Video Transcript:
So what are the steps that goes into creating a certified title search when you order a search from a title abstractor? This is Dave at Title Search dot com. You can see behind me the flowchart that's used to create a certified title abstract. We start by first communicating with the client about what the scope of the search is going to be, what is the search being used for, and what type of title search needs to be done. From there we collect the information that the client has about the property. Do you have an address? Do you have a parcel number? Do you have a legal description? And then from there we determine what type of resources will be needed to perform that title search, which abstractors will need to visit what county records offices, and how many different records offices need to be visited. In some cases on a search it might be two or three. Some types of title searches might need to visit up to six different records rooms; at court houses, civil court records, land records offices, prothonotary records, and even tax assessors need to be visited in person. These are not data records. These are hard copy papers from there we will start retrieving the documents. We'll pull the documents from each of those locations that will go into creating the title abstract and different people may retrieve some of the documents depending on their locations. We have resources in all of the different records rooms, and then once those documents have been retrieved, then they're gone through and reviewed. So you may have a mortgage from one location, a mortgage release at another location, and those are put together to make sure that the status of that mortgage is correctly indicated on the title abstract. Once all the documents are retrieved and canceled out or cross referenced, then the abstracting process takes place. That means that the records that pertain to title are listed on the certified title abstract, which is the official document of a title search. From there that abstract is passed along to a certified title abstractor who does quality control make sure it has all the information that's needed, make sure all the blanks are filled in, and make sure it's correct for that property... so all that the names that needed to be searched are searched properly; all of the property information needs to go in, such as a legal description, meets and bounds, maybe a block and lot, are all listed on the abstract. From there that abstract is then delivered to the client. Usually what we do to get it to the client as quickly as possible is we scan it to a PDF file and then send that PDF file as a link or an attached file to the client. From there you can view it on your screen. You can download it, you can forward it to somebody, you can print it directly to hard copy. And then of course we have a client services division. So if you have questions about that title search that you had, now have in your hands you can call us up and we can kind-of go through and clarify what needs more information. We can't give legal advice like an attorney. We can clarify what the items might pertain to or what the details might be. So that's the long involved process of a title search. It's about 10 to 12 man hours worth of research according to to the steps you see on the screen. It's different than just a uh fetching up documents or just pulling papers. That's more of casual document retrieval. It's not going to have all the information about a property title. This is a certified title abstract process. So if you need title information about a property for a crucial decision, such as investing in a property or maybe seeing what leans around a property, this is the process that you'll want to have used to create that certified title abstract. If you just need some basic information, you may be able to pull one or two pieces of paper and get some basic answers. But you wouldn't have all of the encumbrances that go into a properties title. If you have more questions about a title search for your particular need or the use that you have in mind, you can reach us at our website at TitleSearch.com.