Brains
I've never been to a settlement where "waffling" was involved.
Either it's a "blink and you missed it" event or the other alternative is where there's some major problem, lots of angst ridden mobile calls and general gnashing of teeth.
Settlements are typically attended by young admin type clerks or junior lawyers and the banks typically have their own processing staff to attend.
4 people (sometimes more if there's a simultaneous settlement happening) stand in a line at a table...papers shuffle in one direction ie from outgoing bank to seller's lawyer/rep to buyer's lawyer/rep to buyer's bank and cheques go the other direction.
If everybody is happy with all the title details and cheque amounts then they all walk off.
I've NEVER seen a settlement clerk with time to waffle - they usually have 8 or 10 settlements a day booked in, sometimes on opposite sides of town. They operate in a hugely stressful situation and are paid bugger all as I understand it.
Another interesting characteristic of settlement clerks seems to be that they almost always have the latest wraparound oakley sunglasses (not sure if this is related to anything
)
Anyone who's interested in what happens at a settlement should attend one...but after that forget about it...that's your lawyer/conveyancer's job! I've been to settlements in a professional capacity but there's no way I'd waste my time going to one of my own...too much forum to read and waffling posts to write!
Cheers