Only Escrow

I would give Capitol Hill Escrow zero stars, however, it's not an option. How important is the escrow company that will be handling your real estate purchase or sale? It's the difference between a smooth transaction that can coordinate successfully between the lender, title company, agents, buyer and seller. It is the office which handles the paperwork involved in the contract, it holds the buyer's money and it figures up the amount needed to bring in to close escrow. Having logged over 20 years as an escrow manager at various companies in the San Fernando Valley, I have a little savvy in this area. (I changed careers in '04 so I missed the mortgage meltdown and associated fraud.) Customer service in this economy is everything. So is competence. I'm not sure why it is these days that if you get both of these factors together in any business dealing whatsoever, it feels like you've hit the jackpot. But that's another story. I had to send numerous emails requesting basic items entitled 'first request, second request, third request etc.' Phone calls were not returned timely, and email responses bordered on rudeness. I was talked over, not able to complete sentences in conversations and The person(s) I dealt with were unable to handle the most basics in client service. There were many mistakes made and I had to pull the funding of the loan just to get items requested over and over. I still did not get everything I needed for due diligence until after close of escrow!! There was an overcharge on the messenger fees which no unsuspecting buyer would ever have caught except that I was watching for this. Still waiting for the refund from 11/28 to the present date which I have yet to receive... The personnel at one point refused to deal with an issue that any escrow company would handle for the client - instead of trying to pass it on- at the same time charging higher escrow fees than the nearby competition. If you are a buyer, it is the seller's choice usually as to what company gets the escrow. However, there is room for you to ask to use a different company of your choosing or for them to match the fees of another company who would handle your file for more competetive fees. Be sure to ask what escrow company the seller has chosen when you sign your contract, and whatever you do, DEMAND that you have a different company handle the transaction. This was bar none the worst escrow experience I have ever encountered over buying and selling many properties and my own escrow career.