Guess it really depends on who you get stuck with... sometimes it’s just luck, not the company type.
That’s interesting—my experience was almost the opposite. The bank I used kept mixing up my property tax disbursements, which led to a bunch of late notices from the county. Maybe it really is a toss-up. I’m curious, did your branch give you direct contacts for questions, or was it more of a general customer service line? That personal connection seems to make a difference in how smoothly things go.
I totally get what you mean about the “luck of the draw.” I’ve seen clients have wildly different experiences with the same bank—one person gets a rockstar rep who actually calls them back, another gets stuck in customer service limbo.
That personal connection seems to make a difference in how smoothly things go.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s like, do you get the unicorn who remembers your name, or are you just another number in the queue? I had a client once who swore by her local credit union because she could walk in and talk to “Janet at the desk” about her escrow. Meanwhile, another guy with a big-name bank spent weeks chasing down someone who could even spell “escrow.”
Has anyone here actually tried switching from a bank-managed escrow to an independent service? Did it make things less... bureaucratic, or just add another layer of confusion? Sometimes I wonder if it’s just trading one set of headaches for another.
I’ve actually looked into independent escrow services, thinking it might cut down on the red tape. In reality, it felt like trading one set of hoops for another. The fees were higher, and I still had to chase people for updates—just different people this time. At least with the bank, everything was in one place, even if the service was hit or miss. Maybe it’s just a matter of picking your poison... but for me, the extra cost didn’t really justify the switch.
I get where you’re coming from, but have you ever had a bank totally drop the ball on an escrow disbursement? I’ve seen that happen more than once, and it’s a nightmare to unwind. Independent services can be a hassle, sure, but sometimes the extra oversight is worth it if you’re dealing with anything even slightly unusual. Did you compare turnaround times or just the fees? Sometimes the devil’s in those details...
You’re not wrong—banks can really mess things up with escrow, and when they do, it’s a pain to fix. I’ve had deals stall for weeks because someone at the bank sat on paperwork or missed a deadline. Independent services aren’t perfect, but at least you can usually get someone on the phone who actually knows what’s going on. Fees matter, but honestly, I’d pay a bit more for peace of mind if the transaction’s even a little complicated. Turnaround time can make or break a deal, especially if you’re juggling multiple closings.
