Don’t let clients be tricked into overpaying for deed

Every so often PAR will hear about homeowners receiving letters suggesting that they should obtain a copy of their deed. Conveniently enough, the companies sending those letters are more than willing to help out – and they only charge about $80 or so to handle it for you.

A bargain, no?

Well…not so much, considering that a homeowner can get a copy of their own deed for a few dollars – and possibly for free, depending on what online access is available in your county. And it’s even less of a bargain considering that the vast majority of homeowners will get a copy of their deed after settlement on their new home.

This issue has come up around the country – in Virginia and Minnesota, for example – and we’ve recently started hearing about it again here in Pennsylvania. So what’s a Realtor® to do, knowing that these letters are out there? It’s easy to believe that property owners are too smart to fall for such a thing, but if that were the case, nobody would be sending them anymore, right?

Here are a few simple, common-sense tips that will help you let your clients know you’re looking out for them.

1. Ask the title companies you regularly work with how long it usually takes for them to get copies of a filed deed back to a new homeowner.  Timelines may vary depending on their workflow and the time it takes each county to process new filings, so it will help to know of any regional or company-based differences.
2. Let buyers know to expect a copy of the deed, about when it should arrive, and what to do if they don’t get it.
3. Tell buyer that they might get a letter like this (you could even use the copy we’ve posted here and that they should just throw it out.  Knowing what to expect will make it a lot easier to figure out what’s legit and what isn’t.
4. If you or a client believes that a particular entity has crossed the line with their solicitation, consider filing a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection.

Have your clients received these sorts of letters? What else would you recommend for Realtors® trying to forewarn their clients?