Here’s a checklist to help you choose the right escrow officer for your real estate purchase:

• Ask your realty agent to make three recommendations for both escrow service and title insurance, and ask why the agent likes these companies.
• For escrow, determine whether a company is truly acting as a neutral party, or is under the control of a realty agent or mortgage broker.
• Remember that price is not the only consideration, attention to your specific needs and good service can and in most cases should be more important.
• Contact the state agency that regulates a company to determine if there are any pending complaints or disciplinary actions.