Posted by Scott/NJ on 11/22/10 8:05am
Msg #362333

Letter versus Legal

A case of letter paper costs about $47 and you get 5000 pages; a case of legal paper costs $70 and you get 5000 pages. If each closing uses 300 pages (including BO copies) you will get 16 closings out of a case of paper. The difference of the two sizes of paper is $23 for 5000 pages; divided by 16 closings equals $1.43 additional cost for each closing by using legal instead of letter sized paper.

Why bother with using letter at all? It dosn't seem like much of a cost cutting measure. Is my math wrong?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/22/10 8:12am
Msg #362334

I normally don't use letter unless instructed to

All gets printed on legal - the savings would probably come in if you printed both sides letter for the borrower - then you'd really be cutting the cost - but if you have to pull a copy from the borrower package in the event of a mistake then there's a problem.

I will say this though - if you're paying $47/case for letter and $70/case for legal, you need to comparison shop and take advantage of sales - I've never paid that much for paper.

MHO

Reply by Scott/NJ on 11/22/10 8:16am
Msg #362335

Re: I normally don't use letter unless instructed to

Those were the current published prices at Staples...just used as an example. Yes, I always shop for the deals. Sometimes I'm nearly out of paper, other times I have 3 cases on hand.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/22/10 8:36am
Msg #362337

I don't use legal unless I have to -

the cost is so much higher. All the really good deals are on letter paper. My last 5 orders my paper averaged less than $1 ream (two cases were $2.50 each) due to rebates, coupons, etc.

""A penny saved is a penny earned" means that little by little you will save money by not spending your money. Example: "I'm going to give you $20 but I want you to put it in the bank; a penny saved is a penny earned!" Not spending money has the same result as earning money, so to save a penny is the same as earning a penny. "A penny saved is a penny earned" compares saving money to earning money one penny at a time. Example: "My dad never lets me spend money on things I don't need. He always says a penny saved is a penny earned." " http://www.goenglish.com/1501.asp

The true trick is to put those savings into the bank immediately.

Reply by Robert Williams on 11/22/10 8:21am
Msg #362336

There are several reasons to use both, but for me it boils down to service. I give my client what they will find most professional, which is both sizes. Also, in some venues (all Ohio counties and probably some other states) mortgages can only be recorded on letter size paper.

Also, it sounds like you are over-paying for paper. I usually don't pay more than about $40 per case for both letter and legal sizes. Staples or Officemax regularly sells letter for under $30/case and the best source for legal is usually about $42/case at www.business-supply.com

Reply by Yowheelz on 11/22/10 8:58am
Msg #362341

Lender legal, borrower letter

The only legal paper the bo gets is the HUD. I have not had a problem with needing bo copy to correct mistake. Bo usually are happy they don't have to find a place to file legal papers. I put the bo copy in a clasp envelope with their name and the date of closing on it, that way they can chuck it any where they want.

Reply by MW/VA on 11/22/10 10:52am
Msg #362356

The industry standard has been to print everything on legal size paper, unless you have a dual-tray printer. Many of us use dual-trays, which print mixed letter/legal according to the pdf file. I usually buy all my paper at Costco--about $28/case letter & $41/case legal. There are often deals out there, and then I stock up. I got 2 cases of letter-size a while back at Office Max for $15/case. Members of NR are always sharing deals on paper. Thanks everyone. :-)

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 11/22/10 1:37pm
Msg #362379

When I first began, there were some counties in California that required the DOT to be printed on letter, so I either had to cut it with a paper cutter, print the DOT separate (which is the course I chose) or get a dual-tray printer. I haven't heard of anyone getting rejected lately for a DOT printed on legal, so that is probably a moot point. However some instructions I get still require certain documents to be printed on letter, so if I didn't have dual tray printers, I would have to separate those docs out for separate printing, and that takes time. Time is also money.

Reply by ME/NJ on 11/22/10 1:38pm
Msg #362380

Only print out on letter unless instructed, there are a couple of companies that require both. As for legal paper prices the best deal I fould was at Business-supply.com 3.99 a ream for legal paper.

It was cheaper than letter size.

Reply by ikando on 11/22/10 1:53pm
Msg #362388

I've started buying multiple cases of legal when I've accumulated enough points from either Office Depot or Staples. Between my husband and I, we use a lot of office supplies, so the "rewards points" add up quickly. Last time I got 2 cases of legal and still had points left to get other extraneous things for FREE when I added the coupons they send in the mail, email or in the newspaper!

Sign up with those rewards programs. It's well worth it!

Reply by Jodith Allen on 11/28/10 6:26pm
Msg #362970

Most of the title instructions I get state the docs must be printed on all legal if you don't have a dual try printer, so most docs are all legal.

At least until I get my new dual tray printer I bought in the Amazon.com black friday sales! I've been saving up for a bunch of equipment, waiting for black friday *laughs*.