The preliminary title report (or commitment) is one of the most useful documents you can review for a client. Confirm the vesting — that the seller named in your contract actually holds title — and check the legal description against the property you’re selling. Then read Schedule B’s exceptions: recorded easements, subdivision restrictions (CC&Rs), existing mortgages and liens, mineral or water reservations, and any access or boundary matters. Most exceptions are routine, but look for surprises — an extra person on title, a judgment or tax lien, a missing access easement on a rural parcel, or an encroachment. Anything unexpected should go to your escrow officer right away, since most issues are fixable when caught early. Reviewing the prelim is also how you set client expectations about what the title policy will and won’t cover.