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WAY back in the nineties, I owned a home as a single woman.  When I noticed wet carpet by the back door, I immediately contacted a handyman to determine what the problem was.  After removing the carpet and a 5-foot square of subfloor, he said it was a gutter problem.  That easily resolvable issue had caused a gaping hole in my living room.  I could've had a fireman's pole installed for quick access to the basement! 

As we peered over into the abyss, I asked what the repair would cost.  The answer was, "Do you want it done quick, or do you want it done right?" 

Isn't that the question for the ages in our industry? The clock is always ticking on each transaction, and the pressure for accuracy is immense. So, much like my answer to the repairman, the answer is "yes."  Everyone wants both quick and correct.   

But often our quest for speed results in mistakes, and we all have experienced the delay that correcting mistakes causes. My Dad's voice is always in my head saying, "Just do it right the first time." 

Like most things we learn and practice, speed comes with repetition. Clearly, we must be as efficient as possible.  But if we focus on being accurate, the speed will come.  

As a new driver, getting into the car, adjusting the seat, steering wheel, mirrors, etc. took some time. But as I grew more experienced, it became a natural part of driving.  Now I do it all as a habit.  When I first began preparing settlement statements, it would sometimes take me an hour to interpret lender instructions and verify all the other information we had compiled.  But as I became more familiar with the process and documents, I was able to put it all together much more quickly.   

The answer to the question is yes, we want both.  Practice and experience will teach us that we don't have to sacrifice one for the other. 

LIFE LESSON 

Focus on accuracy and speed will come. 

Want to improve your accuracy and speed?  Click here for a link to our training calendar. This link will take you to an article about how the closing process has evolved to improve both.