Originally Posted by
James Duffin
I guess it depends on how quick (or bad) you need the money. I have about $6000 owed to me at the moment.
James,
That's a different problem than billing to closing and not related at all.
During my last 4 years or so in the business I seldom got paid at the time of the inspection and after I completed the report and gave it to my client they would mail be a check.
I typically had about $20,000 per month 'in accounts receivable' waiting on those checks. When I retired, it worked out good as I received the last couple of month's checks over the next few months following retiring ... it was nice getting $10,000 per month ... to bad it could not have lasted longer.
Anytime you 'bill for the fee' there is a risk of not getting paid, however, when you bill to escrow you are adding in the risk that it may not get to escrow - the deal may fall apart.
I'm glad you have been successful on those collections, but it does not always work out that way - so the advise to a new inspection should include those warnings.