Thank you, Pat. You are more than qualified, and I always welcome the help.
The purpose of Source of Title, when I started it in 2002 was mainly to help connect title companies with abstractors and signing agents. Back then, business was good and I received frequent calls from clients asking if I knew someone in another county I could refer them to. Unfortunately, because I didn't go to those counties, I didn't know anyone. So, I figured if my clients can't find abstractors in those counties - there must be clients working in those counties that can't find me. So, an open directory where the thousands of settlement service providers could register themselves seemed like a good solution.
Quite frankly, the popularity of the vendor management model perplexes me. I understand the convenience factor, but I always believed that there was more value in working directly with the abstractor providing the search. A "middle-man" in the vendor management equation slows down communication, adds cost, and creates a barrier to quality control.
I know some excellent vendor managers - who have a great working relationship with their abstractors and I have used their services from time to time. I'm not saying they don't have their place, but I am surprised by their prevalence. I think there might be more vendor managers out there than there are abstractors.
But, to answer the question directly. We don't have any plans for changes to the directory. Frankly, I am much too busy with my law practice these days to even consider it. And, since Slade (our multi-talented and former in-house genius) left us to get his law degree, I don't have the development talent to work on it.
Slade is now clerking for an appellate judge in Arizona (if you were curious) and we wish him the very best! He really can do anything.
Best,
Robert A. Franco
SOURCE OF TITLE
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