Real Estate Settlements – One Year Into The Pandemic

Lots of Options for a Safe Closing

Homestead is back in the closing room!

Our mission and passion is to make the closing process easier, smoother, and less stressful — even in a pandemic. We offer a number of options for a safe, smooth, and easy closing.

Closing Procedures:

Closing Room or Drive-Up Closing:  You can sign your documents in our closing room or from your car as a “drive-up closing.” We abide by the current Dane County order, which limits office capacity to 50%. This means up to 5 people, including the closing officer, in a room. On nice days, we also offer West Side closings at outside tables.

Call When You Arrive:  When you arrive, wait in your car or outside and call us at 608-467-4600 to let us know you are here.  We will let you know when your closing room is ready or, if you choose to close from your car, bring documents out to you.

Masks: We require all clients and customers to wear masks in our office. We can provide masks to those who don’t have their own. For those uncomfortable or unwilling to wear a mask, we offer drive-up closings.

Our closing rooms are set up for social distancing with plexiglass dividers. We have HEPPA air purifiers in each room, we sanitize all surfaces frequently, we offer hand sanitizer and wipes, and we do not provide food and beverages (we hope our signature bread and cookies will be back soon).

We are excited to slowly and safely return to something closer to normal!

Covid-19 Agreement:

Please do not come to closing if you have any symptoms or risks associated with Covid-19.  We can make alternative, remote signing arrangements.  Do not come to closing if:

1. You have had a cough, flu symptoms, or fever higher than 100 in the last 10 days.
2. You have been around anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 14 days.
3. You are living with anyone who has been quarantined in the last 14 days.
4. You or anyone in your household has tested positive for Covid-19 and have had any symptoms in the last 14 days.

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Closing Procedures As We Re-Open

Keeping Everyone Safe and Healthy

We are excited to help you with your real estate transaction!  Or mission and passion is to make the closing process easier, smoother, and less stressful — even in a pandemic. We have taken many precautions to keep you and our team safe and healthy.

Closing Procedures:

Closing Room or Drive-Up Closing:  You can sign your documents in our closing room or from your car as a “drive-up closing.”We will be limiting our closing rooms to 6 people to assure social distancing.

Call When You Arrive:  When you arrive, wait in your car or outside and call us at 608-467-4600 to let us know you are here.  We will either bring documents to you or let you know when your closing room is ready.

Masks: We require all clients and customers to wear masks in our office. We can provide masks to those who don’t have their own. For those uncomfortable or unwilling to wear a mask, we offer drive-in closings.

We will be sanitizing all surfaces frequently and offering hand sanitizer and wipes. We will not be offering food, beverages, or reading materials.

We are following state and local health guidelines to protect you and our team. We appreciate your understanding, even if you don’t agree with our level of precautions.

Covid-19 Agreement:

Please do not come to closing if you have any symptoms or risks associated with Covid-19.  We can make alternative, remote signing arrangements.  Do not come to closing if:

1. You have had a cough, flu symptoms, or fever higher than 100 in the last 14 days.
2. You have been around anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 14 days.
3. You are living with anyone who has been quarantined in the last 14 days.
4. You or anyone in your household has tested positive for Covid-19 and have had any symptoms in the last 14 days.

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Keeping Your Real Estate Transaction Safe

Homestead Title will be taking extraordinary measures to protect the health and safety of our customers, clients, and team.

Remote Staff: More than 85% of our team are working remotely from home.  We have had remote capabilities for over 15 years and you may not notice a difference.  We still ask for patience and understanding as it is hard to work with co-workers who are toddlers, pets, and family.

Drive-Up Signings: All in-person transactions will be “Drive Up Closings” at our WEST office until Wisconsin’s Emergency “Safer at Home” Order expires (currently set for April 24). Here’s what you should know:

• In-Person Signing at 555 Zor Shrine (WEST): All closings will take place at our West office as “drive up closings.”
• Strict Lock-down of our Office: We are not admitting anyone into our office other than essential staff.
• Alert Us When You Arrive: Call our main number and we will have our closing officer come right out to your car with documents to sign.
• Only Signers at Closing: We urge only signers come to Drive-Up Closings. Others can come, but they will not be allowed in our building and will be asked to stay in their cars in the parking lot.

Digital Closings: We can do fully digital, remote closings for Sellers or Cash Buyers. The mortgage industry is moving fast to add financed buyers, but we are not yet aware of any Banks or Credit Unions that can do a fully remote closing.

Our mission statement is to make the closing process easier, smoother, and less stressful for our buyers and sellers. For the next few weeks or months, we need to add: “… and safer.”

 

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