Welcome Sherrill Thorne to PA First Settlement

Sherrill L. Thorne has joined Pennsylvania First Settlement Services as an Escrow Officer. Thorne, prior to joining Pennsylvania First, was employed by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates as a Reservationist and previous to that was a Better Homes and Gardens Realtor in the West End office.

Thorne has 9 years experience in the title business and will work from the 304 Park Ave, 2nd floor office. “Our policy is always to promote from within”, said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO. “Sherrill was a huge asset in our Vacation Rental Department and was one of the founding members of that department, so while I’m sad to see her go, we’re happy that she accepted the position at Pennsylvania First.” said Patricia Blank-Toombs, V.P./Sales Manager.

Pennsylvania First Settlement Services provides title and settlement services to real estate Brokers throughout the Northeast Pennsylvania region. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pa1st’s website is http://www.pafirstsettlement.com

Ducks Quack - Eagles Soar

 I don't know who wrote this - it wasn't me.  Found it in by inbox this morning. I usually delete these long-winded type emails but something grabbed my attention.  What an inspiration and a lesson we all need to be reminded of!

                  Ducks Quack - Eagles Soar

No one can make you serve customers well....that' s because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine.. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'

Taken aback, Harvey read the card.. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment. ...

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice..' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'

Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today..'

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts...

'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'

'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers.. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'

'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.

'It sure has,' Wally replied. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. 

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles. How about us?   Smile, and the whole world smiles with you.... The ball is in our hands!
A man reaps what he sows. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up... let us do good to all people.  Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar!


The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

Why Do I Need Owner's Title Insurance?

So why do we, Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, need Title Insurance Anyway??

The short answer is…..your lender requires it…. Wouldn’t that be nice if I could just leave off with that?

Here in NE Pennsylvania, typically both Owner’s and Lender’s Title Policies are issued simultaneously…. Simply put, this means the premium you’re quoted includes BOTH policies covering the Purchased price of the new home, along with the Lender’s Mortgage.

A lender needs to be INSURED that their mortgage for the property they’re financing is in a VALID FIRST LIEN POSITION. That’s important to them... they need to know that ALL previous mortgages & liens on that particular property have been paid off and satisfied. SATISFIED? What’s that? That’s some title jargon for “MORTGAGE SATISFACTION PIECE” – a document that is recorded at the County Courthouse specifically stating that mortgage XYZ has been paid in full and is no longer a lien on the property. There’s a “cloud” on the title until the title company knows that all mortgages are “not just paid off”, but SATISFIED too!

“OK”, says Mrs. Buyer, “So if all the mortgages and paid off and the bank is happy with the title, then I should be too”!

Well, not exactly. There’s so much more that an Owner’s Title Insurance Policy does for a buyer. There are so many “unknowns” out there… so much fraud and human error. Your title company is here to put the “what-you-don’t-know-can-hurt-you” to rest so you can get a good night’s sleep!

For example – You come home from work to your new neighborhood and find a “SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF TAX SALE” taped to your front door! (Murphy’s law states it usually happens on a 3 day holiday weekend and there’s no one to call until Tuesday!!!) You call the number on the statement only to learn that the previous owner didn’t pay the real estate taxes two years ago and your property is slated to go up for Sheriff’s Sale! UGGG!

Here’s where you Owner’s Policy of Title Insurance comes in. Your next call needs to be to your Title Company who closed your purchase. This liability is NOT your responsibility BECAUSE you purchased Owner’s Insurance! Your title company will work internally & diligently to have this sale removed! No insurance – no burden on the title company!

Does this happen often? Not necessarily, but when it does, WATCH OUT! It will cost someone a great deal of time and funds to straighten this issue out! Better your Title Company than you, the buyer!

I've Moved!

After 23 years at the same title office, I have moved to what I believe are greener pastures! I will never forget my roots and the learning experices I have encountered.

New beginnings... there's alot to be said there.... with that are the new challenges! Knocking on doors and cold calling were never my area of expertise! I love talking with people, listening to their challenges and day-to-day goings on. But to sell myself? I can no longer keep myself in my safe little box.... out on the open road I go! I'll tell every one who will listen about the do's & don'ts of Title Insurance and Settlement Services who will listen!!!

I am very confident in what I do at the closing table; I know my product, as well as the lender's requirements! I get very excited for the buyers moving to their new home... or get involved with those purchasing their first Pocono Vacaton Ski Palace! I put myself in their place and explain each doc in simple, easy-to-digest plain language! Seller's too! Where are they off to? A new beginning for them also?

So wish me luck in my new venture. These are trying times in the real estate/title industry, but together we can make it just a bit more pleasant for everyone involved!

Lorie