Recently bought a home and used Interstate Title & Escrow. Some observations:
Communication: we felt that there was insufficient communication from the team, and this resulted in missed opportunities as well as a poor impression. Two key examples:
We were not asked whose names should be on the title. This is my 4th home closing, and each time before, we have been asked this question, and the proper names have been put on the title. Due to this failure, only one name was put on the title, and now we will have to use additional time and money to get this corrected.
Guidance was not provided by the team on when to process the wire transfer. It was as if they expected me to know this automatically. Luckily I thought to call two days before closing to check up on this major detail.
Customer service: our interactions with the team gave the impression that customer service was low priority. The most clear example was when I reached out to ask about wiring the money, and one of the staff members responded, "You should have received wire instructions with your welcome packet, but I've attached them here for your convenience." This gave the impression that 1) Customer interaction was completed when the welcome packet was sent (about a month previous to that email) and customer should figure things out from there, and 2) it is unusual for a customer to expect guidance about the wire transfer around closing. I did go over the welcome packet, and did not observe any directions about when the money should be wired. Staff didn't seem to have the interest in sharing that expectation with me either.
As mentioned earlier, this is my fourth closing, and the experience was quite different than the other three. During those, a friendly team of professionals communicated expectations as appropriate and provided timely guidance when action was needed. In those instances, I felt that my money was earned and appreciated.
When it's home buying time, definitely shop around, and if service is a priority, Interstate Title and Escrow might not be the best choice. read more