I’ve run into this a couple times, especially with older homes or properties that have changed hands a lot. Had a deal last year where the title company flat-out refused to accept scanned copies of the original deed—even though everything else was digital. It slowed us down by almost two weeks just tracking down the paper version from storage. Courts can be just as picky, especially in bankruptcy cases. I always keep a physical file of the “big stuff” (deed, title, discharge) just in case someone decides to get old-school about things. Digital’s great, but it’s not foolproof yet.
I get what you’re saying about keeping physical copies, but isn’t there a risk of losing those too? I’ve had papers go missing in a move, and then you’re stuck either way. I lean more on cloud backups these days—at least if my laptop dies, I’m not totally out of luck. But yeah, courts can be weirdly picky about originals... Makes me wonder if it’s ever really possible to be “covered” from all angles.
Yeah, I hear you—there’s always some risk, no matter what you do. I’ve had files disappear in a hard drive crash and lost a box of paperwork during a renovation. These days, I keep both digital and paper copies, just in case. Courts can be sticklers for originals, but having backups (even photos or scans) has saved me more than once. You’re never 100% covered, but layering your options helps a lot.
I get the whole “layer your backups” thing, but honestly, I’ve run into issues where even scans weren’t enough. Had a lender once who flat-out refused to accept anything but the original doc, and it was a nightmare tracking it down. Sometimes I wonder if we’re just making more work for ourselves trying to cover every angle. Maybe there’s a point where you just have to trust the process a bit? Or am I being too chill about it...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve learned the hard way that “trusting the process” can backfire, especially when you’re dealing with bankruptcy stuff. I remember thinking I had everything squared away—kept digital copies, even a few paper ones. Then, during my refi after bankruptcy, the title company wanted a wet-signed discharge letter from years ago. No scan, no fax, just the original. I tore my house apart for two days before finding it in a random file box.
“Sometimes I wonder if we’re just making more work for ourselves trying to cover every angle.”
Honestly, it does feel like overkill sometimes. But the one time you don’t have what they want is the time it’ll bite you. I guess my take is: yeah, it’s a pain, but having too many backups has saved me more than once. Maybe not every lender is that picky, but when you hit one that is...you’ll be glad you went overboard.