insurance

Steps

1. Find out if the title insurance premiums in your state are determined by the government. All states in the U.S. are different, but most regulate title insurance premiums to the penny. This means no title insurance company can offer you lower premiums than another company. So, the first thing to find out is whether the state where the property is located is like this. If it is…
2. Find out if the “search fees” are regulated as well. Before a title company issues an insurance policy it prepares a title report. At the closing, the title company then charges you for that report. In some states, the fees charged are determined by the state government, much like the insurance premiums. However, in other states, the search fees vary from company to company. If the search fees are not regulated…
3. Shop around for a title company. Some title companies offer lower search fees than others and some will not charge any search fees at all.
4. Order your own title. While your bank or attorney may want to order for you, it is not their right to do so. It is your right, and you should never feel obligated to use a company you did not choose for yourself.

Tips

• Even if your attorney, broker or bank chose a title company for you, find out before the closing what the search fees will be. If you’re not happy with them, try to get them lowered or cancel the title order and order from another company
• Some attorneys, brokers and banks like to choose your title company for you because “they know they can trust” the company of their own choosing. Sometimes this is true, other times the attorneys, brokers and bank know that the more orders they send a particular title company, the more perks they will get out of it as being loyal customers.

How to Impress a Condominium Association

   Steps

1. Get to know the board members first. They are the only people who really matter because they go to meetings, are the owners and control the purse strings for the association. It is acceptable to casually ask if the person you are talking to is on the board, but don’t overdo it.
2. Engage the board members. They see themselves as homeowners, so if there are questions and decisions to be made, feel free to talk to them about those decisions. This works great especially for small projects near their unit, they understand that you care.
3. Never, ever gossip or complain about anyone to anyone once you are in the condo. This is crucial. Condo Associations are notorious for gossip and complaints among themselves. No matter how long or short the job, the surest way to destroy your chances of repeat work and happiness is to gossip or indulge in the gossiping of others. Instead, when one member complains to you about a neighbor etc: Listen intently to the complaint, try to relate to that complaint on a personal level and pretend that the person they are complaining about doesn’t exist. Do not say their name. A trick is to listen to them and nod respectfully and try to make that person feel better with a touch on the shoulder, or a kind word. Also saying “I can see how that must make you feel” and then immediately changing the subject to something positive. Remember that people will take their cues from you so don’t dwell on negative subjects.
4. Type notes to warn the association of anything out of the ordinary that you will be doing. This is an easy way to show them that you are respecting their space. Try to think about things from their point of view and anything you can do to let the know ahead of time is critical. This is an easy step that yields big rewards!

    Tips

• Dress to impress. Clean attire is crucial.
• Keep your schedule as regular as possible. Be predictable and they will forget you’re there which is good, especially if you have recurring work.
• Give tenants as much space as possible. They will appreciate not feeling any more claustrophobic than they already are.
• Enjoy your work and everyone will appreciate you.