two minutes later the supervisor asks if my buyer still wants to proceed. Buyer is now stuttering.

My response: The hound isn't worth the chase. Let them figure out what that means.

That's 9 or 10 month's worth of "Past Tense", so I don't understand why you are still actively involved ?

This should now be a matter for the Buyer and his Attorney to pursue . . . . and I'd surely cooperate as much as is reasonable.

The AM has a problem, and maybe doesn't yet realize it; your continued involvement may just be delaying their recognition of the fact that it's "their" problem for failing to disclose.

You're not going to be paid one penny more for any additional time spent on the matter; I'd take a powder.

I'm still actively involved because the buyer wants the house and that's a good enough reason for me. The attorney does not want to get involved.

Since this is a good, loyal investor who will continue to buy other properties from me I will go out of my way to work on this until the buyer has said he has had enough. At that point I will throw in the towel but not before.

But since you said you "sold" the REO last May, doesn't the Buyer already own the property? OR did you really mean to say you merely put it into Escrow last May?

I should have said "under contract" and not sold, ....we don't use the phrase "put into escrow" in this area.

And, just to set the record straight regarding my "continued involvement may just be delaying their recognition......." let me say that is not the case at all. The AM was completely aware of everything.

Is the word "Escrow" always capitalized?

Too bad we can't just collect a Commission whenever properties go Pending; Under Deposit; Into Escrow; Under Contract or whatever you want to call it . . . . . I'd be retired.

In this area, we're careful not to ever use the past tense or say that anything is "Sold" until a Closing has actually occurred . . . . it usually just tends to jinx things.

That's why I was confused.

My fault for causing the confusion. A few years ago we received a "new rule" .. no more using the term Sale Pending on signs, etc.... only Under Contract.

I'm with you regarding the commission.

In Vermont, we can't even say that . . . . no reference to any Closing on the horizon is permitted, whatsoever.

But these days, we don't really mind calls off of signs for properties that are encumbered . . . . we can just sell them something else.

Here too, our Rules require that the "FOR SALE" Sign be removed IMMEDIATELY after Closing . . . . none of that "JUST SOLD" stuff is permitted.

Good luck in "selling" the place with the contaminated soils. I understand that the SuperFund for such soil clean-up/soil replacement was depleted a few years ago. One of my Seller Clients got a $60,000 Out-of-Court Settlement from a private insurer when we couldn't sell his place due to a ruptured fuel tank on the neighboring property. In that instance, the soil WILL NEVER be cleaned up; it's just being monitored; and he's still owning it . . . . maybe forever. In my mind, his loss far exceeds the paltry $60,000.

Escrow is not a proper noun. Nor, by the way, is real estate, yes so many seem to think it is.

I know ;-)