Yesterday, someone Released the Kracken.... all over my escrow. All Hell broke loose. The seller's moving truck was primed to move 3700 feet of stuff to another county. The buyer was nipping at their heels, ready to move in before the dust settled. Color coded packing tape detailed the order of box unveiling. Pets were packed. Keys at 2. Pool table at 3. There was no room for error.
"Hello, this is Brand X escrow... we're not quite ready to record this refinance. You won't get this money today... probably tomorrow... blah,blah,blah..."
"WHAAAAAATTTTTT!!!!!!! You HAVE to record RIGHT NOW!!!!! We are counting on it! I asked you Tuesday if there were any hang-ups! We need your money, so we can get the loan funded, so we can record, so we can send proceeds to Solano County, so the seller can complete their new home purchase, so they can get their keys, SO THEY CAN MOOOOOOOOVE!!!!!!"
"Well.... sorry... We're not ready..."
Grrrrrrrrr........
CRAP - the tighly orchestrated close of escrow, which didn't seem so critical when we first got into contract, had become critically important, as huge moving trucks with a gaggle of workers sat ready and waiting. And Brand X had just lollygagged a few precious days away. This would take DAYS, and no one could move until my sellers recorded on their new Solano County home and received keys.
Now, I've been down this road before. The Escrow Officer is the one who is in the driver's seat, with the view of what needs to happen... or not.
Average ones will deal with obstacles as they appear, then recover from accidents as they happen, repairing dents with Bondo. Heck, they got insurance for that!
Good ones will see the big picture, scan the rear view mirror, scout the alternate routes, maneuver detours, take known short cuts, and speed through the cone zone if neccessary. They drive defensively. They see what's coming.
But once in a while you get a Sandra Bullock at the wheel, able to take that bus with a loaded bomb on board, and leap over an entire missing section of freeway, fishtailing her way right into the Recorder's Office with brakes smokin and dust flying. All while looking cute!
THAT'S a Pro!
Fortunately, for THIS escrow, we had Sandra at the wheel.
Cindy Paul, with North American Title Company, and her navigator Beverly Williams McKay, did the impossible, and drove that speeding bus right over the missing freeway section - they did the impossible.
Every nuance that would shave a few hours off the critical timing, she made happen... pre-fund, confirmation of wire sent not yet not received, raise the issue of last minute funds being from a verified account, double up on the approvals for the refi and primary loan, hand carry docs to the recorder's office with someone on stand-by to slide those puppies into the recorder's hand...
I didn't sleep well Thursday night. Neither did my sellers. Neither did Cindy. She worried about pulling this off, knowing how important it was for everyone. It was all set up, IF everyone did their part.
By 11 AM we had miraculously recorded both homes! Emails of congrats were flying from processor, to funder, to escrow officer, to Realtors, to buyer and seller, to Mr. Big Wig with the buyer's lender, Vitek. Take a look...
"WooHoo"
"You have GOT to be kidding!! This honestly must be the biggest miracle ever!"
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