Will Your Client Be Available?
Whether your clients are buying or selling, there will be paperwork to sign. They have to be available to sign in person or virtually.
About once a month, when we reach out to clients advising it's time to sign, we get a version of this email back:
"Hi Barry, we are away on our bucket list trip to Africa! Our phones barely work, and there isn’t much technology where we are. We'll be back the day before closing."
Or sometimes we just get a response saying folks are unavailable.
If clients are only available one day before closing and/or unavailable at all to communicate about the numerous matters that need to be done/discussed before closing, it’s a pretty good bet the closing will be delayed.
Now, with willing buyers and sellers and a cooperative other law firm, we can usually get an extension. But sellers don't have to extend the completion dates, not even five extra minutes!
Possession on the completion date might be essential for buyers. Mortgage commitments expire. Stuff can happen.
If you hear anything from your clients about travelling and availability, tell them to call us to discuss signing and other requirements. Don't let your clients blame you for a delayed closing.
Protect yourself.
Cheers,
Barry
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