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If you've spent anytime at all in the title business, you are generally familiar with the terminology used in the business. However, many of our clients haven't taken the time to soak up the terms and their meanings. Don't get caught thinking you know what someone means when they throw a term at you. Be knowledgeable and professional in your discussions.
I am reminded of the time an OU law school professor of a lower level real estate law class began to discuss "free sample titles" with his students. For most of them, it may have sounded strange, but they didn't know any better. But, to the daughter of a career mortgage/title person, it was the loud ringing of a bell! How could someone entrusted to pass on accurate knowledge as an instructor be so off base in their knowledge? Allowing for the foreign background of the instructor was the only possible excuse. Perhaps he had forgotten how the words were spelled and pronounced and let the "more common language" he was used to hearing seep through.
Recently, another instance of the citizenry not knowing our business terminology, even very intellectual citizenry, appeared in the printed media. A syndicated column addressing grammar usage previously published in The Daily Oklahoman drew reason for an apology and full explanation in the July 29, 2004, issue. Apparently, several Oklahoma readers desired to set him straight. In the previous article, a reader referred to a "quite title suit." The columnist replied, "the reference obviously was to a "quit title suit." It is apparent that enough Oklahoma readers (presumably lawyers since they quoted BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY responded that he felt compelled to correct his error and set the matter straight. So, now perhaps more citizenry know the difference between quite, quit, and quiet in relation to titles.
Don't let your staff get caught uninformed. Ask if they understand all the language contained in a Quit Claim Deed, a Warranty Deed, can they name more than two types of encumbrances, do they have sufficient vocabulary to discuss a title they are working on and ask proper questions? Can they visit with your clients so that they understand the issues involved? That includes abstractors, closers and reception staff or if not, can they transfer the call to the proper person for such a discussion? You might make up a short matching quiz of terms you think everyone in your office should have in their working knowledge. It helps to know that everyone is on the same page when a term is used.
 Since Oklahoma is not a deed of trust state, does everyone understand what that equates with in Oklahoma? A bearing in a legal description contains degrees, minutes and seconds, not the commoner's "degrees, feet and inches." When we get calls from other parts of the country, we have to be sure that a "title report" being requested is a report and not a commitment, as regional differences may be in play. Take any and every available opportunity to discuss terms with your local realtors and mortgage brokers. There is a glossary of terms in the OLTA Abstractor's Handbook and many of your underwriters have publications with a glossary or they are available online. Be sure you call a rose a rose and a pansy a pansy!
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