I did a few jobs, but I, too, had bad vibes from the start. I have been doing title work almost 30 years. I now know to listen to that voice. He wanted my product cheaper than I have ever offered anyone. I usually had to follow up for payment, which did arrive promptly after I sent notice. They were a slow-pay, gotta watch them client , in my opinion. I wish Ken well, but it seems he needs to work on his abstractor payment a bit.

Personally I believe abstractor networks are houses of cards waiting to collapse. I have been burned often enough dealing with them that I choose to not work for them. I have heard ' John, our biggest client is declaring bankruptcy. Sorry, we can't pay'. All it seems to take is one big client of theirs' stiffing the network and they stiff us. We have to rely on their diligence accepting clients, and you know they most likely will not be that picky. They want Volume. When It hits the fan they can close up shop and start again with a new name. Those of us who actually produce are at the bottom, where it all trickles down.

Why do we cut our cost so a middleman can get a 'piece of the action'?  They are not producing anything.  They need us more than we need them. It could be said vendors like the convenience of the one stop shop, but truthfully, they can find the local abstractor here, with Source of Title.  A vendor can deal directly with the man or woman who knows the courthouse, rather than the no-production middleman. They can establish a long term working relationship with those who have the most knowledge and experience, or another network pop-up.