Real Estate Lifestyle Magazine - March 2006
Affiliate Profile: Title South
Enhancing the Real Estate Closing Process
“This is not your typical real estate closing office.” That’s what Brad Salvage, President of TitleSouth says of his company’s new TitleSouth Real Estate Closing Center. Salvage continues, “We have paired state-of-the-art closing technology with an experienced and dedicated staff and combined it all in a workspace designed to enhance the real estate closing experience. This is a unique closing operation.”
Patrick Smith, Director of TitleSouth’s Real Estate Closing Center, echos Salvages view of the operation with an added personal note: “I’ve been in the real estate closing business for 15 years, and this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to close real estate transactions in a facility that was designed, engineered, equipped and staffed with the real estate closing process – and only the real estate closing process – in mind.”
The result, according to Smith, is a real estate closing experience that is more open, transparent, accountable and efficient for buyers, sellers, lenders and REALTORS® alike. “In the typical real estate closing, the bulk of the documents that the parties are to sign are seen for the first time at the closing table. We use the SureClose transaction management platform to open up the closing process and make documents available to all the parties to the transaction at the same time those documents are available to us. That way, everyone has a chance to review documents ahead of time, to ask questions, to ensure accurate information, and as a result, the experience at the closing table generally is more relaxed and efficient. In addition, because we are a division of TitleSouth, we are able to deliver the buyer’s title insurance policy at the closing table, and to return the lender’s policy with the lender’s closing documents.”
SureClose system is a web-based real estate transaction solution hosted by Stewart Realty Services, an affiliate of Stewart Title Guaranty Company, TitleSouth’s title insurance underwriter. Says Closing Center Director Smith, “Using SureClose, all of the Closing Center’s documents are uploaded to our own secure, web-based, access-controlled site as soon as they’re received. With SureClose, our Closing Center’s records are virtually paperless, and the system also provides archival storage of all of our files. The real value in the use of the SureClose, however, is our ability to invite REALTORS®, buyers, sellers and lenders into their closing files to monitor the progress of the closing and to review all of the documents prepared in connection with the closing. In addition, as soon as a document is received or completed, the REALTORS® in the transaction will receive a fax or e-mail notifying them that the document is available for their review. The feedback we’ve received from REALTORS® thus far is that this is a unique and valuable tool that allows them to stay abreast of the closing process and to keep clients informed about their closing.”
Although the technology benefits REALTORS® and staff alike, the real key to an effective, efficient and professional closing center, according to Salvage, is the skill, experience and dedication of the staff. “All the technology in the world won’t enhance the closing experience for the participants unless the closing center’s staff has the knowledge and 
experience to address issues that arise in connection with closings, the dedication to ensure that all necessary tasks are completed in a timely manner, and a passion for delivering exceptional customer service to all the participants involved in the transaction. We were very fortunate when we began putting together the staff for the TitleSouth Closing Center to find and hire skilled and qualified professionals who share our passion for excellence in the delivery of customer service.”
The TitleSouth Real Estate Closing Center opened in January, and is located in the West Wing of the Mountain Brook Center at 2700 Highway 280 East. The location, according to Salvage, was selected because of its central location in a well-known and easily accessible building. “We hope to expand our operations over time to include additional locations in the Birmingham area,” says Salvage, “but for the first Closing Center, we wanted it to be centrally located and accessible from all parts of the Birmingham area.”
TitleSouth is a full-service title insurer, and in addition to closing services, offers owners and lenders policies of title insurance for both residential and commercial transactions, as well as other title-related services. The company is a member of the RealtySouth Family of Services and, according to Smith, the RealtySouth family offers a complete package of real estate services to homebuyers, from real estate brokerage services, to mortgage loans through its MortgageSouth affiliate, homeowner’s insurance through Home Services Insurance, title insurance through TitleSouth, and now real estate closing services through the TitleSouth Closing Center.
To arrange a visit to the TitleSouth Real Estate Closing Center or for more information about the Closing Center or to schedule a closing, contact Patrick Smith, Ellen Lamb or Carolyn Clay at 445-1414.
