What Do Title Examiners and Searchers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Title Examiners and Searchers search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies. They also examine documentation such as mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, plat books, maps, contracts, and agreements to verify factors such as properties’ legal descriptions, ownership, or restrictions.

Other tasks include:

• Examine individual titles to determine if restrictions, such as delinquent taxes, will affect titles and limit property use.
• Prepare reports describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching activities, and outlining actions needed to clear titles.
• Copy or summarize recorded documents, such as mortgages, trust deeds, and contracts, that affect property titles.
• Verify accuracy and completeness of land-related documents accepted for registration, preparing rejection notices when documents are not acceptable.
• Prepare lists of all legal instruments applying to a specific piece of land and the buildings on it.
• Prepare real estate closing statements, using knowledge and expertise in real estate procedures.

We asked Title Examiners and Searchers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 25% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Title Examiners and Searchers prepare real estate closing statements, using knowledge and expertise in real estate procedures. They examine documentation such as mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, plat books, maps, contracts, and agreements to verify factors such as properties’ legal descriptions, ownership, or restrictions.

A typical day for a Title Examiner, Abstractor and Searcher will also include:

• Examine individual titles to determine if restrictions, such as delinquent taxes, will affect titles and limit property use.
• Prepare lists of all legal instruments applying to a specific piece of land and the buildings on it.
• Enter into record-keeping systems appropriate data needed to create new title records or update existing ones.
• Prepare reports describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching activities, and outlining actions needed to clear titles.
• Direct activities of workers who search records and examine titles, assigning, scheduling, and evaluating work, and providing technical guidance as necessary.

We asked some Title Examiners and Searchers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	60% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	82% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	99% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Title Examiners and Searchers also determine whether land-related documents can be registered under the relevant legislation such as the Land Titles Act. They may also assess fees related to registration of property-related documents.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Title Examiners and Searchers Direct activities of workers who search records and examine titles, assigning, scheduling, and evaluating work, and providing technical guidance as necessary. They might also Summarize pertinent legal or insurance details, or sections of statutes or case law from reference books so that they can be used in examinations, or as proofs or ready reference.

In addition, they Retrieve and examine real estate closing files for accuracy and to ensure that information included is recorded and executed according to regulations.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Enter into record-keeping systems appropriate data needed to create new title records or update existing ones.

To some Title Examiners and Searchers, it is also their responsibility to Prepare real estate closing statements, using knowledge and expertise in real estate procedures.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Title Examiner, Abstractor and Searcher, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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