Beyond the Closing Table: Real Talk on Small Business, Success & Perspective

In this episode of Beyond the Closing Table, Mel and Tab dive into real conversations about business ownership, entrepreneurship, and the realities behind running a business in the real estate industry. They talk about the stresses people don’t see behind the scenes, and the lessons that come with building and growing a business.

They also explore something that doesn’t get talked about enough...non-monetary success. From personal growth to perspective shifts and the wins that can’t be measured by numbers, Mel and Tab share honest insights about what success really looks like beyond the paycheck.

If you’re an entrepreneur, real estate professional, or someone navigating the challenges and rewards of business, this episode is for you.

 And remember, no matter where you are in the process, you have the right to choose your title agent!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:21

All right, we are on air. Testing, testing, testing. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 0:27

Welcome to Untitled, the podcast that takes you beyond the closing table where we're talking about life as it really is, the work wins, the personal chaos, and the messy middle where the two worlds collide.

SPEAKER_00 0:40

From deal drama to daily life, we're showing up for it all with stories, strategies, and the kind of honesty this industry doesn't always have time for.

SPEAKER_03 0:49

If you wear too many hats and still forget where you left your keys, you're in good company. This is Untitled. I can at least do the first line. Maybe. Maybe. Welcome back to Beyond the Closing Table. This is Tab, your title queen. And this is Mel. And today is going to be a little different because Caitlin is not with us.

SPEAKER_04 1:17

It's going to be so weird.

SPEAKER_03 1:20

So you're going to get a Tab and Mel takeover episode. Woo. Please give us grace.

SPEAKER_04 1:28

Yes, lots of grace. Well, we figured it would be a good opportunity to just chat, catch up, and talk about what's been happening in our world this week.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

Sound good?

SPEAKER_03 1:38

Sounds good to me. I mean, we can just kind uh quickly tell the listeners.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_04 1:46

Today we're talking about what's happening in our office this week, a few lessons from business ownership lately, and of course a little title talk because we can't help ourselves. Tab, how's your week been? Do you want to talk about it or do you want me to go?

SPEAKER_03 2:07

Um, I think we can just start by saying this week's had some hard conversations. Yeah. Right? And we always try to focus on the positive. Um, and we have lots of positives. Yes. But we also have lots of hard conversations. And um, it's been interesting.

SPEAKER_02 2:27

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 2:28

I feel like every time uh we get to this point, it just brings us closer.

SPEAKER_04 2:35

And I absolutely agree with that, right? Absolutely. I mean, hard conversations with some of them have been with the customer, some of them have been um with each other, some of them have been about like products. What do we need to expand on this, get rid of that, you know, just decision making. So, I mean, it's it's been a lot.

SPEAKER_03 2:56

Yeah, and it's and it's it's kind of always expected, right? First quarter, fourth quarter, we're trying to decide like what we can do without what we would like to add in. Add, right? And then, and then first quarter is when you gotta make those decisions. Yep. And the reality is the market is just unlike any we've ever seen before. And prices are still going up. I don't know how. Like me either. I don't like it.

SPEAKER_04 3:27

I don't know. It's just it's very weird if if there are so many houses on the market and so few buyers, why are the prices not going down? Because that's what's supposed to happen.

SPEAKER_03 3:40

Yeah, I think that it everyone's still just sellers are just still kind of living in the unicorn years of I know my property can bring this much. And they probably don't have to sell. And so they still have a low mortgage, and so they're just like, you know, sort of casting the net and seeing if they catch anything, I guess. But the other thing is just vendor cost. Like, and I get it as a business model, like if you have fewer customers, you increase your price to kind of make up the difference, but it's just not a good time. No, especially for a small business to be like, okay, we can renew, but it's gonna cost you $24,000 more dollars. Mm-hmm. Right? Yeah. So anyway, I think that the positives are it is springtime. Yes. So I'm like, let's hold on this month and like let's just see what comes out of March, right? Spring is in the air, and it does always shift and change a little bit. Always, always, even if it's just our mindset. Because it's very easy to get boggled down in the doom and gloom of things not going our way.

SPEAKER_04 5:06

But the the days are getting longer. Yes, so that's always helpful.

SPEAKER_03 5:11

I feel like that happens this weekend.

SPEAKER_04 5:12

It does. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:14

Yes, we are about to spring forward. Spring forward. And so that means what we lose an hour.

SPEAKER_04 5:22

We lose an hour of sleep, but we start gaining more daylight.

SPEAKER_03 5:27

Which I love.

SPEAKER_04 5:28

Yeah. The only thing is I stay up later.

SPEAKER_03 5:32

Well, yeah. Yeah. It makes me want to stay outside and like sit on my patio, and then I usually eat later, which is not good, but sunshine is great.

SPEAKER_04 5:45

I really enjoy walking my dog when it's after the time change. Like it's gonna be so much nicer.

SPEAKER_03 5:50

It's gonna be so nice. Um, and then we've got a lot of things coming up. We do. We've got a lot of classes and we're teaching uh we're teaching two coming up.

SPEAKER_04 6:02

They're both about dun dun dun fencing.

SPEAKER_03 6:07

Not fencing. Not fencing. Every time I do a voice text, it changes it to fencing. Like I'm am I that country? I don't think so.

SPEAKER_04 6:17

Oh, and I feel like someone who's that country is not gonna be talking about fencing. Unless it's to repair one.

unknown 6:25

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 6:26

And I'm always voice texting or audio messaging and OMG, like Siri, get it together. How have you not learned my voice by now? Like I've never been fencing.

SPEAKER_04 6:40

At least it doesn't say male every time you try to say my name. That does, and that used to happen all the time.

SPEAKER_03 6:44

And I would I would probably say bad words. But hey, at least I'm obeying the law. I'm hands-free. That's right. See?

SPEAKER_04 6:54

Another positive. Another positive. Speaking of fencing, that's now in effect. It's happening. So we've got our we've got one file right now that is has to be reported. So we're gathering the information.

SPEAKER_03 7:08

And we're gonna do it all together.

SPEAKER_02 7:11

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 7:15

Just things that go on in the office, right? Make you smile. That is like when I am having a bad day, like today, just getting here makes me feel better. So that's also a positive. That is very true. And I don't know how many small business owners can really say that. They're probably like super stressed, but we have or the trifecta. We don't know. We'll figure it out.

SPEAKER_04 7:38

We'll figure it out. We've always had a good vibe, you know, in our office. We try.

SPEAKER_03 7:45

We've got a good culture happening, and that is top priority, right?

SPEAKER_04 7:51

It is.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

It makes a difference, but kind of brings up some questions that I think I threw at y'all this morning. Like the risk, you know, how is owning a business changed the way you look at risk? Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_04 8:09

Um, so me personally, I am more open to taking a chance than I was before. Because I've always, until this, I've always been a I know exactly what my paycheck is gonna be every single week or every month, week, whatever it is. And it's never, it's never fluctuated. Um, so to not have that anymore, it was very scary at first, but I feel more confident and I just I don't know, just not as nervous about it. Um when there's something that we could like maybe um and this is not just business, but in my personal life too. Like if there's something that's like, I don't know what's gonna happen, let's just see what finds, you know.

SPEAKER_03 8:55

Yeah, I agree. I don't know how I said that. That was weird. You just you just yeah, like be still and know. Yeah, you know, you're just like it's we're gonna figure it out one way or the other. Absolutely. Um, I think that you know, it's changed me always. I just don't know any other way, right? Like I feel like I will always and forever be willing to take a risk. You're a dreamer. Take it changing.

SPEAKER_04 9:21

You can't be a dreamer without taking risks.

SPEAKER_03 9:23

Yeah, and it's like my thing this past couple of weeks is just there's so many things happening out of my control. And that's hard. And that is it's the hardest time I've had in my life. And it is the solutions are not just like so easy to grab and pivot from. And that's what, but I would have no regrets. Oh my god, yeah. I would not do it any other way. Yeah, you know, but um we'll have to make some decisions and then um yeah, just see what happens. Right? And that's in everything business, life, all the things, all the things.

SPEAKER_04 10:06

What um you have been a leader for a very long time in not just owning a company, but just in management and everything. Yeah. What part of leadership took you the longest to grow into?

SPEAKER_03 10:21

Okay, I'm gonna say, how can I say this in like how can I articulate this? Well, first, I feel like the way my parents raised me were just you've got this. You know, like I right after college, I got into title, I loved it, and I just always give 100%. I think I think the hardest part of that was just really observing and watching and seeing that you kind of gotta go for it, especially as a woman in this business way back then, like, you know. And I did. I would just straight up ask for what I wanted. I mean, I would I did not accept a salary, I always structured it to be something else. Um, and then I always did what it took to make it work. You know what I mean? I didn't give up, and I think that you know, that was the longest part, right? Was just saying, like, I have done this. There are so many ways to do any given thing, even in starting a business or managing. I mean, I got into management when I was like 24 years old, and it's literally because like two people went went crazy, like literally, and left. And I was like, I can do this. I mean, I've been doing it for three weeks, and they were like, Yeah, yeah, you can. And you know what? I mean, a maybe by default, but hey, shine bright, yeah, you know, and um, but I think the hardest part in business is, and it still is knowing that you do uh do good business, you are ethical, and there are so many people and companies and places that are not. And it's always not about how good you are or what an expert you are. You're still playing the you're still playing the I don't know, playground game. Like everybody might not want you to be on the merry-go-round. Yeah, you know what I mean? Because for whatever reason, maybe it's your last name, maybe it's you know, where you come from, I don't know, whatever it is. Something you did in high school, you know, like it's whatever. Um, and that's what has been the it's just been the longest because it still happens. Yeah. Like, I mean, our our positive this week was we got a huge contract with um a large how will we describe this without describing it? Entity entity that is probably like top tier on ethics, yes, I would say and protection. And they sent over a contract. I read through it and I was like, uh, dagger, dagger to the heart, you know what I mean? Like these two things we do not qualify qualify for. And I just changed it, right? We deal with contracts all day long. I said, I had a discussion with you and Caitlin, and I said, look, we all agree, let's just go for it. Like, we're gonna tell them what we can offer, and maybe they say yes, maybe they say pass, whatever it is we were prepared for. Yeah, and I've been working on this for three years. And so, oh my god, they just sit back and we're like, we're totally cool with that. Like, you've got this, like we're getting started. Yes. So that is what is the rewards and what makes it all worth it to me. Yeah, you know what I mean? Like, absolutely, I might have to buy drugstore makeup for a little bit. And that's hard. That's okay. That's a sacrifice, but it makes it back to your press on nails. Yeah, I might have to start doing my nails again. But it is all worth it. You know what I mean? I just yes. It's just worth it.

SPEAKER_04 14:38

Yeah, I mean, you just you you figure out how, what sacrifices you need to make, and I mean, we just do it. We just do it.

SPEAKER_03 14:49

And like just being honest with each other, like this is where I'm at, this is what could happen.

SPEAKER_04 14:56

Or this could happen. Yeah. And so I've definitely had to do that. I mean, I've shifted probably within the last like six months. Um, I've really focused on shifting my spending habits. Yeah. And you know, I I realize I don't need any more work pants. I I have them all. I have them all. I have all the shirts I need. Like I I've got my good with the shoes. I've got it in my closet. Like, just calm down. That is I don't need to consume so much.

SPEAKER_03 15:28

That is so true. And and it's like it's hard. It well, but it's also like just in cleaning house or whatever. I feel like I'm always getting rid of stuff. Yes. But like when everything's like nice and neat and presentable, I'm like, what? I think I wore three different outfits in the past couple of weeks that have been hanging in my closet with the tags on them. And thank God I fit in them. But you know, it's like it that's also kind of fun.

SPEAKER_04 16:00

Is that a dopamine rush? It is, it absolutely is. And that and I've really had to find different ways to give myself a dopamine rush that did not include buying something.

SPEAKER_03 16:09

Exactly. Which, okay, so that we can pivot from that on sponsoring events. Yes. Because that's been a big topic. Yes. And we love doing that. We want to do that. Um, but I know that we had a podcast a couple um episodes back where I really broke down closing fees where title fees are like less than one percent of a transaction. So to, you know, thank God we're blessed to have been, you know, always steady. But you know, you've got if you're going to, and I also agree with you, you've got to spend money to make money. I always say that, but like we gotta be strategic. Yes. And it does not make some people happy when you are like Oh, that's absolutely yeah. Like, you know, I love that idea, but I'm gonna pass this year. But there's there's no return on investment. Yeah, if there's no return on investment, and you just need me to show up and say hi, I'm there.

SPEAKER_04 17:15

But like, you know, I mean, we need to pay how many thousands of dollars. Uh just to yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:25

And I think that that's something that you kind of gotta look at and say, hopefully, right? Because of what we just spoke about. Hopefully they value the relationship enough with us that they understand. And we continue on our closing journey together. And this is on many different levels of not any one particular person. It's like it all happens in March. Like it's like, yeah, you can do this, this, this, this, and this.

SPEAKER_04 17:55

And it's like, ooh, this year might not be the year to just I've got like three in my head that we had to pass on last year that I'm thinking about. Like this, yeah, this is absolutely every single person that asks for us to sponsor anything. I mean, we have to stop and think. Like, is this gonna be a good use of our money? Is it gonna go, is it gonna give us anything in return? Right. And you know, sometimes the answer is no.

SPEAKER_03 18:23

Yeah, but sometimes it's yes. And sometimes it's yes. And also that is something that I've had to really get better at because y'all know me, usually I'm like, you get money, you get money. We're doing all the things. And then you sit back and like really, you know, look at my spreadsheet, and I'm like, oh, that's where it all went. It sounded great, but like I'm really looking at numbers. I mean, because it that's just that, that's just the market we're in. Like, we are really having to look at numbers, and um that's been hard. Yeah, it's been hard because you always want to say yes.

SPEAKER_04 18:58

And yeah, you don't want to disappoint your your clients, people that you have trusted you with your work, and you want to support them all, but it's just not it's not always possible.

SPEAKER_03 19:08

It's just not always possible. Um what does success look like to you now compared to when we first started the company?

SPEAKER_04 19:24

Well, when we first started, success was we got a paycheck. Yeah, that was really like a fingers crossed. Am I gonna pay all my bills this month? Personally. And um it was very, it was slow. Yeah. It was um, it was the market had just started shifting after the craziness of COVID. So the market I know, right? But the market had just shifted. So we had dropped off on closings, and we lost like, I remember just roughly say half our customers when we split from the other company. So it was a big shock.

SPEAKER_03 20:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 20:07

So success in the beginning, my bar was very low. But now, to me, success is when a new customer calls me and says, Oh, you are highly recommended. Bam. Um, I have had people call me and say, like, oh, you know, just so you know, you've got a really good reputation. And I I literally had that conversation last week. I was like, wow, thank you for telling me. Because I'm not part of those conversations, so I don't even know that. Um, and just I I like being the expert. I like when people come to me and be like, this isn't your state, you can't do this closing, but this is my situation. Do you think this is okay? And like I've given my opinion. Like my opinion matters. Yes. I I love that.

SPEAKER_03 20:53

It gives me chills. Yes. I agree. I think that when you when we walked around, or walked around, when we walked away from comfy. Yeah. Right? And then you go into a new business and it's like you're all in sink or swim. We keep swimming, and you know, the paychecks are not what anybody was used to. And but you just keep on going, being consistent consistent, showing up daily, and then it is so true. Like that was success, but also success now to me is an I feel like always is just like you can make your schedule, you can pick your kids up from school, you can, you know, have the support from your work wives that you need and your culture, and being the expert in our field, and like we're still here almost four years at this company.

SPEAKER_04 21:57

And I think also success is being happy. To come into work. I mean, right.

SPEAKER_03 22:02

Like that is success in my book.

SPEAKER_02 22:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:06

Absolutely. Um, and I mean, yeah, I just thought about that. So May 1st, which is your birthday birthday. And authorities' birthday. Um, so that's gonna be fun. Yeah, that it'll probably be that long before we get to go use that awesome gift card that our customer gave us to the safe house. Yeah, probably. I think we were talking about that on this week's. That was supposed to be for Christmas. Yeah. We'll just change it for anniversary. It takes a long time to get us together all in one place. That's true. Um, well, I think you just kind of answered the next question I had in my mind, which was what is one thing that you hope people say about the way you run your business.

SPEAKER_04 22:45

Oh, yeah, good reputation. Good reputation. And that they I've had people tell us that they know we do things the right way and we don't cut corners. And they were kind of a little disappointed by that because they wanted to close. Um, but it made me feel good because you're right, we don't cut corners. We're here for the long haul.

SPEAKER_03 23:05

And that has always been my stance. Yes. Right? It will pay off in the long run. And when you're not getting sued next Tuesday, you're welcome.

unknown 23:15

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 23:16

So I think that goes with what doesn't stress me out anymore. I think the older I get, like, I don't know. I'm pretty direct. You guys know I'm pretty direct. But like, you know, and I've and I've and I and I think I've told everyone who's worked for us, worked with us, like, you're the expert. Like, you need to let somebody know how this needs to be handled because it's just fear a lot of times that they're being confrontational, and it's like, we got this. I don't even know how many conversations I've heard Caitlin having over the past couple weeks, just about like you know, this is not like perfect scenario, but here's like your options for solutions. Yeah. And the customers loved that engagement. So it doesn't really stress me out. I don't know if it ever has, but when your numbers are like, oh, you're like, oh, I wish I could make that work, but it's not gonna happen today.

SPEAKER_04 24:19

I used to get really stressed out about letting people down, yeah, and not being able to say yes to everyone, and that does not stress me out as much. Right. Because I have seen, you know, I've been doing this for years, and um I have seen loyal customers that we've had, what do you know, and then for whatever reason, something that had nothing to do with me, sometimes it whatever reason they've moved away or they've decided to close with a different title company, you know, maybe they have a different brokerage who's pushing them somewhere else. For any reason that has nothing to do with me, I've seen them no longer be my customer, which makes me it it really puts into perspective the fact that I am going to still be here no matter what. They may or may not close with me again. And I, the longevity of my company, we matter more than keeping that one person happy because I'm hoping they keep giving me business when they could leave at any time for any reason. So I'm no longer letting myself be stressed about if I cannot make you happy, I'm gonna be nice about it. I'm gonna explain why. I'm not, I don't want to be rude, but uh there's nothing I can do.

SPEAKER_03 25:39

Yeah, not gonna jeopardize your license. Yeah. Just to keep one person happy on one transaction when it uh goes against your ethics. Yeah. And that makes me happy. That doesn't stress you out anymore.

unknown 25:54

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 25:55

And do you think you've become nicer, more southern over the past? I don't think so. What is it?

SPEAKER_04 26:02

You only almost said I was raised to be polite, and you guys were raised to be friendly. I am still very polite.

SPEAKER_03 26:10

Yes, you are very polite. Um everyone smiles through the phone. You can feel it. Yeah. And we have we do have a lot. Uh we've got um some really great Google reviews. Yeah. Um and some are unexpected. Yeah. I was like, what? We didn't even ask that person to do it. They just did it on their own. Yeah, it's it's like so exciting. Um so if you have worked with us, we do appreciate a Google review, and you know what? We return the favor. Yes. Um, so I think that's something that's exciting. Also, our podcast. We've been at this for a few months, and it's starting to get more recognition, which is exciting. Exciting, right? Because we're we really proud of Caitlin.

unknown 26:53

Yes, God.

SPEAKER_03 26:54

I wish we had the clapping things we could do. I'm always clapping. It's a cheerleader in me. But yeah, she gets gold stars, and um it's there's only just I mean, there's just so many great things that's coming with our podcast. And it's really helped us get through this down market just to be able to talk about it and take a deep breath and not stare at a legal description. Yeah, don't lose focus, right? Or focus on something else. Yeah. Um I don't know, you want to talk about title a little bit? Always always. What could what could keep it light? And a little bit of education. Let's think. Um, I don't know. I mean, you know, I always say that if I could just wear a t-shirt every single day that says you can choose your title agent, yeah, that's what I would do because it matters more now than ever. Um, for all the reasons we've talked about. Not all title companies are created equal. They are not, uh, just like any other party to the uh closing of it all. Um and uh Fence and we kind of touched on and we keep touching on, and we will never stop continue to touch on it, but it's really gonna help us all big picture.

SPEAKER_04 28:19

Yes, you know, they are trying to find the bad guys that are laundering money.

unknown 28:24

Right.

SPEAKER_04 28:24

It is for a good purpose. We're doing it for a reason.

SPEAKER_03 28:30

And I think a really good takeaway that this could be light and educational, um why this is why title companies are doing more verification. And so if you've got a contract, if you're in the process of purchasing or selling any type of real property, and you have not received ID verification from your closing agent, you can move your closing to us. Because it jeopardizes everyone communicating with you. So, you know, call them, ask them why have you not verified I am who I say I am. Yeah. Right? Oh my god, I could totally start doing that to some title companies.

SPEAKER_04 29:16

Oh my gosh, they would hate you. I know.

SPEAKER_03 29:18

I would I would disguise my voice. I could be, I could go back to Buffy, who I was in college. Oh my gosh, that is so funny. Um, but you know what I'm saying? Like you if you if someone has not asked you to verify your identity and you are in a closing. Yeah, it's a big deal. The process of a closing, that is a huge deal.

SPEAKER_04 29:40

Because it's not just wire fraud anymore. Right. Like wire fraud used to be the main thing that everybody in title was worried about. And we still are, but now people are producing, um, they're like providing fake IDs, they are um impersonating sellers, uh, some of them impersonated buyers. Yes. And just they're people are using um what's it called when it not FaceTime, but like you're on like Zoom or whatever. And like title companies have had to ask, like, raise your left hand and then look to the left, look to the right, whatever, do something. And if they can't do it, that means they're a fake person. It's an AI program.

SPEAKER_03 30:23

It's that disgusting. It's so crazy. And it also can affect so many things. Like, if say it's your title agent, your loan officer, your realtor, your home inspector, and one of those parties doesn't have secure email or you know, they're on open Wi-Fi, like whatever it is, they can also pull your account information and send checks out to everyone. Yes. You know, like that's still real. So I think, like, if you are thinking about buying or selling a home, refinancing anything, like you need to know who your title company is. If they have not asked for your verification of who you are, you need to call and ask why. And there are things called amendments that can change your closing to authority title and ask graph.

SPEAKER_04 31:15

All of Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 31:18

We are here for you.

SPEAKER_04 31:20

All right, we're gonna do some rapid fire. Ooh, yeah, rapid fire. Caitlin must have written these for us. Probably. Okay, let's see. Um, Tab, what is your most used phrase at work? Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 31:34

Yeah, like I feel like my most popular is you're not buying a TV at Best Buy.

SPEAKER_04 31:41

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_03 31:42

You're buying a whole property. Yes. Like, that also needs to be a T.

SPEAKER_04 31:46

Oh, that does. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:49

Like, this is your home, your legacy.

SPEAKER_04 31:51

It matters. What about you? Oh gosh. Um, if we take out the cuss words, that's so true. It's probably gonna be me.

SPEAKER_03 32:02

I don't think I cussed when I met you.

SPEAKER_04 32:05

Probably not.

SPEAKER_03 32:06

That has changed. It's okay. Yeah, I mean, just yeah, it just has a good stress reliever. It is.

SPEAKER_04 32:16

What do I say a lot? Uh I mean, I said received, thank you. That's like half my emails. And that's perfect. Yeah, right. What is one thing that instantly stresses you out on a file?

SPEAKER_03 32:32

Oh my god, if there's something spelled wrong.

SPEAKER_04 32:35

I knew you were gonna say that.

SPEAKER_03 32:36

Yeah, that's also something that I've been screaming forever.

SPEAKER_04 32:39

Like, double check your spellings, people. What stresses me out is when we don't have a phone number and an email for somebody. Oh. If we don't have that, like it is so hard to communicate with somebody if they don't have both because we can't do the verify ID if they don't have both. And it's so scary. It's so scary to not do that now.

SPEAKER_03 32:59

And doesn't it go back to a TV at Best Buy? Right. Like you have to give all that information if you are doing anything. If you are ordering Chinese on an app, you've got to give your email and your phone number. Yeah. So, like, why not on a house? Right?

SPEAKER_04 33:17

What is your best or worst closing story?

SPEAKER_03 33:22

Well, the best closing stories are when it was my property. I'm like, yes.

SPEAKER_04 33:30

I still remember the first house I bought. Uh-huh. And I had a cashier's check for what I had to bring to closing, and it was more than it needed to be because I had been given an estimated amount. Like it was this was a while ago. And gosh, this was almost 20 years ago.

SPEAKER_03 33:46

Okay, tell me, how old were you? How much money did you make? Oh my gosh. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 33:52

It was 2009. Okay. And I was 23. Okay. No, that's not how you do math. 26? Okay. I think I was 26. Yeah, because I think I knew you when you bought your house. You did.

SPEAKER_03 34:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 34:08

It was at our first place together.

SPEAKER_03 34:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 34:10

Um and Kavana was my closer.

SPEAKER_03 34:13

Oh my god. Shout out Kavana, we miss you.

SPEAKER_04 34:17

And um, I do not remember how much I made. Maybe like maybe 35,000. Maybe 40, but I don't know that that's true. Um and my mortgage payment was less than $800 a month.

SPEAKER_03 34:37

That's exactly right. So best classic. And I was, let's see if I can remember. I was 24. And I I remember this because I um had my first daughter already, and I made $21,000 a year. Okay, that was as a processor for a pre-processor. I don't know, maybe it was called office coordinator or something back then. I was like the gopher for I did everything. And I was like, I'm just gonna go for it, right? Like, why not? That's literally when I had to like clean up my credit report because someone had stolen my identity in college. Yeah, and I had this huge file, but I had a loan officer, and she was like, Oh, I mean, we can do this, we can make this happen. But I got a raise to $27,000. Wow. Like, literally the week I was putting in my loan application, and wow, I was like, this is happening, and I think I paid $107,000. Nice. I built it too. I built the house. Wow. Built a house for $107,000. And so, oh my God, was that in 2004? Yeah. That was before I moved here. Yeah, in 2004. And I built the house because it was when uh Murfersboro was getting a lot of the newer subdivisions, and I had to go speak before the county commissioner for the builder. And my spill was, oh my God, I'm just gonna say it. Yeah, he wanted me because he said that I was a single mother who had bought a home in this neighborhood, and he wanted me to spread the word to the county commissioners, whoever was approving his plans, that you know, you were directly affected. I was directly affected. I was able to do this, and I will never forget using the phrase aesthetically pleasing, and it made him so happy. I loved that house. Oh my god, I painted it every color that you could because I had lived in apartments for so long that were white. Yes, oh my god, so cute.

SPEAKER_04 36:51

I it's funny because I was working at the title company when I bought that, and I didn't even think I could buy a house until my coworker bought one. And when I was like, she's buying a house, she makes the same money I do.

SPEAKER_03 37:03

I think I could buy a house. And duh, I could. Yeah, and still I think that's what's so true, which is why I love home buyer classes, because the government wants everyone to buy a home. It's better for the economy. It's better for the economy, and it's better for you and your legacy and your savings. It appreciates. Um, worst closing story.

SPEAKER_04 37:25

Oh gosh, there's so many to choose from. My mom always remembers when that house burned down the day before closing. Yeah, that was bad for that was bad for them. Um all I can think about are the ones that like I we found out were frauds, so we stopped it before it could happen.

SPEAKER_03 37:44

Yeah, the chick that came in and posed as the wife and wasn't that was bad. Yeah, and then I that was bad for humanity. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 37:53

But that got all the way to the closing table. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:56

No, but I mean the realtor didn't even know. We did not close that one.

SPEAKER_04 37:59

No. But I I had one where the owner had died and she her uh husband was selling the property, but she had taken him off the deed before she died, and then the death certificate said that he's not who was notified. It was her daughter, and her daughter did not live nearby. So I was like, that's weird. Yeah. And so then when I asked him for documents about something, he sent me the deed where he was originally on it and not the one where he had been taken off. And I was like, buddy, I've already got my title searched. I know this is not the most recent deed. So that was shady. Yes. So then I found them on Facebook and their investigator acting. I did, yeah. The daughter owned a restaurant, so I was able to call the restaurant and ask for her, and she was like, We don't think they were ever legally married, we're not sure. Yeah, and they or maybe they didn't know. They didn't know if they were married or not when she died, and he was not a good person, and he was already under investigation for other stuff by the police. So we were just like, I don't even care if he owns it or not. Like, we're not doing this.

SPEAKER_03 39:10

And it's like it still goes to show how much we actually love doing what we do.

SPEAKER_04 39:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:17

Because we put in all that work to protect those people and ourselves and made zero dollars. Absolutely. Because we walked away. We lost money because we had to do the title search. Hopefully, he was exposed for the bad person he is.

SPEAKER_04 39:34

We had another one where the uh the I'm gonna say this in quotes, wife the of the the guy that died, his wife was not in his will, was not anywhere, but she was on his obituary page, she had left a comment about how much she loved him and they were married and whatever. And it was very weird. Like, who, if your spouse dies, do you really think to go on their obituary page online and leave a comment? Yeah, like that's weird. So anyway, we gave the children of that gentleman some advice about filing uh an affidavit just saying this person's been trying. This was her third attempt to sell the property that she did not own.

SPEAKER_03 40:18

Oh yeah, that stuff happens all the time, actually.

SPEAKER_04 40:23

So not everybody is a good person.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

No, and that's disappointing. And it makes it rough for everyone else, yeah, yeah. But we are steady exposing the liars.

SPEAKER_04 40:36

Exactly. Um if you weren't entitled, what would you be doing? Oh my god, I would still be doing podcasting.

SPEAKER_03 40:43

No, like um, I always wanted to be a uh e-news anchor, right? You would be amazing at that. Thank you. I mean, I feel like I just love talking to people. You do and you're getting to know about them and how they got where they are.

SPEAKER_04 41:00

You can take any story and make it sound interesting and exciting. Yay! I'm not even kidding you. Thank you. I I feel like that's a skill. It absolutely is. I mean, because we've done something where we both experienced it, and then you've come back to the office and told the story, and it sounds so outrageous. But I'm just like, that's literally what happened. That is true, but like it's so funny.

SPEAKER_03 41:24

Some people in my life have not always appreciated that.

SPEAKER_04 41:27

And that's why they're not in your life anymore.

SPEAKER_03 41:29

Exactly.

SPEAKER_04 41:31

Yeah, what about you? I don't know. Um, I mean, if I did to have kids, I would be a travel photographer. I can see it. Because I love to travel, I love photography, but I've never like taken the time to like really study it and pursue it. So it's not like I could just pick up and do it. I'd have to like get good at it. Yeah. And that's not really gonna happen. I mean, I'm focusing on my kids. I could do it, but I choose not to. Um, but I think my husband's a teacher, but he's also written a book. He's writing number two right now. And I could easily become his like assistant and like I don't know about agent. I don't know enough about that, but like I could really get involved with the business side of his writing.

SPEAKER_03 42:14

Yeah, I can we'll just keep investing in ourselves. Exactly. Um, let's see, what's another good one?

SPEAKER_04 42:25

What is one thing agents don't realize about closings?

SPEAKER_03 42:29

That it's not just paperwork and you don't snap your fingers when it's a clear to close and it's time to close. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:36

Right? Yeah. I mean, there's been so many times where I'll get the call or the email, like, hey, the lender said it's clear to close, so when can we come in? It's like, well, I don't have any documents. I wasn't told it was clear to close yet, so let's see if that's accurate. Exactly. Sometimes it's not.

SPEAKER_03 42:53

And I think that's the hardest part. I think that it's it's fine that the loan officer doesn't always know like what his processing team is doing. Yeah. And he, she, they, whatever. Um, and so it's just understanding that because it's the same here. I may be your closer, but you've been processing it, and like I don't know like the update until I check in with you. So I think that's the biggest misconception is clear to close doesn't mean we're ready for you right now. A lot of things still have to happen after that. You're close, you're close, you're good, take a deep breath, but we will call you to schedule.

SPEAKER_04 43:35

Yeah. Also, I think um just because everyone has signed the paperwork doesn't mean I can give out all the checks. Correct. I can't disperse. I sometimes I have to send in docs to the lender, they have to review them, they have to tell me, oh, this date isn't right, or missed a signature initial, oh, this was supposed to happen, whatever. And so we have to make things correct before they give us the Funding authorization. And I've literally had someone tell me, shouldn't they have given it to you by now? Yeah. As if it was my fault that I didn't have it. Yeah. I that was a hard day for me.

SPEAKER_03 44:11

Yeah. And it is. And it, and you know what I and sometimes I'm like, well, you chose your lender. Yes. And we are waiting on, I mean, funding authorization. Like, I don't know. We're really good about setting expectations. Like, if we're closing today in a perfect world, everyone's at work, everyone showed up on time, everything gets reviewed. It's like boom, boom, boom. But it could be tomorrow. Um, okay, uh, this quick one, and then we'll jump to the next. What a sum words only title geeks understand. Oh, um, clear to close. Clear to close. CTC. Yeah. We use a lot of acronyms. OTC. OTC, we use that for other title companies. Title Company. CMT, the commitment. The commitment. Um STD. Substitute trustees need.

SPEAKER_04 45:03

That was that was so funny. It's not called STD anymore. Okay. It's well, I mean, in title it is. Yeah. The other thing you're thinking of is it's now it's STI. Oh they're not diseases, they're infections. Oh, I think now they. Okay, I needed to know that, right? I know that because of TV.

SPEAKER_03 45:23

Yeah. Well, it's gonna be good in conversations with your children. Yeah, that's it. You know what I mean? Ugh, yeah. That's coming, though. It's coming. Um, yeah, so let's see. LA's listing agent.

SPEAKER_04 45:37

Yeah. What about meets and bounds?

SPEAKER_03 45:39

Meets and bounds.

SPEAKER_04 45:39

That's part of your that's a legal description. You have to literally walk the property lines.

SPEAKER_03 45:44

Boundary survey. Usually not insurable. Need a new one. Need a new meets and bounds. From one corner of the King property to the other corner of the Harper property. And you're like, where are these? Who's Harper and who's King?

SPEAKER_04 46:04

Exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 46:06

Um, and then let's see. LA listing agent, SA selling agent. Those are kind of hard terms for people to wrap their head around.

SPEAKER_04 46:17

Yeah, you would think like you get a listing agent listed the house with a seller, but a selling agent should have sold the house with a seller, but they didn't.

SPEAKER_03 46:25

So they replicate the buyer. So it's kind of different lingo in different states, but yeah, um, those are fun things. We our notes uh that we put in you know every file talking, it's really cool to like read through them. When people come shadow us, they're like, what does this mean?

SPEAKER_04 46:41

Listen, I even abbreviate talked to. I put TT whoever. Yes, I am I remember the first place I worked at Charles. Do you remember Charles who had prepared the deal? Well, he no, yeah, I know it top, yeah. No, we can't share that. Um, but yeah, Charles one day literally was like, what does TT mean? I was like, it means I talked to them.

SPEAKER_03 47:09

Yeah, and it's so, yeah, that those are good ones. It's really funny too when we ask marital status and they either say um happily married or unhappily married.

SPEAKER_04 47:19

And we're like, okay, well, no gray area.

SPEAKER_03 47:22

Yeah. Oh yeah, when they're like, uh, I'm almost divorced, like, that means you're married. Um, okay, what do we have next here? Let's see. Oh, we're gonna ask about Caitlin. Okay, so let's do something we have to do since Caitlin's not here. Okay. Let's talk about her. Okay, right. But in a nice way. In a nice way, yeah, yeah. Like how awesome she is. Yeah. And I bet well then we'll find out if her ears were burning. Okay. When we see her again. Um I don't know. Okay, what do you let's see. Let's let's let's just think about some things.

SPEAKER_04 48:03

What uh what is the most Caitlin thing that Caitlin does at work?

SPEAKER_03 48:10

Her nails click on her keyboard. So loud. Yeah. It reminds me of this other lady I worked with years ago. She's like, and I'm like, yep. That's so. I don't think mine do that, but hers do. Well, I don't think you type as much. True. I yeah, I do the remember, I'm doing my audio. Yes. Yes, you do. A lot of voice science.

SPEAKER_04 48:33

Um, I when I picture Caitlin at work, I always picture her like put together in just the cutest outfit. Oh my gosh. Every day. She, I mean, she's just uh what's what's the word? I'm not it. Stylish.

SPEAKER_03 48:45

Stylish, that's it. She is I always say, um, I call her my strategy specialist because she's always like, what's our solution? Yeah, what are we gonna do? And then she figures it out and has me set ready to go. And she's always bubbly doing it. She is. Yes. We love you, Caitlin. We do. What is um something you know we know she's really good at, but that people might not realize.

SPEAKER_04 49:22

Well, if they've been listening to this podcast for a while, they already know she's great at making a podcast. Because she literally learned how to do every aspect of this.

SPEAKER_03 49:34

Yes, she is an engineer. Yeah, she is a podcast engineer.

SPEAKER_04 49:38

She showed up one day with the like a board where that's got buttons and knobs, and she's like, oh, do this, this, this. I'm just like, what? I don't even know where to plug that in.

SPEAKER_03 49:47

Um, yeah, she did this thing. Yeah. It was it was her, it was something she wanted to do, and she's so awesome at it.

SPEAKER_04 49:56

She's also really good at um I was gonna say spreadsheets, but that's me. If that's not the word, it is uh PowerPoints. PowerPoints and Canvas. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 50:06

Oh my god, we can't survive without her. No, no, not at all. And I don't have the patience. She's very patient. Yes. Wouldn't you say? Yeah. She's very good at calming down a stressful situation.

SPEAKER_04 50:18

Yes. She's good on her feet. And she's really funny. Agree. I concur. We're fans. We're big fans. Okay. What stresses are out? Um, what stresses are out? Yeah, what ticks her off? Hmm. Gosh. As soon as you say it, I'm gonna be like, oh yeah, duh. What stresses are out? I mean, getting like five emails that are the same thing.

SPEAKER_03 50:43

Yes. And it's like, why? She'll stop and say, why?

SPEAKER_04 50:47

Why are we still having this conversation?

SPEAKER_03 50:49

Why are we still having this conversation? And then they just ask if they can close today.

unknown 50:54

No.

SPEAKER_03 50:56

She'll we and her talk to each talk to ourselves. We have a whole conversation with ourselves, and then we're like, Were you talking to me?

SPEAKER_04 51:04

Um that's why I'm happy my office is alone. I'm alone because I do the same thing and nobody catches me.

SPEAKER_03 51:11

She gets really ticked about missing information as well.

SPEAKER_04 51:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 51:14

And hey, this is like what I've always said. I have to say it. Like, you never get how ticked off you're gonna be until it happens to you. And you're like, why did someone give me this file? And the names are spelled wrong, there's no phone number, there's no email address, like their done is not my done. That really ticks her off. And IT issues, because she has the most, I think. I think she takes the award for her computer not cooperating. Oh, she's got even more than you. Yes. Wow. She's always having an IT issue. It's because her her computer is overworked. That's that's it's like I'm loading, I'm loading.

SPEAKER_04 51:58

If Caitlin wasn't in the title industry, what do you think she'd be doing?

SPEAKER_03 52:02

I think I think that I could see her gardening, like doing something with her plants. A hundred percent. Oh my god, yes, I think she was talking about getting a greenhouse the other day.

SPEAKER_04 52:15

Ooh.

SPEAKER_03 52:16

She's got room for it. She's so good at that. But I think that, I think, like honestly, um she loves reading and all that good stuff. But like, I think she really loves this podcast. Gig. Yeah. So I feel like she would just take it to a whole nother level. Yeah. And she'll be so freaking good at it. So we'll we'll help persuade her to stay in title and podcast.

SPEAKER_04 52:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 52:43

Um, what do we think our listeners would be the most surprised to learn about Caitlin?

SPEAKER_04 52:50

I think they will be surprised to learn that Caitlin has been with her husband since they were in high school. That is true. Yes. Like they have been together, I think longer than me and my husband. So long.

SPEAKER_03 53:06

Well, she's I'm 10 years older than her. So she graduated in. I wagged around when I was a little thing.

SPEAKER_04 53:15

Oh nine?

SPEAKER_03 53:17

Probably like oh nine. So probably like since 07 they've been together.

SPEAKER_04 53:22

Okay. And I met my husband in 08. Yeah. So how long is that? Um gosh. Uh let's see. This is hard math. Well, it's been a long time, and they still are so in love. 19. 19 years. It's 2026. If they met in 07, next year will be 20. So this is 19 years together. That is a long time. Yeah. And they're still happy and best friends.

SPEAKER_03 53:48

Yeah, they're best friends. They hang everything together. They're, I think one thing people will be surprised to learn that Caitlin's worked on this year is, and I tell her this to her face, all these things we would say to Caitlin. Yeah. Her weekend schedules stress me out. I hear all the things she's got going on, and I'm like, where's your stay-at-home day? Oh my gosh. Like you can say no. Like, oh my gosh, she has so many friends. Yeah. And they're always getting married or having babies. All of y'all friends. And I'm like, woohoo. And I also, you know, I'm like low-key excited when I get left off the group chat of family things. Well, wait, I didn't get that. I'll send a card, but do I have to be there? Um, but I have to have stay-at-home days, and I think that um she's just on the go. So kind of like even in business, like she's doing all this podcasting and the marketing functions that we go to and title.

SPEAKER_02 54:48

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 54:48

You know? She's a boss babe. Um, I think people would be surprised at how competitive she is.

SPEAKER_04 54:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 54:58

And it's it gets me hype when she gets like on one. Not today. Um, and she's full of ideas. She's full of ideas, and she really genuinely cares about all the people we work with and the customers. And all the people in her life. In her life. Yes. Like she's just a good person. She's a great human. Well, that was our Caitlin segment. How do you think she's gonna feel about it? I think she's gonna be happy, right? I think we said some good things about her. I think we did her justice. Yeah. And we didn't say anything that she would be ticked that she wasn't here to defend. No, no. No, definitely not. Or she will just delete it from the episode because she is the engineer. That's true. She'll be like, no, beep, beep, my dad is back. She'll say, Can I get a segment? Or not a segment, what is it called? Um, a little blurb. Oh, like the bleeping out.

SPEAKER_04 55:59

That's funny. Yeah, the listeners are gonna be like, isn't that everything they say?

SPEAKER_03 56:04

Yes, it really is. We said all nice things, promise. And Caitlin, when you're listening, we love you and we promise we have tried to behave. I think we've done a good job. I hope so.

SPEAKER_04 56:15

We'll see. We'll see what she what she thinks when she listens to it. Hopefully, she doesn't have to work too hard editing. Or she's gonna be like, never again. Yeah. I'm never leaving you two at it again. Well, next week we'll be back together for another episode of Beyond the Closing Table.

SPEAKER_03 56:32

Yep, yep. And as always, thank you so much for listening and supporting our podcast. And if you're in the real estate world, remember who you close with matters. Always. We'll see you next time. Bye. Bye guys.

SPEAKER_04 56:52

If this podcast hit home, hit a nerve, or gave you something to think about, we hope you'll join us next time.

SPEAKER_03 56:57

We'd love to hear what resonated with you, what stood out, challenged you, or made you think. Let's keep the conversation going. Until next time, keep questioning the old rules and keep closing new deals.