Posted by CopperheadVA on 8/5/13 3:00pm
Msg #479290

Printing the appraisal

Large national TC that already gets my rock bottom fee sent an appraisal and told me to print and give to borrowers, as it was a funding condition. I told them that printing the appraisal is not included in my regular signing fee, and I would be happy to print the appraisal for an additional $15 fee adjustment (I thought that was very reasonable of me). They insisted that I am to print whatever they send me for the fee that I have on file for them.

I explained that printing the appraisal is an extra service being requested, similar to a request for faxbacks (which this company does pay an additional fee for faxbacks when you ask for it). They said that signing agents don't get to dictate what files get printed and which don't. They ended up agreeing to pay the additional $15 however.

And the kicker - the borrowers said they had already received the appraisal by email!!!

Reply by Belinda/CA on 8/5/13 3:08pm
Msg #479293

Sounds like FASS.
First American pays the extra or emails it out. However, if through FASS they will balk.
You did good to request additional fee. Printing all those photographs and pages is a lot of toner.

Reply by Priscilla Witman on 8/5/13 3:17pm
Msg #479294

The signing agents don't get to dictate what files get printed and which don't...

Exactly. Just like they (TC/SS/whatever) don't get to dictate what signing agents CHARGE to print those files. All I can say, personally, is wow. How cheap.

Reply by ikando on 8/5/13 4:04pm
Msg #479298

"They insisted that I am to print whatever they send me for the fee that I have on file for them. "

This is one of my issues. "They" put a number that you may have agreed to for a particular closing into "their" system, and then expect you to do all kinds of other things for THAT fee, without consideration of the uniqueness of each closing.

Reply by Daniel Woodman on 8/5/13 4:13pm
Msg #479299

You did exactly what I do. I am not a printing company. I print the docs necessary to close the loan, nothing more. No appraisals, no Closing Instructions (except mine), no pages 2-5 of the W-9 (unless they require initials, which is ridiculous), etc. If you want me to print or do something extra that costs me either additional time or money, then you will pay for it. I'm running a business, not a charity!

Reply by ikando on 8/5/13 4:15pm
Msg #479302

Daniel, you're absolutely correct.

Reply by Jack/AL on 8/5/13 5:33pm
Msg #479312

The appraisal is not part of the signing/closing package. It comes long before that, in theory and reality. Before the loan is approved, the appraisal is completed, if required, and is then normally forwarded to the borrowers. They have a right to receive a copy (on paper or via email, etc.), at least three days before signing, but they can wave that three days, if they did not receive it earlier and wish to continue with the signing. Like some responders above, I do not just print it and take to the borrowers. If they don't have it, I MIGHT print it for them without charging the TC/SS, but will certainly not print a copy to send back to the TC/SS with the docs, unless adequately compensated. All too often, some companies wanting us to print more than is necessary, just decide it is really NOT necessary when asked to pay for it.

Reply by CinOH on 8/5/13 5:28pm
Msg #479311

Exactly. We are not printing presses. I'm happy to provide anything a customer requests but they do have to pay for it. I won't eat the cost. Many are fair about it. Unfortunately, some are not. I quote the number of pages I include w/ the print fee at the outset and that number excludes appraisal reports, survey maps or anything that is toner intensive.

Another thing I'm noticing a lot of recently is DEMANDING multiple copies of standard docs in the pkg.

YOU MUST PRINT!!!!!
3 copies of the mortgage or DOT and all riders
4 HUDS
2 copies of the TIL
30+ pages of broker docs

I received one pkg recently that would have gone from 120 pages to 178 pages if printed with the multiple copies they wanted of certain docs in the pkg.

When I advised them I needed an additional print fee they said never mind, they didn't need the extras after all.

I asked one company why they wanted 3 DOTs. I was told that sometimes they don't get a "good notarizaton" back so they want backups. They said they throw the other two out if the first notarization is "good."

Sorry but I won't pay the additional cost for companies hiring notaries who do poor work.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/5/13 6:39pm
Msg #479320

I haven't been asked to print an appraisal in a long time. n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 8/5/13 6:41pm
Msg #479321

Grr--not finished. I would have done the same thing as you.

I don't print a lot of extra pages for free. In my experience, most borrowers are getting their appraisals emailed to them, versus anyone printing. That meets the requirement for them to receive it 3 days prior. I haven't had any borrower complain about it, and I'm sure they'd rather have that than more paper to deal with.

Reply by KimmyMD on 8/6/13 11:56am
Msg #479381

I have also had this happen more and more by the same Title Co. I now have to ask the question how many pages, and extra charge will be added over 135. I have seen this start to be a trend. What happened to the appraisers and the fact that they are to provide a copy to the borrower. Makes me wonder????

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 8/6/13 5:01pm
Msg #479415

What's happening is they charge $450 for appraisal, someone

does a drive by & takes a few pictures. Then with the rising cost of paper & toner, they manage to save a few pennies by passing the cost on to some poor suckers...oops - I mean US!

They treat us like a buffet - instead of all you can eat, it's all you can get someone else to pay for! Good for you for sticking to your guns, Copperhead!

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 8/6/13 5:03pm
Msg #479416

Also, why not just print an extra copy of the Notay pg?? n/m

Reply by ikando on 8/6/13 5:56pm
Msg #479427

Re: Also, why not just print an extra copy of the Notay pg??

HrdwrkrVA, I hope everyone realizes that last note was tongue in cheek sarcasm.

Reply by FeliseSoCal on 8/6/13 6:59pm
Msg #479447

I don't print them. They are huge, and are not part of the loan closing. The appraiser, who has been paid several hundred dollars can send it.
If it was needed I would defintely charge a separate fee.