COVID-19

To all our Partners in Real Estate:
We want to provide an update to all of those we work with to get a closing transaction to completion. We are deeply concerned with making sure that all parties to the closing process are as insulated as possible from the possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

For closings in our office, we are taking the following steps:

1. Only essential signing parties should be in the closing room. Real Estate agents are welcome but we will try to keep them separate from the
signing parties, but available should questions or issues arise.
2. Hand sanitizer is available at the front desks of our offices and we request that all parties use it.
3. We will close the buyers first and then close the sellers separately. Each signing party will use sanitized pens that we provide in a Ziploc
bag. Each signing party will be asked to take their pen with them.
4. After each closing, we will sanitize the closing room.
5. Our closers will acknowledge people, but will not shake hands.

Some title companies are requiring all closings to be held in their offices. We are not.

However, we cannot control the conditions in the agent’s or lender’s offices. We are asking these closing partners whose offices we are using to take similar precautions to protect all parties to the closing transaction.

All Recorder’s and Clerk’s offices are closed to the public, but as of March 20, 2020 they are still staffed.

We are able to conduct online title searches in almost all counties we service. However, the searches may take longer and we are at the mercy of each Recorder’s or Clerk’s online system.

We are able to record documents in some counties we service; we are able to drop documents off at certain hours. Others we may have to mail documents. Some counties will require e-filing which may create an additional charge, and e-filing may require the lender’s consent.

Because of the manner in which documents will have to be recorded in some counties, there may be a delay in the usual recording process. Our underwriters are requiring additional affidavits from the parties to the transactions that expand the traditional affidavits parties are asked to sign.

Our primary concern is the health and safety of our employees and all those participants in the closing process. If someone needs a power of attorney due to illness, or concerns about attending a closing due to them being a high-risk person, we will prepare, at no cost other than a recording fee, the power of attorney. The party signing the power of attorney will have to make arrangements for signing the power of attorney in the presence of a notary public. If the party using the power of attorney is the borrower, their lender must approve.

WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE CLOSING PROCEDURES AVAILABLE. PLEASE ASK AND WE WILL MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.

With everyone working together, we will continue to work towards a smooth closing process in spite of trying conditions.

Mike Fletcher and Tim Griffin