When the file is first open we will send you some requests via our client portal for information we need for the closing.  The reason we need this information is so we can conduct searches to determine if there are any liens on the property and ensure we have all of the information we need to properly prepare your closing documents.  We ask that you please complete these tasks within 1-2 business days if possible.  If you have questions about how to complete these tasks, we have resources available on this page on our website.

In addition to gathering information from you, we will also conduct a title search, which is a search of the public records to determine if there are any title issues or problems that will prevent us from issuing a title policy. Once that search is completed, we will issue a “Title Commitment,” which is the document stating the terms upon which a title policy will be issued. There may be certain “requirements” or items that need to be completed prior to the closing. These might include things such as one of the parties providing documents related to an entity that is buying or selling the property. On the other hand, these might be title defects that need to be cleared before closing. The Title Commitment will also list the “exceptions” or things that are not covered by the title policy. Every policy has exceptions and these may be standard things. With that being said, you will always want to review the exceptions and contact us with any questions.  You can also click on the links in this paragraph to learn more about the preliminary closing documents.  

Once the title search is complete, we will send you a serious of documents via our client portal.  These documents will include the title commitment, preliminary settlement statement and closing protection letter.  

We ask that you please take a quick moment to review these documents and let us know if you have any questions.  If you need help learning how to view documents via client portal, we have help resources available on our website.

If you elect to do an online closing, you do not need a specific appointment for your closing as you will be able to complete your closing anytime 24 hours per day.  If you elected an in-person closing either in our office or where we come to you, we will send you a request to schedule your closing appointment.

During this stage of the process, we will prepare and draft all of your closing documents.  As we want you to have the chance to review your documents prior to closing, we will send you a copy of all documents via our client portal the business day prior to closing whenever possible.

Our goal is to make your closing as easy as possible.  As such, we offer numerous options for your closing.  Moreover, it is important to us that you have time to review your documents prior to your closing. As we want you to have the chance to review your documents prior to closing, we will send you a copy of all documents via our Client Portal the business day prior to closing whenever possible.

Sellers

As the seller, there will be several documents that you will need to notarize as part of the closing process. Many times you can do this online using a video conference notary.  If not, you can come by our office or we can send the notary to you.

You do not need to worry about signing your documents early as we will hold the documents in escrow and will not record anything until all parties have signed and the money is fully cleared. Therefore, you can complete your documents as soon as they are ready without waiting for the closing date.

Buyers

If you are buying with cash, you will not have any documents notarized as part of the closing process. If that’s the case in your closing, you can e-sign your documents instead of coming to our office.

If you are obtaining a loan for your purchase of the property, you will need to sigh your documents with a notary.  To make it as easy as possible, we offer numerous options including signing with an online notary,* coming into our office, or us sending a notary to you anywhere in the U.S.

*note: many lenders approve the use of online notaries, including most local hard money and private lenders.  We will advise you if your lender does not allow online notaries and will offer you one of our other convenient options for your closing.

Once all of the closing documents are signed, and we have received funds from all of the parties, we will move into the post-closing stage for your closing.  In this stage we will send documents for recording with the county and will send any funds to be paid out during the closing.

Please note that almost all lenders require us to send the a copy of all of the signed documents from both parties prior to sending any money.  As such, this process can take some time and we can not always send funds out the same day.  As such, we advise that our standard timeline for sending out closing funds is by the end of the first business day following the closing if sent via wire or two to three business days if sending a check via FedEx.  We do not offer an option to pick up checks in our office for security reasons.

When it comes to recording, the timeline will vary from county-to-county and day-to-day.  In some counties, we will have documents recorded the same day or by the next business day.  In other counties — such as Johnson County, Kansas, it might take a week or longer to get documents recorded due to backlogs.  We will issue and send you a copy of the title policy within one business day of documents being recorded.

At this point, the file is fully closed, documents have been recorded, and funds have been sent to all parties.  The title policy and recorded documents will be sent to the buyer and lender via our client portal, and all parties will continue to have access to all documents via our client portal for 12 months following the completion of your closing.

Your closing is now completed and it’s time to celebrate!