ABA Title Insurance Agency Meridian Title and Escrow is Consumer Based

BrokerIPTV Today we are talking with Kirby Smith, Metro Brokers Cherry Tree Properties. Welcome.

Kirby Smith: Thank you Dan.

BrokerIPTV Glad you are here and one of the topics we are going to cover today is affiliated business arrangements and you are with Meridian Escrow and Title, but you are also a realtor with Metro Brokers. Talk about how that all came about.

Kirby Smith: Well, I have been a Metro Brokers... I have in the real estate business for... since 1995. I have been a Metro Broker from that time forward. I have never really looked into affiliated business arrangements until I was confronted with the Meridian Title and Escrow company.

BrokerIPTV Opportunity. Also, a little back on your background we should tell people that you are the 2009 President for Metro Brokers. Congratulations.

Kirby Smith: Oh thank you.

BrokerIPTV What... what is involved there? Is it just a loft title or do they put you to hard work?

Kirby Smith: There is a lot of... there is a lot of time that goes into that and... but, you know Metro Brokers there is a lot of volunteers in the company, it is a volunteer run and we have an excellent staff as well. So, certainly, not alone.

BrokerIPTV Obviously a very strong company. So, great to be president of a company like that I bet.

Kirby Smith: Yes, it is.

BrokerIPTV All right. All the years that you have been in business, what were kind of the things that you heard about affiliated business relationships?

Kirby Smith: I hadn't... have really investigated affiliated business arrangements at all. I think there was a lot of misinformation out there that you know you had to be very careful and watch your step and I... so, I stayed away from them.

BrokerIPTV Yeah and so far the experience has been what? The exact opposite?

Kirby Smith: Oh, it has been absolutely the exact opposite, yeah.

BrokerIPTV And is it that much of a big deal with the consumer? I mean obviously you disclose to the consumer that you think they should have the title work done here and here is why and so forth, but I mean are they all caught up in the legality of it?

Kirby Smith: No. They are not. I mean we disclose that this is you know affiliated business arrangement, but the... it's a pretty easy thing to go... to talk about because they are saving a lot of money by using Meridian Title and Escrow.

BrokerIPTV And I imagine that's why you got into it because it was what? Rates and...?

Kirby Smith: Oh, absolutely.

BrokerIPTV And service?

Kirby Smith: Absolutely. Looking out for my clients to save them money and make sure that they are very well taken of.

BrokerIPTV Yeah. Talk a bit about some of the benefits like re-issue rates and things of that nature.

Kirby Smith: Well, you have a 10 year re-issue rate with Meridian Title and Escrow. That's big. Most people's mortgages never reach a 10 year mark and in some of the bigger companies, you will find that their re-issue rate might end at three years. So....

BrokerIPTV All right. So, your experience to say the least has been positive.

Kirby Smith: Absolutely.

BrokerIPTV Would you recommend other agents to get involved in you know an affiliated business arrangement?

Kirby Smith: Oh, absolutely. If you are looking out for your client, I think you really have to. I think you have to shop and find where they are going to get the best service and you know the best value for their dollar spent.

BrokerIPTV And why Meridian Title and Escrow?

Kirby Smith: I think it's all because of service.

BrokerIPTV All right. Kirby, thanks for being us. Great having you here.

Kirby Smith: Thank you Dan.

Posted on March 04, 2009 05:51:12 by Blog Author