The reason so many abstractors have dropped their fees so dramatically is that when the boom hit, tons of inexperienced abstractors came onto scene, many courthouses went online, searches were being done for a fraction of the "norm" fee by overseas "abstracting companies".  Even many good and experienced abstractors dropped their fees because many clients cared more about saving a buck than about throroughness and experience.  With so many new "abstractors" in the market, clients could pick and choose, and they often chose "cheap".  Then, when the work started drying up, many title companies went belly-up without paying their abstractors, and out of desperation, many abstractors cut their fees just to stay competitive - or just to survive.  I've got 1 (ONE) client that I've had for years that pays well and has been loyal boom or bust.  I've got another that has stuck around, but at a cut rate.  When a new client approaches me, and I stand firm on a "respectable" fee, I don't hear back from them.  I'm honestly down to 2 regular clients that aren't generating enough work for me to survive.  Everyone who cut their fees during the end of the "boom" can't raise their fees - the client balks.  I've cut out one county that is 1 1/2 hours away.  There is no cell reception for almost an hour's drive.  It is very rural and most current owner searches can go back 100 years in family.  Clients are desperate for someone to cover this county, but they want it for $50 or less.  Let's see... 3 hours driving, possibly 6 or more hours searching, completely unknown copy costs (and it would be 2 hours of driving to contact the client to give them an estimate of what the costs would be once the search is underway...).... and they want it for under $50???  The time, gas and copies alone are more than that - in every instance.  When I get an order for what I know will be a crummy title search, I quote what it is worth to me to get it done for them.  They almost ALWAYS decline.  But SOMEONE out there is willing to do it for less - and THAT is how we have ALL screwed ourselves over in this business...

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