The reason my clients hire me is for the level of expertise I hold in my field.
I just look at it this way, they aren't as smart in the area of my expertise. So, yes, sometimes I have to give them a little 101 of what I do and why I make the decisions on title commitments, etc.
They can't help that they don't know this information. It's my job to know it, not theirs. Otherwise, they'd have no need to hire me, right?
I've only had to fire 2 clients in my whole career. One was for a title agency that was continually on slow pay and felt I was holding them hostage when I told them after 6 months of trying to patiently deal with them as they dug themselves further in the hole at my expense, that they'd have to pay themselves current in order for me to do new work for them. So, they eventually paid and we parted ways.
The other was a title agency run by a man who had very little title experience and tried to micro-manage my services. After several weeks of frustration, I suggested that perhaps he should hire an in-house examiner who he could watch over their shoulder and reminded him that the reason he hired me in the first place was at the "request" of his Underwriter.
I can't tell you how many times I've had to educate "newbies" as to why title doesn't insure U.S. postal addresses, why we can't omit standard exceptions on refi transactions without a 60 year search and multiple other issues that are simple to me, yet complicated to them.
I chalk it up that not everyone in the business has a working knowledge of the entire business.
Title has been very compartmentalized.
It's really not their fault. Not everyone is as brillant and talented as we are. They are not multi-taskers who enjoy learning new things and creating their own areas of expertise.
I always suggest to the people who just don't get it, to start an Ops Manual. I try to answer all questions in writing with a side note in my emails "This would be a good email to add to your Ops Manual"
I'd rather have clients than be unemployed. Luckily, I can pick and choose who I work with/for.
I can dress as I please, make my own hours and I don't have to work weekends. Oh yeah, and from time to time, I get to teach CE classes and speak at conventions. i can work anywhere in the world, any time, as long as I have an internet connection. And, I make decent money at what I do.
So, there are perks, even when your clients are idiots. So, weed out the idiots or just educate them kindly.
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