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July 17, 2009
Tips at Closings?
I just recently bought a new home. At the closing my lawyer advised us to tip the Title guy $250.00, so not knowing too much about the whole process, we did!
About a month later, the Title guy still had not cashed his check. After looooong talks & regrets, we decided to stop payment on the check.
In return, my lawyer contacted me & told me I NEED TO RESUBMIT A NEW CHECK in the amount of $250.00 & that we (& i quote) "Do Not Want To Mess w/ The Title Company".
I want to know: Why? And isnt a tip, up to the TIPPER? Somebody please help us out. I dont think i i HAVE to give anything. -Lost.
Comments
When I closed, at the end of the meeting, my douchebag real estate lawyer slid a note to me to write a check for between $200 - $300 for the tip. I tipped $250 but I was pissed. $250 is a small price to pay for proper paperwork being filed.
Extortion? You bet.
Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at July 17, 2009 3:46 PM
I agree that the tipping should be up to you - but it WAS up to you and you wrote out the check. Its not their fault you changed your mind and they shouldn't have to pony up for a returned check fee either.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at July 17, 2009 3:51 PM
Tips ?? At a closing?
You're all nuts.
No Tips!
OP: tell your lawyer to go to hell!
Posted by: SenatorStreet at July 17, 2009 4:27 PM
Apparently tipping the title guy is SOP. I was surprised by the idea, but my very frugal attorney suggested it in no uncertain terms.
Posted by: Iris at July 17, 2009 5:18 PM
I've been through 4 closings, 2 of which were refi's. Not once did we tip the title guy, nor did any of our attorney's, all different, suggest that we do.
It seems a bit strange. Perhaps they are all in kahootz.
Posted by: italiana71 at July 17, 2009 9:24 PM
Tipping at a business meeting is just weird, and to a lawyer!! I mean come on, as if they don't make enough already. Try the tip of your pen in the palm of his hand next time he asks you. What a tool!
Posted by: Old City Construction at July 17, 2009 10:28 PM
<-AGENT
Been to hundreds of closings over 20+ years...
Title closer receives tip at closing (called a "pickup")... must be some sort of "tradition" (from back in the day)
Weird, but true... TIP THE CLOSER!
Posted by: howrealnyc at July 18, 2009 12:14 AM
I closed a couple of weeks ago and just noticed that my attorney asked me to write the title closer a check for $200. It was very tense day at the closing, last minute bank approval so we were just glad we could cost and did not try to question every little thing. Now I wished I had questioned that. Oh well.. maybe it is part of a tradition.
Posted by: namahs at July 18, 2009 8:51 AM
Tipping the title guy annoyed the crap outta me. How much salary do they make?
Does the title guy split the pressured tip with your lawyer unknown to you? I hate the whole practice since there is no explanation about why its done.
Mysteries involving your money is always bad news.
Posted by: Ysabelle at July 18, 2009 8:53 AM
why would someone give a substantial tip to a person making more money than they do?
Posted by: Ysabelle at July 18, 2009 9:23 AM
I too have been through 6 or 7 closings all with different attorneys and title closers in different neighborhoods in Brooklyn and never once have been asked to tip the closer - nor have I ever heard of it until this thread.
I agree with other posters that this is BS. You pay a healthy fee to the title company for essentially 30 minutes of computer work plus the preparation of documents. Seems to me that should be plenty!
Posted by: rickintheridge at July 18, 2009 9:37 AM
In my experience it is common to "tip" the title guy.
At the closing for my current place the title guy gave us a bottle of wine. So I guess the $250 was more like $240 ;)
Posted by: christopher at July 18, 2009 1:08 PM
Yep, we've also been told to tip the title person in the range of $200. Makes me sick, mostly because:
1. The title company does little to nothing, for which you pay them.
2. You have to then buy insurance to cover the chance the title company did not do their job.
3. Most of us purchase properties only a few times in our lives. Doesn't it seem absurd to have a tip be 'customary' and 'traditional' for something one hardly ever does? Sure, I can see learning the tradition of tipping the waiter, the hairstylist, the hotel room maid... but how exactly can one be expected to pick up on a practice that happens so infrequently?
Ugh... (but, yes, we do it anyway).
Posted by: curiositykilledthecat at July 18, 2009 11:08 PM
I had to tip my closing person also - I found out that they do not get paid to do closings by the title company. They make a living off of their tips. They will file your paperwork properly, etc, and do the work for you. Just add it up to another closing cost that is hidden unless you call your lawyer/speak with your title company directly before you close.
For coops and apartments, I do not think you need to tip the title person and there is no expectation. It may be a difference between buying a house and buying a coop or apartment. I'm not sure about that.
Posted by: theklahy at July 19, 2009 3:03 PM
I thought this was strange too but I spoke to a real estate lawyer that I know and he said that "it's just the way it's done". He didn't have any reason for it. He thought it was usually around $100 and seemed to think it was offensive not to tip.
Posted by: chnewbie at July 20, 2009 12:04 AM
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