Chicago Title

Avoid Chicago Title at all costs. Bottom line: as long as you don’t have any problems with your title insurance, they’re great. The second an issue comes up, you have about as much worth as a garbage fire to them, and they will treat you as such. We are initiating a formal complaint with their parent company as well as a complaint with the California Department of Insurance.
Details: My husband and I purchased title insurance for our new home last year. This year we were informed we had to attend a hearing regarding a labor dispute leftover from the previous owners of the house. Our names were attached to the hearing erroneously as the dates of the labor predated the purchase of our home.
Things started going wrong the second we got in contact with this office to ask a few questions. First, we asked just for a bit of advice in email, along with a copy of our title insurance. Since we were sure we had been named in this case erroneously give the dates of the dispute, we were just seeking information. We were referred to claims as part of their larger parent corporation, Fidelity National Financial.
Employees of this office, the claims coordinator, and then eventually a claims lawyer never seemed to read our email. They started a claim on our behalf, against our wishes. Once we asked for that process to stop, we had an extremely unpleasant experience as all of the above people either disregarded our request or rudely rebuffed our questions or comments.
It got so bad that we asked to work with other people in the company. Not once, not twice. We asked four times, in writing, for help from others. Each of these times the request was ignored. I can’t imagine a more unprofessional way of conducting business, but on top of that, our claim was processed without our consent, and denied based on «exceptions to our coverage» that were clearly not met.
This whole experience was a farce perpetuated by some of the rudest people I have ever encountered. Once we went to our hearing we were immediately dismissed from it because we weren’t even living in the house at the time of the labor dispute, as we expected All we did was ask Chicago Title for help on a few questions, and one thing after another went wrong with no attempts by them to fix or correct their course. On top of that, everyone was rude and unfortunately ill-​equipped for business conversation. When I ask to speak to another representative or company member, I expect to have that information forwarded to me. It never was, despite me asking several times. I have never encountered such an unprofessional organization.
Up until this experience we had nothing but great things to say about them. It’s a shame they so thoroughly ignored and rebuffed us, and eventually wasted everyone’s time. I’m not even mad, I’m just embarrassed for them, and we recommend you avoid this company at all costs.

Rebecca Skipper is great! Always quick and responsive.

BOTTOMLINE AT THE TOP: Top notch service, communication, and professionalism but they still manage to come across as easy going and friendly. I’d give them six stars if I could.
It’s a long story, but I was getting left high and dry with my original title company when I tried to sell my house last year. They were so unhelpful left me so frustrated that I ever thought I could trust another title company again.
But then I met the warm-​hearted folks at Chicago Title. Rapunzel and Eden were fantastic to work with, both taking the extra time to hand-​hold me a bit as my sale had special requirements. But they followed up on every point, detail and potential issue before I even bought it up, They literally restored my faith in humanity again.
I know that title companies are not generally referral businesses, but if you ever have an option to choose who you work with to close escrow for a home, choose Rapunzel and Eden, they take away all the complications and stresses involved.

I am a successor trustee for a living trust and was getting ALL kinds of differing answers on things like… do I really need to open a bank account for the trust? (Because that’s a hassle.) Since the big driver for the question was an eventual home sale, I figured a title/​escrow company could answer.
Called Chicago Title and got full information — twice, because I needed to hear it twice. In case you’re wondering, yeah, gotta open an account. But the reason for this review is to say thank you in a meaningful way. When I need escrow/​title services I will use this company!

I had a good experience working with chicago title company with Liz. We got confused on the amount for closing, but it was all figured out in the end. Easy process for being a first time homeowner.

We worked with Chicago Title to close a cash-​out refi, a purchase, and a home equity line. Top notch place! Rapunzel and her team (Kiva and others) are amazing — hard-​working, highly responsive, and very organized. We had a very complicated FSBO sale and escrow closing and they handled it all very easily and competently. I never thought it could be a pleasure to work with a Title Company, but it truly was to work with Rapunzel and her team. They made everything SO easy and smooth!

Just closed escrow again.
Depending upon whom you speak with and such for paperwork and appointments, either will be timely or with some hiccups.
Rapunzel has loads of experience. Office opens at 0800, bright and early. Corner Solano and Ramona.
They farm out their doc signings to an independent. These notaries come to your house. I did mine on a Sunday evening. Fees are $$… But they got it done. The end

I totally agree with David P. I always recommend Eden. She and her team are tops!

I have worked with Rapunzel and Eden now for years. I have recommended them to my real estate clients because they get things done in a timely manner and are always as helpful as possible. Plus their level of professionalism really comes across in the way they handle themselves, and not all title companies are like this. In fact, just recently my clients were «forced» to use the title company that the seller wanted to use. They were nice enough but at the actual signing of loan documents, the notary who had been our title officer, stumbled over words and concepts like she had never explained them before. Chicago Title on Solano is just the opposite. During signings they are always very helpful and insightful. I’ve used them for about 9 years now, and I’ve had happy clients each time.

Avoid at all costs. Highly unprofessional and unskilled. Our 30 day escrow took over 90 days to close. Not all Escrow’s fault but there were multiple mistakes along the way. It’s been over 2 weeks since escrow closed and we still haven’t received our full funds. Math error after math error. Difficult to reach on the phone. Misquotes. Just avoid!

I highly recommend working with Chicago Title. The staff is professional and works hard to meet your needs. I recently purchased a home and Chicago Title consistently delivered for me, even when my initial financing fell through and I had to go through the document signing process a second time with a new lender on an extremely tight schedule.