Very well written Alix. I was about to respond to this when I saw you had already responded with most of the points I wanted to make.

I might add that the practice of many VM's of attempting to do the search online first will cause delays when only the most difficult searches are passed to the field abstractors. Often these searches are already late by the time the VM sends the search to a local abstractor who can actually complete the search. They are desperate to get their failed search completed (or corrected) in the time they quoted their client. We are happy to complete these orders however please don't blame the field abstractor when we can't meet a deadline the VM calculated for a simple search that can be completed online.

My message to VM's who attempt to complete searches in-house before passing them to us is to please recognize the searches you send us are neither simple nor can they be completed online no matter the deadline you gave your client when you thought you could complete it online.

David Bloys

Davick Services - Where no search is complete until the official records are physically examined at the courthouse.