do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

ours messed up..didn't order the whole title, everything was delayed..our realtor had to go to town hall to pick up the CO ....
Do we have to tip him?

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

I think the title company itself must have done that. The title closer only appears at closing and takes care of all title related matters that day as well as the filing, etc. after the property's been closed. This person has nothing to do with what goes on beforehand.

ETA: The title closer is usually just a person that "freelances" per closing and does not work necessarily "for" that particular company day in/day out.

Message edited 8/16/2005 8:34:12 AM.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Our attorney told us to tip her $150, so that is what we did. She wound up waiving a fee for us too!

The sellers refused to tip her

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

$150!!!!!! are you serious?

what do you do, write them a separate check?

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

We gave them $100 cash

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

We wrote her a check...

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

$100 cash

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

I was planning on tipping $50...

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Our Attorney advised us to tip $150. We wrote a check.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Are you kidding me?

I have NEVER tipped a title person.... nor has my attorney ever advised me to.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Message edited 8/16/2005 7:10:13 PM.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Does the title person always go to the closing?

I have only done co-op closings... but my attorney just ordered the title work and brought it with her to the closing table.

There was no "title person present" at the closing table in a co-op closing.


Maybe house is different in this regard.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

i don't think co-ops have "title reports" though... they have other paperwork in replace of it (i forget the name of the exact document, but i think its like UD-1 and UD-9).... its a different format for co-ops though.

Generally, i dont think theyre at co-op closings (though for for the million $$$ ones in the city, i think there was still some sort of representation)

But with houses, Yes, they are Always at the closing (maybe theres a small % that dont have one, but that's usually related to some sort of extenuating circumstance)

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

When I heard about this practice I was so annoyed! I think it is ridiculous. I asked our mortgage broker about it, and though he said you don't "have to" tip them, he said it is usually the accepted practice. I still was determined not to, and then I spoke to friends of ours who, it turns out, do title closings on the side. They basically told me that though it's not a MUST, they also highly recommended it and said that they certainly make sure to get everything in order in a timly fashion when they are treated well and maybe not quite as efficently if they aren't. This P I S S E D me off even more, but we went into closing prepared to tip, b/c we didn't want a hassle, but when it was over and we were all walking out, we tried to ask our lawyer (sort of out of earshot) when we were supposed to do this, he said it was taken care of, so, honestly, I have no idea what that means, but it all seemed to work out ok.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

I dont think you should tip anyone in the whole house buying process. That is THEIR job.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Maybe its different outside of NY but we did not tip the title person. The thought never even crossed my mind and I can assure my DH would not tip someone who already makes a salary.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

i never heard of this and we just closed on friday... didnt tip anyone...

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

See.... now this aggrevates me.


There are enough people tipping this guy where he kinda "hopes" he gets a tip I am sure.

And since I am not the type of person that "cheaps out"... I will probably end up tipping the guy so I don't look cheap.

$50 buks tops for his a..

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

My family business farms out a lot of work to the attorney's firm that we used. My whole family uses her for closings...in fact my realtor told me that this firm is very well known when it comes to closings (had no idea).

Anyway, so when she told us we should tip the title person, I didn't question it at all.

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

We tipped 150 - I didn't know about this tip until the day before, I think I read about it here - anyway, our entire precess was complicated by the fact that the deller did not have an attorney- basically making everyone else's job more difficult.

And my lawyer bill showed it!

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

I just thought of something else...you guys probably think I'm some title closer groupie or something, but actually, my DH worked as a title closer througout law school and still does it from time to time...

Anyhow, why don't people have problems tipping waiters/waitresses and bartenders? Same idea.

Incidentally, I've tried doing the title closing thing during one summer vacation and believe me, it was very involved! In fact, although for a day's work, it was pretty lucrative, I told DH I would never do it again!!!

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

Re: do you have to tip the title person? If so, how much?

At both house closings with 2 different lawyers, we were told it's "customary" to tip the title person and our lawyers liked to do it BEFORE the closing so that the title person would be fast and efficient. We tipped $100 both times and YES we thought it was bullsh*t too!