The seller's real estate agent usually chooses the escrow company. Make sure the escrow company is licensed and in good standing with the Department of Corporations by calling (866) 275-2677, or the Bureau of Real Estate at (213) 620-2072.
California Realtor here. Escrow is opened by the listing agent and 99% of the time the seller/listing agent chooses the escrow company. Escrow is opened once there's a contract.
How do you open an escrow account? For home buyers and sellers, a real estate agent will typically open an escrow account on your behalf. However, if you need to open one, you simply need to contact a bank and ask to open an escrow account.
Who Does The Escrow Agent Work For? Escrow agents act as neutral third parties in these types of transactions. They serve the escrow agreement, and as such, they don't work for either the buyer or the seller.