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Closing etiquette 101: It's a real estate settlement...not day care or a divorce proceeding!

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors

It's a closing, not day care...

Maybe it's me and, hey, I know I can be a little harsh sometimes, but really, only the parties involved should be at the closing table.  I have been to closings that are nothing short of a dog and pony show. It seems that some people like to treat a business transaction as a family outing, social event or free day care.

Screaming unruly children and other marginal attendees just create seating nightmares in otherwise already cramped, space-challenged areas of the office and add unecessary confusion to the closing.

Please ask your clients whom may need special supervision or care during the closing time or whom may to come to closing with them so you can make arrangements BEFORE HAND to manage additional family members comfortably so everyone can keep their mind on the business at hand. Don't assume people know this. Only the parties directly involved should be at the closing table.

It's a closing, not a divorce proceeding...

ow often do we all walk into a settlement room for a closing and NO ONE, not even the presiding title Hofficer sitting there clickety-clickety-clicking away the their laptop stands up and introduces themselves? Or, even  worse, they are all sitting there in the waiting area outside in abject silence, KNOWING that you and your party are the other side of the transaction, yet they say nothing.

Why, do they all look at you as though you're about to hold them all up at gunpoint? Maybe you can all shed some light here. I've tried but I can't explain it. I mean, these are all people we know or know about since we've been involved in a busines transaction with them for, what, 2 months or so?

Anyway, negotiation snafus notwithstanding, this is a real estate settlement, not a divorce proceeding. We're all grown ups. All too often, I just end up emceeing these things and handling all the intros, which I feel this is the responsibility of BOTH agents.

Don't be shy. Reach out. No one is going to bite you. Agents, always introduce yourselves and your clients by first and last names, even though everyone' sretty sure that's who you all are. 

Here's a seating pattern that's always worked for my transactions.

Buyers should be seated between their loan officer and the title officer since they are most directly involved. the buyer agent is is the wing-person.

On the other side of the table, sellers should sit between the title officer and their listing agent on the other side of the table as the title officer needs to get info and signatures from both parties.

Anyway, I juat had to vent. Thanks for listening!

Comments (2)

Jen Olson
First Weber Group Realtors - Marshfield, WI

Sarah-  I do agree with you that there are times that a closing has almost felt like a war treaty meeting.  I always introduce myself, my clients and their loan officer, and most of the time the listing agent seems to behave as though I am the enemy and how dare I speak to their clients!  I don't care, though.  I figure the parties involved appreciate the break of silence and the introduction. 

Feb 27, 2010 06:09 AM
Sarah Schneider
Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors - Marple Township, PA

Hi Jen!

Thanks or the feedback. You are a consummate professional and hey, you never know. You could end up getting a great referral as a result! Professionalism always gets rewarded. Rock on.

Feb 27, 2010 06:22 AM