Posted by Karla/OR on 6/20/13 10:13pm
Msg #474168

SIMPLE but burning etiquette closing question:

When a couple are signing closing docs, do you wait for BOTH to finished signing the same doc before presenting a new one to them? Or, while the 2nd person is still signing, do you introduce the first person a new doc and begin your description of it?

I try to wait for the 2nd person to be somewhat near done signing so they, too, can hear my description of the next doc to be signed so I am not repeating myself.

Appreciate any and all opinions.

Reply by desktopfull on 6/20/13 10:16pm
Msg #474170

I waiting until both are done unless one is a non-borrowing

spouse.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 6/20/13 10:29pm
Msg #474171

Agree with DTF n/m

Reply by Sandra G Holland on 6/20/13 10:34pm
Msg #474173

Re: Agree with DTF

This was a thoughtful question, Karla.

Reply by ToniK on 6/20/13 10:54pm
Msg #474176

When first signer is done and passes, I pass and explain the new doc. Now if the 2nd signer stops to read the docs, Ill wait so I dont have a back up of docs. But most times one of the spouses will tell the other spouse they can read their copy after I leave. Most of my BO's want to sign and go about their business.

Reply by droman_IL on 6/20/13 11:36pm
Msg #474182

Agree with Toni

Often the first one to sign the docs is the one who was handling the transaction and is the "main" person directing the refinance. The 2nd person usually is following 1st person's lead.

Reply by Lisa Cirillo on 6/21/13 3:21pm
Msg #474255

I agree with ToniK. I do the same thing. It seems that there is always one spouse who takes the lead and will explain and say ok to the other.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 6/21/13 12:08am
Msg #474185

First option - I wait until signed doc is flipped, and

talk to them both. Over the years, my presentation became fairly pat, and, for the most part, a steady-eddy cadence. Hope that helps.

Reply by Karla/OR on 6/21/13 2:57am
Msg #474196

Re: First option - I wait until signed doc is flipped, and

Susan I have tried it both ways - When I wait for both to get done signing, I feel the 1st person is sitting there twiddling their thumbs and wondering why I don't just get on with it!!!

My experience is that the 2nd person hasn't really cared about my explanation, they just want to sign and be done with it. I personally just feel awkward that I am addressing the first person with the details and the 2nd one misses out on that, as if they are of less importance in the closing.

Guess I just need to get over it, right???!!! :O)

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 6/21/13 12:36am
Msg #474186

It depends on the document and the situation. Sometimes, when one is filling stuff out (like the borrower information form, bank payment forms, etc.), I'll have the other sign a bunch of the disclaimers or my journal entries.

I won't split it up on the big ones... but that tax forms, disclaimers and other stuff like that? It tends to makes things go a little faster... if I sense they are in a hurry. If not, I may not do that. Each one is totally different, and I don't like sittin gthere staring them down as they fill out paperwork. I figure, lets' all keep busy and get it done.

Reply by Karla/OR on 6/21/13 3:04am
Msg #474197

So it appears from your posts that the SIMPLE way is whatever the NSA dictates. The BO's seem to follow whatever pattern we initiate. Works for me!!

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 6/21/13 5:34am
Msg #474199

I just ask them

My default is to wait for both (or all) signers to finish, before moving on to the next document. If I get any notion that they would rather skip the whole dog & pony show & go for speed - I just ask them what they prefer. By asking, I avoid misreading them and having any kind of misunderstanding.

Reply by 101livescan on 6/21/13 8:41am
Msg #474205

Re: I just ask them

I had a signing yesterday at a local title company. Mrs. was leaving for a trip to visit her sister in NoCa right after the signing. They both said, "let's move this along, we've done this a hundred times, and we just want to sign everything as fast as we can." Mrs Borrower wanted to make sure we signed everything completely because she's gone for a week and didn't want to come home and find the loan couldn't close because she missed something. I had to watch her like a hawk because she kept missing signatures and dates. The entire signing took 20 minutes. It was Freedom Mortgage, a brokered loan.

All depends on the sophistication and preference of the borrowers. Most people I see are pretty savvy and don't spend any time at all reading their documents. With all the upfront disclosures, there are no surprises. They are just happy, relieved to be done with the process.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/21/13 4:10pm
Msg #474258

Re: I just ask them

"All depends on the sophistication and preference of the borrowers."

Couldn't agree more. Sometimes it's very clear from their body language - and sometimes they verbalize their wishes by asking their spouse to move it along. Often I find it's a matter of their temperament or personality type. The Type A's/Drivers (CEO's, etc.) just want to keep things flowing as quickly as possible. The Analytical types (engineers, etc.) want to get into the details and question everything. But as Cheryl said, if they've already been down that road a few times and understand the docs and the process, they just want to get it done. Wish I had more of those kinds of borrowers and fewer of the analytical types!

Also, as much as I hate to generalize as a rule, it can be helpful with this issue. I've found that if it's the husband who takes the lead, I can more often keep things flowing, handing him a new doc while the wife is signing the last one. May have something to do with the wife not being as involved, but it also seems to follow that the women are better able to multi-task, listening to what's coming next while signing the previous one. Doesn't seem to work nearly as well when the woman has taken the lead and the husband is just signing what she tells him to sign - even if he doesn't care. In those cases, I find I need to watch him with extra care. (Must be that right-brain, left-brain stuff... )

But like Renee said, it never hurts to ask.

Reply by OR on 6/21/13 8:47am
Msg #474206

Re: Same ad Renee. If they say I have read or I am a

Realestate Agent or I already was told all this stuff....I just tell them the name of the doc and the first person that is finished with that doc gets the next doc. The reason is...I think that is what they are saying to me is "Dont Baby set me while "I" go throught the paper work and sign." I have had people who are readers and I let them read and move on as soon as the first person is finished signing. They seam not to be bothered by it.

Reply by Sha/CA on 6/21/13 4:48pm
Msg #474262

I like to ask first, to hear their comfort level, then move

them along as quickly as they will allow. Sometimes, I will remind them about being able to read everything in detail during the recission period. I will never rush anyone though, unless they want me to.