Here's what was different about this transaction. For the first time ever, I never once spoke to the listing agent. I only talked with his staff. And again for the first time ever, I never once spoke with the escrow officer either, although she did leave me a voicemail when the transaction closed. Why? In the harsh economic climate, we're seeing many companies consolidate (if they remain in business at all). These companies need to do a high volume of business to survive. And alas, a high volume business and high-touch customer service don't usually go together. I predict that we will see more consolidation in the industry, however.
