I totally get the hesitation around independents, but I’ve had banks drag their feet way more than some of the smaller escrow services. Like you said,
Ever dealt with a bank’s “lost paperwork” routine? That’s a headache I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Do you think the extra transparency from banks is worth the slower process, or does it just add more red tape?“some of the best deals I’ve done were with smaller outfits that just had stricter protocols.”
Honestly, I’ve had banks lose docs more than once, and it’s brutal waiting for them to “find” things. The transparency is nice in theory, but half the time it just means more hoops to jump through. I’d rather deal with a smaller escrow that actually picks up the phone.
I’d rather deal with a smaller escrow that actually picks up the phone.
Same here. I’m in the middle of my first home purchase, and every time I call the bank’s escrow department it’s like talking to a wall. They lost a W-2 and then told me it was “in processing” for a week. Does anyone actually get faster responses from banks? Or is it just me? I don’t mind a few extra forms if someone will actually answer questions and not just send me to voicemail...
I’ve had the same headache with big banks—lots of waiting, barely any answers. When I bought my last place, I went with a local escrow company even though it meant a bit more paperwork. They actually called me back and explained stuff, which was worth it for my peace of mind. The bigger places just felt too impersonal and slow for something this important.
- Had similar issues with the big banks—felt like I was just a number, not a person.
- Local escrow company was more upfront, but yeah, more forms and hoops to jump through.
- For me, the trade-off was worth it. I’d rather deal with a little extra paperwork than sit on hold for an hour.
- Curious if anyone’s actually had a big bank move quickly or give decent customer service? Or is that just wishful thinking...