Well I tell my clients this - you get what you pay for but sometimes you get a bargain - I consider myself a bargain.  My experienced combined with my fee.  I'm not the cheapest but then again I have 25 years combined legal/real estate experience and I didn't just take a three-month online course.  My question with answers of well "B" of course but we strive for "A" is how do you know you have "B" over "A" when almost 3/4ths of the companies never ask for experience.  I sometimes wonder if the person that if a person returns the work with a deed and a deed of trust (mort) the search is considered competent.  I guess when it comes back with multiple liens several years later everyone will then figure it out.  I heard that they are seeking to flat fee title search fees in my state along with title insurance and appraisal fees.