A stranger is just a friend we have not met, yet...

It has been said that a stranger is just a friend we have not met yet... Very true, and it brings up my rant for the day...

I see lots of listings in our MLS computer where the listing agent, in the Realtor remarks section, states that "escrow must be at XYZ Title". This might be because the home is a bank repo, and in that case, is very hard to fight... Often, however, it is just because the listing agent has an existing relationship at XYZ Title, and wants to make sure that they get "special" treatment as the escrow moves along... Often, this title company is FAR from the home listed, and FAR from where the buyer likely lives & works. Never mind that this may present an inconvenience to others, it is all about the self-important listing agent... Whatever is easiest for them... It seems that (to them) the escrow officer they know is perfect in every way, and the escrow officers they do not know are new, inept, and/or difficult. Somehow, their way of conducting business will conflict with the all-knowing listing agent's superior way.

Now, in reality, this note in the listing serves to turn off most agents. We understand RESPA rules, and we also value our own title company relationships. In the course of an escrow, the seller will sign a minimal number of documents, and the buyer will sign a stack about 3 inches tall. Who spends more time with the escrow officer? Why would these agents go out of their way to tick off the buyer agents for so little gain? And, as I have so often found, the next very good escrow officer might be just around the corner, waiting to handle the escrow that a buyer agent brings to me... And on the rare occasion that we do run into a difficult situation with an escrow officer, we just deal with it like professionals. Very little is perfect in life, but to start out with the mindset that "my escrow officer is better than your escrow officer" is so very childish, and just plain wrong!