I've noted for years on this forum that the "fly by night" firms both here and overseas use the DataTrace data.  DocEdge, SiteX, and HomeInfoMax all buy their info and repackage it for sale to their subscribers.  The former is a bit expensive in annual dues but pays off if you have bulk. The latter is less annually, but charges more per search.  NONE are reliable as none purchase all the title data:  either it's not offered to them as a way for DataTrace to keep a stranglehold on the market, or it's too expensive for them to bother with.  In any case, the 15 dollar cost of a search is "OK" at best, as a cross-check ONCE YOU'VE FINISHED your research.  

Keep this in mind:  why does ANYONE farm out a project to you that goes back to 1985 if HomeInfoMax offers data to that point and they can search the online indices for free?   Quality, professionalism and assurances of accuracy are the reasons for you to do it and you should charge a rate for the liability you assume as a professional abstractor.  So why charge less, just because a middleman firm is taking a cut and checking the cheap and easy stuff already?

 Secondly:  the error rate of the online companies is high.  At least 40 percent of my research proves their $15 reports to be inaccurate to contain matters posted wrong (2 deeds on property at 300 El Camino in Belmont were posted to 300 El Camino in San Bruno a few cities away;  verified against the legal descriptions, address on document and apn's, all...lol), and missing document references.

 Finally, he can't search much prior to 1985 due to his reliance on the info available, plus his unfamiliarity with abstracting.  Many of us could find an older deed, if that's all the client wants, by checking other sources beyond the DataTree/DataTrace-derived reports.  He has neither the experience or skill to do what a professional can do.  He is unfamiliar with the resources available.  He does not understand the structure of public records or public agencies or American culture.  He has a marginal grasp of English and a work incentive that says "go where the money is" (America), so he's right in that;  just not a fair or reasonable competition to our superior products.