Real Estate Views from St Pete

Most of us don't choose a title company because of donuts, or Halloween candy, or Open House flyers, though title companies still hire people to distribute these to real estate agents. Why won't you at least TRY us?, they ask. Well, for one, because our clients aren't guinea pigs or mice. But we do get to "try" other title companies, because the custom in our area is for the Seller to choose the title company. So, nearly every time we represent a buyer, we are dealing with a title company chosen by someone else. That's our chance to evaluate service, followup, detail work, accuracy, customer service.

That's how we found Julie Holt, who owns Anclote Title Services in Tarpon Springs. We represented a buyer and the owner of the home they were buying chose Anclote. I was impressed by the service, decided to hire her for a subsequent closing and well, the rest is history.

The company has stability - there's not only Julie, but the others we talk to at Anclote during the closing process have been much the same for more than a decade. For special quotes or process information, yes, we can get it from Julie, and usually do, but Donna and Shirley also  recognize the voices from our team.

Julie's a chameleon, but an intentional  chameleon. She can be pleasant and charming, or pushy and threatening. If you do your job well, you'll like her. If you don't, well she'll harass you until you do.

Other title companies ask, "Didn't we do a good job?" Yes, usually they did a good job, but not a great job. We want to surround ourselves and our clients by Great, not just good.

They're detail oriented and professional. Names are spelled correctly. Any inconsistencies in the contract or addendum are checked out well in advance. They always check before preparing a HUD, to be sure there aren't any credits or issues that were changed during the process and not sent to the title company. They've sometimes found a problem with the prior title, but did that early enough that they were able to solve those title problems before the closing. When sellers or buyers call them directly with questions, they're polite, informative, reassuring. Julie seems to know everything, whether it's the history of Latvia which she discussed with a recent buyer, or the details of the Graham-Rudman Act, or which neurosurgeon would be best for your child.

When our buyers/sellers come to a closing with Julie, they're in for a treat. It's an enjoyable event. All the documents are prepared and in order. Julie explains the content of each form, succinctly and with a dash of humor. Her British accent charms, and her humor relaxes. It's hard for people to be angry or up-tight when they're laughing. Not only is laughter good medicine for your health and curing, it's a wonderful prescription for a great closing. That's important to me - that this last part of the transaction, the closing, be happy and memorable, a fitting conclusion to their purchase or sale.

There's more, but that's just the frosting on the cake. She recommends us to clients, because we're professionals and because we care about our clients and serve them well. She's a true friend, who's been at our side in intensive care, at birthday parties and funerals. In our closings, she's held snakes and driven long, dark country roads at night. But all that's fodder for a chat over coffee or cocktails.  Thanks, Julie, for everything you've done and keep doing, for us, and for our clients. 

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent serving St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.