Lynn, you've just echoed the sentiments that I've been expressing on this forum all along.  It's that kind of backbone that separates the professionals from the hobbyists, and if that characterization offends anyone, too bad.  "If the shoe fits", as they say.

We need to remember that we're not in the title searching business or the loan closing business...we're in the money-making business!!  While I'm a firm believer that you have to have a real passion for what you do, it has to be treated as a for-profit enterprise.

My philosophy is simple:  1) My services come at a premium; 2) My work product is head-and-shoulders above anything else offered in my area that I've ever seen; 3) you want my product, you pay my price; 4) our volume discount - you send the volume, you get the discount; 5) you don't wanna pay, find another abstractor.

Have I lost business?  You bet!  But it's business I can't afford to take on.  I, for one, am not going to trip over $100 bills to pick up loose change.

We can do one of two things: complain about how bad things are and not really do anything about it; or grow some backbone and start valuing our work the way we expect our clients to.  I choose the latter.

Who's with me?