Who does the escrow company work for? The escrow company works for the buyer and seller equally and our "primary" responsibility is to them. We also assist with the efforts of the listing agent, selling agent, lenders, insurance agents, mortgage brokers, Title company and vendors. back to top   Who pays for the escrow? Of course all fees can be negotiated in the contract/offer and can be amended at anytime by the buyer and the seller, but usually the buyer and seller split the base escrow fee and both are charged according to items needed/purchased on their behalf, such as title report, insurance, pest control report, and building report. back to top   What is the difference from an Independent Escrow company to one run by my bank or realty company? The most important difference is that an independent escrow company, such as Santa Monica Escrow's, job is to close escrows, period. We don't work for a commission on your sale or loan. We are a "neutral" third party. Escrow is our only business. Of course we think you should work with an independent escrow company, but as we've mentioned it is your choice. For an in depth look at the difference between Independent Escrow companies and other services we've provide you with a comprehensive list that compares the types of services available to you see, Escrow Service Provider Requirements. back to top Do I have to choose a "local" escrow company? No, you do not need to hire a local escrow company, however it is best to hire one in the state at which your sale is taking place so that the escrow company is totally familiar with the state escrow laws. However it is not a requirement. For example, although we are based in Santa Monica, California, we have provided escrow services to clients throughout the western U.S.back to top