I hear you on the paperwork black hole—banks are slow, but at least there’s a process (even if it’s ancient). I’ve seen indie escrow agents do great work, but I’ve also seen some wild “creative filing systems.” Sometimes boring is better when it comes to your house.
Totally get where you’re coming from—sometimes “boring” is exactly what you want when it comes to escrow. I’ve had clients who went with smaller outfits and everything was smooth, but I’ve also seen files get lost in someone’s trunk (not kidding). Banks might move at a snail’s pace, but at least you know where your docs are. There’s something to be said for predictable, even if it’s not exciting.
I’ve seen both sides, too. Banks can be slow as molasses, but at least you’re not wondering if your paperwork is sitting in someone’s backseat next to a half-eaten sandwich. On the flip side, some of those smaller escrow companies really hustle and give you more personal attention—just depends on how much risk you’re comfortable with. Sometimes “boring” is just another word for “safe,” and that’s not always a bad thing when big money’s involved.
Sometimes “boring” is just another word for “safe,” and that’s not always a bad thing when big money’s involved.
That’s a good point, but I’ve had a few clients get frustrated when the “safe” route meant waiting weeks for a simple update. Ever had a deal where the bank’s slow pace actually put the closing at risk? I’m curious if anyone’s found a sweet spot—like, maybe a mid-sized escrow company that’s not too risky but still responsive?
- Totally get where you’re coming from—banks can be painfully slow, and I’ve seen deals nearly fall apart because someone was “reviewing paperwork” for days.
- The “safe” label doesn’t always mean efficient. Sometimes it just means more hoops to jump through.
- I’ve had better luck with regional escrow firms. They’re usually big enough to be legit but small enough to actually answer the phone.
- One time, a local escrow company caught a title issue the bank missed, and we still closed on time. Not saying they’re perfect, but sometimes the middle ground really does work out.
- Guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take versus how much waiting you can tolerate...
