Real Estate Closings From Home with Remote Online Notarization and Other Options
As we find ourselves in the middle of the COVID pandemic, there are still many clients who need real estate related services. Right now we are helping clients:
- Finish up transactions that we started earlier this year;
- Move out of densely populated areas to Connecticut;
- Refinance their homes at incredible interest rates;
- Move property they had been holding for some time so they could have liquid funds.
All of these transactions require us to execute (sign) some form of closing package or closing documents with our clients; and at least one document will need to be notarized or “acknowledged”.
So how do we handle executing documents when in the middle of a pandemic? Luckily, there are multiple options currently available to us here in Connecticut.
Business as Usual – Conducting In Person Real Estate Closings During COVID
There is nothing stopping us from meeting in person and conducting the signing face to face. Real Estate is considered an essential business, so there is no legal issue with us opening our office to our clients. We can take standard social distancing measures such as:
- Wearing masks, gloves and other PPE;
- Minimizing bodily conduct by not shaking hands or hugging;
- Sitting at opposite ends of a conference room table;
- Bring your own pens but please, blue ink;
- Any other reasonable request by a client that makes them feel safe!
However, there are other options available as well.
Window-Separated or “Porch” Signing
A window-separated or porch closing is exactly what it sounds like. We are together but not. The ideal situation would be where we leave documents at our clients door, they bring them inside, and we conduct the closing through a window or screen door with the attorney sitting outside the home, but being able to communicate with and see the client. The client can then leave the documents outside for the attorney to take with them after signing. There are guidelines issued by the national notary Association, but those are for us to know and follow and nothing our clients need to concern themselves with. Also, additional precautions, such as wearing of PPE and disinfecting of surfaces after the signing should be followed.