Jacksonville Business Daily

Do the buyers and sellers have to use the same settlement agent?

We are selling some land. Can I get a different settlement agent than the one the buyers have selected to handle drawing up the deed and whatever else is necessary on my end? Let's just say I don't like the settlement people. If I engage a settlement company, then they would deal with them for me. I don't see why it would cost me double. I would pay my settlement agent for drawing up the deed, not the seller's company.

Public Comments

1. Why would you bother using someone else? They would charge you double and you would have to coordinate all the information between the two. If your buyer has requested a certain agent or title company in the contract you signed, you must stay with them. What would be the point of adding an additional person to what seems to be a simple transaction?
2. Split closings happen all the time. Most buyer's and seller's don't know of a closing agency themselves so they rely on their agent to recommend one. If when the buyer's wrote their offer they would like you to use the same one as they are and you are uncomfortable with that company tell your agent that you want to use the company you are comfortable with. It's that simple, neither side of the transaction should be able to demand which company is sued. Also, you won't be charged double, occasionally there will be a courier fee for the title companies to have the paperwork carried back and forth but it's usually around $30 or so, a small price to deal with someone you are comfortable with