When a title examiner misses a lien or encumbrance or taxes on the report, who is the first person to hear about it? The closer! If you have ever had a disgruntled customer call post–closing regarding a missed lien or taxes, then you know you always want to double–check your examiner's work prior to closing. An escrow officer from Dallas does exactly that.

Kelly Stamp, an escrow officer from Fidelity's Dallas office, saved the Company from a potential loss. Kelly always looks at the run sheets when she receives title work, to make sure the title examiner did not miss any liens, encumbrances or taxes. According to her supervisor, she is very thorough and really knows how to read a run sheet/chain of title to any property.

She received title work on a purchase transaction and noticed a privileged lien filed by the City of Dallas back in 2000. Kelly looked for a corresponding lien release. She did not find one, so she brought this up to the examiner's attention. The examiner reviewed the lien and the run sheet again, and determined Kelly was right. The lien had been missed and was still valid.

Kelly called the City of Dallas to obtain the lien payoff amount. The payoff exceeded $6,000. Kelly then began working with the previous title company who issued the owner's policy to the contract seller, to extinguish the lien.

If Kelly had not exercised caution and caught the lien, then Fidelity would be facing a potential claim from the new owner to pay the lien, once the new homeowners received a bill for non–payment. For her extraordinary efforts, Kelly has been rewarded $1,000, as well as a letter of recognition from the Company.