Not all title companies are the same. Here's what DC, Maryland, and Virginia real estate agents and buyers should look for when selecting a title and settlement company.
Why Your Title Company Choice Actually Matters
Here's something your real estate agent might not tell you: in Virginia, Maryland, and DC, the buyer typically gets to choose the title company. And the choice matters more than most people realize.
Not because title insurance coverage varies much from company to company — it generally doesn't. But because the title company manages your closing experience. Their responsiveness, their accuracy, their ability to resolve issues before closing day, and their coordination with lenders and agents all directly affect whether your transaction closes on time and without surprises.
Here's how to choose well.
The Three Things That Matter Most
1. Local Expertise
Every state — and in the DMV, every jurisdiction — has different requirements. Virginia, Maryland, and DC each have their own transfer tax structures, recording requirements, attorney involvement rules, and title insurance norms.
A title company that primarily works in one state may not know the nuances of another. In the DMV, where deals regularly cross state lines, you want a company with active experience in all three jurisdictions.
Ask directly: "How many closings did you do in Virginia/Maryland/DC last quarter?"
2. Communication and Responsiveness
The period between ratified contract and closing is stressful. Your title company is managing title searches, lender coordination, payoff requests, HOA estoppels, and document preparation simultaneously. If they're slow to return calls or emails, problems don't get solved — they get escalated into closing-day crises.
Before you hire a title company, send them an email or call and see how long it takes to get a response. That experience previews what working with them will be like.
3. Track Record With Your Lender and Agent
Title companies that work well with your lender and agent close transactions more smoothly than ones who don't. Ask your real estate agent and loan officer which title companies they've had good experiences with — and why.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose
Ready to Get a Title Quote?
Pruitt Title serves buyers, sellers, and lenders across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. We make closing simple.
