Does winning new business feel harder than ever?

It’s not your imagination. Higher interest rates, low housing inventory, and tighter margins have combined to shrink the number of available transactions. And with all title professionals vying for scarcer deals, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing all the right things—delivering great service, meeting deadlines, solving problems—only to be passed over on referrals.

The good news? Even in slower and uncertain times, there are actionable ways to stand out and grow. Here are four strategies that title professionals are using right now to attract new business.

1. Build real relationships with your referral partners

In title, trust is everything, and it’s built long before you reach the closing table. Real estate agents and lenders want to work with people they know will communicate clearly, respond quickly and find solutions if a deal starts to wobble.

The challenge? Most real estate professionals already have a go-to title partner—someone who answers the phone, keeps them updated and has helped them keep a deal together at the eleventh hour. That kind of trust doesn’t happen overnight. So, if you’re not actively creating and investing in these connections, someone else is.

Practical ways to grow your network:

• Stop by open houses or broker tours to introduce yourself in person. 
• Attend local association meetings and networking events to stay top of mind.
• Provide – and tell them about –  tools that make their jobs easier, such as branded net sheets or buyer/seller checklists.
• Be the most responsive person in their inbox.
• Offer co-branded marketing to help them grow their business (Just make sure to stay compliant with RESPA).
• Be their cheerleader online. Follow them on social media and celebrate their wins. 

Yes, building relationships takes time. But for title companies, doing so is one of the best long-term investments you can make. 

2. Share expertise that makes you a go-to resource

Unfortunately, being good at what you do isn’t enough; you also have to be known for it.

One of the most effective ways to build credibility and stay top of mind is by sharing helpful content. If you can make your partners look more knowledgeable in front of their clients, you’ll quickly become a trusted resource.

And no, this kind of content isn’t just for big companies with full-time marketing teams. A few intentional pieces shared consistently can make a world of difference!

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Write blog posts or emails that answer the most common questions your team receives.
• Record short videos or reels that break down complex processes or share quick tips.
• Repurpose content. A single blog can be transformed into multiple social media posts or a presentation slide.
• Leverage what your team already knows. Your front-desk person may very well be your biggest resource for topic suggestions.
• Host a training or lunch-and-learn on a topic relevant to your local market, like understanding short sales or wire fraud prevention.

Whether they’re a nervous buyer, a new agent or a busy loan officer, people remember the professionals who help them win. 

3. Make It easy for clients to share positive experiences

A great experience speaks for itself—but it speaks even louder when someone else is the one telling it.

Online reviews and social proof now play a bigger role than ever in business decisions. If someone has never worked with your team before, a positive testimonial can be the difference-maker that tips the scale.

The key is to make it easy for satisfied clients and partners to share their experience with others.

Here are a few best practices:

• Ask for a review right after closing when the experience is still fresh. 
• Provide prompts like: “What stood out about the service you received?” or “Would you recommend us to your friends and family?”
• Share direct links to your Google profile or Facebook page to leave reviews.
• Build the request into your post-closing checklist.
• Highlight positive feedback on your website, social channels and other marketing materials.
• When possible, get testimonials on video. Even a simple, well-lit phone video can be highly effective.

Every great experience is a marketing opportunity—don’t waste it.

4. Make sure you’re easy to find — and even easier to choose

If someone Googled your title company or visited your website right now, would your online presentation reflect the professionalism you deliver in person?

Your digital presence is often the first impression you make, and it needs to be clear, credible and easy to navigate. That means showing up in the right places and making it simple for people to understand what you do and how to reach out.

Here’s how to strengthen your visibility and credibility:

• Optimize your website with location-based keywords like “title company in [City]. 
• Regularly updated sites rank higher, so keep team bios, service pages and FAQs up to date.
• Claim and maintain your Google Business Profile.
• With over 60% of internet traffic now coming from mobile devices, ensure your site loads quickly and looks great on mobile devices.

Pro tip? Set a reminder to perform a short digital audit twice a year to catch outdated links or missing information.

The bottom line

In a tighter market, title companies must be proactive. Growth won’t always come easily. But the professionals who stay visible, provide real value and strengthen relationships will always find ways to win, no matter what the market looks like.

Looking for more insights like these?

SoftPro has been serving the title industry for over 40 years with best-in-class software and services. Visit our blog for more insights, updates and resources that help title professionals thrive. 

Driven by technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations, the real estate industry is undergoing a transformation, presenting both challenges and opportunities.

After years being out of production, Troy Palmquist is going back to sales, and he’s betting big on this platform to help him maintain consistent, smart communication with his sphere.

A few summers ago, I was feeling sleep deprived because of my upstairs neighbor’s dripping air conditioner: The sound of water drops hitting my AC unit was definitely torture. My solution was to drop a washcloth on the corner of my AC where the droplets fell. It worked, but seeing a faded cloth on top of my AC isn’t ideal.

I’m not the only one who struggles with a neighbor’s noisy AC. It’s a common issue for NYC apartment dwellers in the summer. A reader  reached out to thank Brick for an earlier version of this article. “I’m glad I’m not alone,” the reader wrote. 

There are affordable (and more attractive) solutions to this problem: Buy and install a drip pad or cushion that absorbs the water drops from your upstairs AC unit—and stops the noise that can drive you crazy. 

[Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post was published in June 2023. We are presenting it again with updated information for June 2025.]

Why do ACs drip anway? Gary Mindlin of Top Hat Home Services, a townhouse and brownstone management company, previously told Brick that air conditioners are meant to drip. It’s caused by condensation that forms when it’s hot out, especially in older units that don’t have a fan to dissipate the moisture. “The best thing to do is eliminate the noise on your end,” he says. 

To help you find solace this summer, here are four products to absorb the water dropping on your AC unit.

Vibra Block sound-deadening pad, $12

Vibra Block’s sound-deadening material is made out of high-performance, vibration-dampening polymer and has a peel-and-stick bottom. It comes in two sizes; the pad is six-by-six-inches (great if you know what spot on the AC to cover) and the sheet is four-by-four-feet, which you can trim to fit your AC. You can buy both products from Soundproof Cow.

Lfutari drip cushion, $22

This drip cushion has a wavy sponge design for better water absorption and noise reduction. It also has a magnetic back so it stays on your AC without adhesives and is easy to remove. The cushion fits a standard AC but can also be trimmed so cover smaller units. 

Frost King drip cushion, $24

Frost King’s drip cushion is made out of waterproof, high-density foam and has a magnetic bottom to secure to your AC unit. It comes in a standard 24-by-24-inches, and can be trimmed to fit other AC sizes. You can buy it at Home Depot.  

RainQuieter cover, $35

The RainQuieter AC cover is eco-friendly and has an open weave design that allows water to pass through the material while eliminating the sound of both AC drips and rain. The kit comes with an adhesive to stick to your AC. The material allows air to flow through so you don’t have to worry about your unit overheating. It comes in 24-by-24-inches. You can buy it directly from the manufacturer.

—Earlier versions of this article contained reporting and writing by Austin Havens-Bowen.

The winner of a prize home in Queensland valued at more than $3 million is selling the home just a month after they got it.

A resident of Urunga NSW was announced to have won 66 Templeton Wy, Doonan, on May 14, in a prize draw run by the charity yourtown.

With commitments outside of Queensland, the vendor decided to sell the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home at an upcoming auction.

66 Templeton Wy, Doonan

The home was recently awarded at a prize draw to a NSW resident, who decided to sell the home.

The house is nestled deep in the Noosa Hinterland accessed through a long driveway inside a private cul-de-sac.

The home will be sold fully furnished, including furniture and appliances valued at around $200,000.

At the Prize Draw, Yourtown valued the home at around $3.2 million. Now, the home is being sold by agents Kess Prior & Ruth Venning of Hinternoosa Real Estate.

“It’s north facing, it’s flooded with natural light, it’s absolutely beautiful,” Ms Prior said. “It’s like stepping into a new life.”

The home was valued at $3.2 million by the charity yourtown during the giveaway.

$200,000 worth of furniture and appliances are coming with the fully-furnished home.

The modern Queenslander was owned for nearly 10 years before being sold for the sweepstakes, offering an elevated position over the nearby bush.

The house itself has a covered deck around every side, along with ducted airconditioning and a gas fireplace.

Outside, garden lighting leads into a large pool, along with a cubby house near the back of the property.

The house is nestled deep in the heart of the Noosa Hinterlands.

Interest parties can go to the first open home on Wednesday, June 25.

The home is less than 20 minutes from both Eumundi and Noosa Heads, and less than half an hour away from the coast’s airport.

“Templeton Way is one of the best streets in the Hinterland,” Ms Prior said. “I think it’s gonna be a cracking auction.”

The auction will take place from midday on July 18, with the first open home at 1pm on Wednesday, June 25.

The post $3.2 million prize home up for sale a month after huge sweepstakes win appeared first on realestate.com.au.